New Zealand has put an end to lockdown after health officials revealed there were no known active cases of COVID-19 and declared the country free from coronavirus. The last remaining case, a woman from Auckland, has now been symptom free for 48 hours and is regarded as recovered. While stringent border controls remain in a bid to keep any new cases of the virus out, social distancing measures have been lifted. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said during a press conference that she did "a little dance" when she was told the country no longer had any active virus cases. "While we're in a safer, stronger position, there's still no easy path back to pre-coronavirus life, but the determination and focus we have had on our health response will now be vested in our economic rebuild," the New Zealand premier said. She added: "While the job is not done, there is no denying this is a milestone. So can I finish with a very simple, 'Thank you, New Zealand'." It has been 17 days since the last new case of COVID-19 was reported in the country. New Zealand has reported a total of 1,504 confirmed and probable cases, with a death toll of 22 people. In March, when Ardern's government opted to lockdown the country, New Zealand had around 200 confirmed cases of coronavirus. Under the new rules, all schools and workplaces can open. Weddings, funerals and public transport can resume without any restrictions. Social distancing is no longer required but will be encouraged. New Zealanders arriving from abroad will still have to go through a 14-day period of isolation or quarantine. — Agencies
