New Zealand has now gone 100 days without a single case of COVID-19 domestic transmission, but health authorities continue to warn against complacency.
The Pacific Island nation is considered one of the safest places in the world due to its success in the fight against the virus.
“Achieving 100 days without community transmission is a significant milestone, however, as we all know, we can’t afford to be complacent,” Reuters quotes Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield.
“We have seen overseas how quickly the virus can re-emerge and spread in places where it was previously under control, and we need to be prepared to quickly stamp out any future cases in New Zealand,” he said.
Official figures show that New Zealand has reported 1,219 COVID-19 infections, but only 23 remain active.
“None of those people (active cases) are receiving hospital-level care,” said the health ministry.
“It isn’t necessary for the public to wear masks at Alert Level 1, because there’s no evidence of community transmission in New Zealand,” the ministry added, but urged New Zealanders to “add masks to their earthquake emergency kits” and continue observing all the aid out health protocols.
