New Zealand lifts all Covid restrictions, declaring the nation virus-free
Eugenia Adjei Mensah
Junior News
New Zealand has lifted almost all of its coronavirus restrictions after reporting no active cases in the country.
At midnight local time (12:00 GMT), all of New Zealand moved to level one, the lowest of a four-tier alert system.
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Under new rules, social distancing is not required and there are no limits on public gatherings, but borders remain closed to foreigners.
New Zealand has reported no new Covid-19 cases for more than two weeks.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told reporters she did "a little dance" when she was told the country no longer had any active virus cases.
"While we're in a safer, stronger position, there's still no easy path back to pre-Covid life, but the determination and focus we have had on our health response will now be vested in our economic rebuild," Ms Ardern said.
- BBC