WELLINGTON, May 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — New Zealand reported no more COVID-19 cases for two consecutive days on Wednesday, with the total number of confirmed and probable cases remaining at 1,497, as the country is about to relax lockdown restrictions midnight.
Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield told a press conference the death toll remained at 21 in the country, and 1,042 cases have recovered from the virus.
Two people are receiving hospital treatment, but neither is in ICU, Bloomfield said.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the government will deliver Budget 2020 on Thursday “within the most challenging economic conditions faced by any government since the Great Depression.”
“The global COVID-19 pandemic has triggered a global economic shock not of our making, but like every country in the world, we are also not immune to its fallout,” Ardern said in a speech on Wednesday.
“Let me be clear, the coming months and years will be some of the most challenging our country has faced in a very, very long time,” she said.
New Zealand will move to COVID-19 Alert Level 2 on Thursday and reopen most businesses in 10 days, according to a decision made on Monday.
The State of National Emergency across New Zealand has been lifted and a National Transition Period is now in place as the country prepares to move to Alert Level 2, said Civil Defense Minister Peeni Henare.
