New Zealand has recorded no new coronavirus cases for the first day since a national lockdown came into force more than a month ago.
The Ministry of Health on Monday confirmed no infections had been recorded in the preceding 24 hours, signalling another significant step forwards in the country's battle against the Covid-19 pandemic.
“This is the first day we’ve has no new cases, and we want to keep it that way,” Director General of Health Ashley Bloomfield told reporters in Wellington.
“It is cause for celebration. It’s important that we reflect that it is symbolic of the effort everyone has put in.”
The last time there were no new Covid-19 cases on a single day in New Zealand was on March 16.
The country has to date reported 1,487 confirmed and probable cases of Covid-19, with 86 per cent of those infected since having recovered. Twenty people have died.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern last week eased strict lockdown rules put in place on March 25 to limit the outbreak, downgrading the level four lockdown by one degree after several days during which reported cases hovered in single figures.
Speaking at the time, Ms Ardern said there was "no widespread undetected community transmission in New Zealand", adding the country had "won that battle".
The government is now due to decide whether to move to level two on May 11.
The move to level three has allowed some-non essential businesses to resume trading and afforded people slightly greater freedom of movement.
But it has also led to a surge in breaches of lockdown rules, police said, with officers and Ms Ardern expressing frustration at those flouting the restrictions.
“We need to not get ahead of ourselves, stick to our bubble, and finish what we started,” she said.
Mr Bloomfield meanwhile cautioned that the next test of New Zealand's success in battling the pandemic will come later this week - when any fresh cases resulting from the easing of restrictions a week ago will likely become apparent.
