We are starting to see a light at the end of this pandemic tunnel as countries begin to reopen their borders and lift quarantine and social distancing restrictions. Earlier this week, Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern, proudly announced the country is lifting all coronavirus-related restrictions after they reported no active cases in over 17 days.
Social distancing is still encouraged, but schools and workplaces will open with no limitations. Before you rush to purchase a ticket to this stunning Oceanic country, international borders will remain shut to non-residents to prevent new outbreaks, and residents arriving in New Zealand will still have to quarantine for two weeks.
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“This freedom from restrictions relies though heavily on the ongoing role that our border controls will play in keeping the virus out … The virus will be in our world for some time to come,” Ardern said at a press conference Monday.
New Zealand had one of the toughest border restrictions in the world starting as early as March 14. At the time, the country only had six reported cases and was requiring anyone who entered the country to self-quarantine for two weeks. These early actions may have contributed to the country’s ability to completely eradicate the virus in a relatively short timetable.
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Needless to say, the Prime Minister was overjoyed by the news, the country’s progress, and the possibility of a relatively “normal” summer in the coming months.
“It was very exciting information to hear, so I confess that when I heard that information I did do a — I don’t even know if I could describe it as a dance — some semi-coordinated movement around the lounge,” the PM said during a Facebook live Monday.