Final coronavirus restrictions dropped in New Zealand as country brings outbreak under control

New Zealanders will again enjoy a restriction-free life just two months after the country was hit by a worrying second wave of cases.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has eased restrictions. Picture: Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images

New Zealand will again enjoy a restriction-free life after the country stamped out its second wave of coronavirus.

Speaking to reporters earlier this week, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern declared the nation had “beat the virus again” and said restrictions in Auckland would be lifted from Wednesday.

Aucklanders have been able to get back to normal today just two months after the city, New Zealand’s largest, was hit by coronavirus again.

The spread, dubbed the “Auckland August” cluster, grew to 179 cases.

However, as Ms Ardern said earlier this week, “all signs point to it now being under control”.

There hasn’t been a single new case within the Auckland cluster for two weeks now and “there is now a 95 per cent probability of that cluster being eliminated”, Ms Ardern added.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has relaxed the country’s second lockdown ahead of next week’s election. Picture: Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images

Despite the promising development, Ms Ardern warned New Zealanders to be aware of how insidious the virus can be.

New Zealand cracked down on another cluster late last month after a returned traveller from India tested negative twice in hotel quarantine but later tested positive at home.

There were six coronavirus cases linked to that cluster however it’s also been more than two weeks since there was a case associated with it.

Addressing New Zealand’s second lockdown, Ms Ardern said she sympathised with everyone who had struggled.

“I know for many this one has felt harder, especially for Aucklanders,” she said.

“It was more fragmented with different parts of the country at different levels and felt longer and dragged on in what already felt like a very long year.

“Despite that, Aucklanders and New Zealanders stuck to plan that has worked twice now and beat the virus again.

“Our team of five million, a little more battle weary this time, we did as national teams always do - we put our heads down and got on with it.”

New Zealand’s virus was believed to have been eradicated in late May after a strict national lockdown and the country enjoyed 102 days without community transmission.

“Tests per confirmed case” is a fascinating new metric that would seem to be a good measure of how on top of their problem different nations are.

At the top are New Zealand & Taiwan. At bottom of rankings are France & UK. pic.twitter.com/8SbRpWFq7S

— Scientists for EU (@Scientists4EU) May 12, 2020

But a new cluster emerged in Auckland in August, forcing the city of 1.5 million into lockdown for almost three weeks.

With no new confirmed cases in Auckland for 12 days, Ms Ardern said Monday the virus was now under control and congratulated residents for enduring the second lockdown.

Auckland dropped to level one restrictions from late last night, the lowest rating on the government’s four-tier virus alert system. The city is now on the same restrictions as the rest of the country.

Under the change, there are no restrictions on social gatherings, allowing the second Bledisloe Cup Test in Auckland on October 18 to be played in front of a full stadium at Eden Park.

“This is positive news that (Auckland fans) will be able to enjoy Test match rugby,” New Zealand Rugby said in a statement.

New Zealand has recorded just 25 COVID-19 deaths in a population of five million, with just a few dozen active cases left.

But Ms Ardern, who faces a general election on October 17, warned success could not be taken for granted.

She pointed to a decline in the use of the official COVID-19 tracing app and falling virus test numbers.

“A resurgence of the virus is not our only worry, resurgence of complacency is right up there too,” Ms Ardern said.