New Zealand clears its last Covid-19 case
New Zealand has no active Covid-19 cases after the country's final patient was given the all clear and released from isolation, health authorities said on Monday.
The milestone is "excellent news" and an achievement the complete of New Zealand could take heart from, health department director-general Ashley Bloomfield said.
"Having no active cases for the first time since Feb 28 is certainly a significant mark inside our journey but, as we've previously said, ongoing vigilance against Covid-19 will still be essential," he said in a statement.
New Zealand has won praise because of its handling of the pandemic, which involved a strict seven-week lockdown that ended last month following the virus was contained.
The South Pacific nation, with a population of five million, has had 1,154 confirmed cases and 22 deaths.
There were no new infections for 17 days and, until Monday, just one single active case for greater than a week.
Details of the ultimate patient weren't released for privacy reasons but it is thought to be a female in her 50s who was simply linked to a cluster at an Auckland nursing home.
"(The) remaining case has been symptom-free for 48 hours and is regarded as recovered. The person has been released from isolation," medical department said.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is expected to announce down the road Monday that New Zealand will this week move to alert Level 1, the lowest rating on its four-tier virus response system.
Under the change, international border restrictions will stay in place however the final domestic curbs - such as for example limits on public gatherings and mandatory social distancing - will be removed. - AFP
