New Zealand ERADICATES coronavirus: Jacinda Ardern wins her battle over virus as the last Kiwi to fall ill recovers – meaning nation has ZERO active cases
- New Zealand has completely eliminated coronavirus from within its borders
- A woman in her 50s recovered in St Margaret’s Hospital Auckland on Monday
- The country had been battling the COVID-19 pandemic since February 28
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
New Zealand has completely eliminated coronavirus from within its borders after the final patient with the disease recovered.
The final patient, a woman in her 50s recorded no symptoms for 48 hours, before being announced as recovered at St Margaret’s Hospital and Rest Home in Auckland on Monday.
She has since been released from isolation and is free to go home.
NZ Director general of health Dr Ashley Bloomfield said the woman’s recovery was something ‘the rest of New Zealand can take heart in’.
‘Having no active cases for the first time since February 28 is certainly a significant mark in our journey but as we’ve previously said, ongoing vigilance against COVID-19 will continue to be essential,’ Dr Bloomfield said.
NZ Prime Minitster Jacinda Ardern smiles after an art gallery reopened. New Zealand has completely eliminated coronavirus from within its borders after the final patient with the disease recovered in Auckland on Monday
The recovered woman listed as a probable case when it emerged there was a COVID-19 cluster at St Margaret’s Hospital and Rest Home.
She initially tested negative to coronavirus but became unwell at a later date and tested positive to the potentially life-threatening disease.
Now that she has recovered, there are no active cases left in the country. It has also been 17 days since a new case emerged in NZ.
The woman’s recovery means that the St Margaret’s cluster has now closed, as have seven other clusters across the country.
NZ has had 1,154 confirmed cases of COVID-19 since recording its first infected person on February 28.
The country is currently in ‘alert level two’, meaning that all businesses, schools, universities and social gathering of up to 100 people are permitted.
But social distancing measures and enhanced hygiene are still recommended at this alert level to prevent a second wave of infections.
The NZ Cabinet will likely move to alert level one following news of no new cases.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern completely closed the country’s borders in mid-March with Australia following suit shortly after.
More to come.