Life has returned to normal in the southern Pacific Ocean, home to some 5 million people. They participate in rugby games with crowded stadiums and sit in bars and restaurants without fear of infection.
New Zealand, just marked 100 days without reporting any case of coronavirus infected person. The country escaped the virus by imposing a severe blockade in late March, when only about 100 people were tested positive for the disease. Early closure of the site prevented the virus from spreading more widely.
For the past three months, the only new cases of Covid-19 have been a group of passengers returning from other countries to New Zealand who have been quarantined at the border.
The leadership of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has been widely praised. It provided people during quarantine and closure with daily announcements and messages that essentially expressed that this early closure would show its results in the future.
However, even after the good news, she warned citizens to stay vigilant. Many people, on the other hand, worry that the country may be complacent and not preparing enough for any future outbreak.
The total number of infected in New Zealand was 1,500 and the country had only 22 deaths. New Zealand, however, has also felt its blows, especially in tourism, as the country has remained more isolated than ever from the outside world. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate is expected to increase, which is currently only 4%.
