'Halfway down Everest': New Zealand set to ease into 'level two' lockdown rules
New Zealand is on the cusp of opening up society as it continues to tread a cautious path out of coronavirus lockdown.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern flagged the move from ‘level three’ lockdown restrictions to ‘level two’, paving the way for retail shops, hairdressers, beauty salons and some hospitality venues including bars and restaurants to open.
Under ‘level two’ of the country’s four-tier lockdown system, home gatherings are still expected to be small but up to 100 people will be able to attend events like weddings.
The level of restrictions will also see community and professional sports back up and running.
The country exited its most severe ‘level four’ restrictions on April 27 allowing greater movement of people, and the plan to loosen again could happen as early as next week.
Ms Ardern said the Cabinet will make a decision on loosening restrictions and she will announce that decision on Monday.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, she stressed no decision had been made yet and acknowledged New Zealand's success in containing the virus had put it in a good position to cautiously relax the rules.
The number of new cases has been in single digits since April 14, with just one new infection recorded on Thursday.
Australia’s trans-Tasman neighbour has seen just 21 coronavirus deaths and there are currently just two people in hospital with COVID-19 in the country, according to the New Zealand Ministry of Health.
Of the 1,489 confirmed and probable coronavirus cases in New Zealand, as of Thursday, 1,332 have recovered.
Entering the level two phase would bring New Zealand’s restrictions on certain activities, such as hairdressing, in line with Australia, while being much looser with other activities.
Physical distancing to continue as businesses open
Bars and restaurants can reopen, but with a maximum of 100 people, while hairdressers and beauticians will need to wear personal protective equipment.
“For retail that means physical distancing for all staff and customers. Larger retailers and malls will follow the lead of our supermarkets. For hairdressers and beauticians it means wearing appropriate PPE,” Ms Ardern said.
If bars or restaurants want to open they must adhere to strict spacing and social distancing requirements or be forced to close again. Other public venues like museums and markets can also open.
Schools will have full classes after running a skeleton operation in recent weeks and the country’s hallowed rugby fields will return to normal.
“Professional sport will be able to resume domestically under level two,” the Kiwi prime minister said.
“Super Rugby and the netball premiership have already confirmed their intention to resume a domestic competition, which I know will be cause for great excitement.”
‘Halfway down Everest’ but danger remains, Ardern says
Depending on advice from health authorities, Ms Ardern said the transition to the more relaxed level of restrictions could happen in a phased way, rather than all at once.
“I would rather take that advice and move out slowly, than be in Level 3 longer than we need to. Equally no one wants to make a decision that leads to us yo-yo-ing between levels.”
The New Zealand leader emphasised the country’s border would remain closed and Kiwis would have to adapt to a “new normal” under level two.
“It's designed to get as many people back to work as possible and get the economy running, but safely,” she said.
“Think of ourselves as halfway down Everest.
“It's clear that no one wants to hike back up that peak and the descent is known to be even more dangerous.”
Domestic travel will also be allowed, providing a boost for the hard-hit tourism industry.
New Zealand’s Health department director-general Ashley Bloomfield welcomed the prospect of more relaxed rules.
“For my part, I'm looking forward to giving some of my more extended family members and friends a careful hug,” he said.
“But for work colleagues and people I'm meeting for the first time, I'll probably stick to an elbow bump.”
with AFP
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