Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand’s youngest Prime Minister, is now celebrating containing a second wave of COVID-19 infections in Auckland city successfully. Ardern has announced that coronavirus restrictions will be now lifted in Auckland, which had lately seen a spike in the cases. The city has had no new cases in 12 days. Celebrating this, Ardern said, "It felt longer and dragged on in what was already starting to feel like a very long year," during a press conference broadcast on Facebook.
Ardern maintained a calm demeanour in wake of the novel coronavirus pandemic in the country. Her leadership skills in such testing times earned her worldwide praise. She was even named in the World’s Top 50 Thinkers of COVID-19 Age by UK-based Prospect Magazine. Ardern, the Prime Minister of New Zealand, took the second spot in the list that was led by Kerala’s Health Minister KK Shailaja.
In late May, under Ardern's leadership, New Zealanders enjoyed 102 days without community transmission. But in August, people in Auckland city came face to face with a new wave of transmission, forcing its 1.5 million people to go into lockdown again for almost three weeks. It has now been 12 days since any new case has been reported. "But despite this, Aucklanders and New Zealanders stuck to the plan that has worked twice now, and beat the virus again," the Prime Minister hailed. She also announced that Auckland will now be open as the rest of the cities in New Zealand with fewer restrictions starting on Wednesday (October 7).
Also Read: Jacinda Arden To Be New Zealand’s Youngest PM
A Rugby match on the cards
Ardern also mentioned that there will be no restrictions on social gatherings and emphasised on an upcoming Rugby match in Auckland. Bledisloe Cup test is slated for October 18 at Eden Park. And, yes, fans will be allowed to attend. "This is positive news that (Auckland fans) will be able to enjoy Test match rugby," New Zealand Rugby said in a statement.
At 38, Ardern became the country’s youngest Prime Minister and New Zealand’s third female prime minister. "A resurgence of the virus is not our only worry, resurgence of complacency is right up there too," Ardern said citing that with only 40 active cases reported in the country on Monday, she is now prepping to face a general election on October 17.
Also Read: Kerala’s Rockstar Health Minister KK Shailaja, Fighting Corona Head On
Feature Image Credit: WikiCommons
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