Jacinda Ardern declares victory over coronavirus and could lift strict lockdown measures

New Zealand’s prime minister Jacinda Ardern says the country is ‘turning a corner’ against coronavirus after just 29 new cases were added to the tally today. 

Ardern said she was ‘cautiously optimistic’ about limiting the outbreak which has only caused 992 confirmed cases and one death in New Zealand so far. 

The government’s official count shows that only 12 confirmed cases were added to the tally yesterday, with 29 confirmed or probable cases in the last 24 hours. 

New Zealand confirmed its first case on February 26, but had shut its borders by March 19 and started imposing a lockdown on March 26.   

Ardern praised New Zealanders for ‘breaking the chain of transmission’ in the first half of a four-week lockdown.  

‘At the halfway mark I have no hesitation in saying, that what New Zealanders have done over the last two weeks is huge,’ she said.

‘In the face of the greatest threat to human health we have seen in over a century, Kiwis have quietly and collectively implemented a nationwide wall of defence.

‘You are breaking the chain of transmission. And you did it for each other.’ 

Ardern says her government has yet to decide on whether to extend or relax the lockdown which is due to expire at midnight on April 22. 

New Zealand began testing for the virus as long ago as January 22, although it did not confirm a positive case until February 26. 

The government then began taking drastic public health measures in mid-March, even when it had relatively few cases of the disease.   

As early as March 14, all new arrivals into New Zealand were ordered into self-isolation, while cruise ships were banned.  

The country had only 32 confirmed cases on March 18, when Ardern announced that all non-residents and non-citizens were banned from entering New Zealand.   

Gatherings of more than 100 people have also been banned since March 19.  

Ardern announced a total lockdown on March 25, at which point there were 295 confirmed cases. 

Schools and non-essential businesses including bars, restaurants and cafes were shut down from the start of March 26.  

One Kiwi has died to date, an elderly South Island woman.

New Zealand will now implement new controls to keep case numbers down.

As of Friday, every new arrival will be required to quarantine for a fortnight – similar to a measure in Australia.

The government will also turn to tracking applications to assist with contact tracing.

There will also be roadblocks around New Zealand to stop Kiwis travelling to their beach houses or to visit family over Easter.

‘As we head in to Easter I say thank you to you and your bubble,’ Ms Ardern said, warning against complacency.

‘We have what we need to win this marathon.

‘You have stayed calm, you’ve been strong, you’ve saved lives, and now we need to keep going.’