New Zealand “Beats the Virus Again”, Says Prime Minister Ardern

The cluster in Auckland became New Zealand’s biggest ever, with one hundred and seventy-nine (179) cases, but through a media conference held on Monday, October 5, 2020, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has revealed that it is now under control. Also, it was at the same conference where the Prime Minister has revealed that New Zealand has “beats the virus again.”

More deaths, illnesses, and ongoing economic restrictions have been brought about by second waves around the globe. And these have placed lives and livelihoods at risk. But according to Ardern, it was a test of their plan.

“Just as our team came together to deliver a world-leading response to the first wave of COVID, we did so again with the second. I know for many this one has felt harder, especially for Aucklanders. It was more fragmented, with different parts of the country at different levels, and it felt longer and dragged on in what was already starting to feel like a very long year. But, despite that, Aucklanders and New Zealanders stuck to the plan that has worked twice now and beat the virus again.”

– Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand Prime Minister, on October 5, 2020 media conference

“We’ve seen the strength of our economy in recent weeks through jobs, exports, building consents, and traffic updates,” Ardern added. As estimated by their Treasury, economic activity was at 80 to 85 percent, even under alert level 3.

And at alert levels 2 and 1, New Zealand is one of the most open countries and economies in the world. Starting October 7, 2020, Auckland will join the rest of New Zealand at alert level 1.

The Oxford University COVID Tracker

Furthermore, she also pointed out that the Oxford University COVID tracker continues to position New Zealand favorably. Thus, Ardern reminded the New Zealanders to keep using the app whenever they are in the country.

New Zealand is among the few countries where people:

• Can gather in any numbers they like
• Can go to work with limited or no restrictions
• Can watch sport in full stadiums

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s Message

“We are in a good position because we went hard and we went early. We have a plan to continue responding to COVID-19, and we will apply the same rigor to our economic recovery as we did to our world-leading health response,” she said. However, she warned that the resurgence of the virus is not their only worry but as well as the resurgence of complacency.

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Source: New Zealand Government, New Zealand Ministry of Health