New Zealand eases lockdown after reporting just two new cases in daily figures

New Zealand authorities ended lockdown in Auckland on Sunday after the country reported just two new cases of the coronavirus in its latest daily figures.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced that curbs in the hotspot of New Zealand's outbreak would be eased from 11.59pm local time on Sunday, but said these could be tightened again if necessary.

Limits will stay on public gatherings and movement in Auckland, with face masks made mandatory nationwide from Monday.

Ms Ardern confirmed the easing of restrictions on the same day the government was forced to withdraw an incorrect public notice that caused a rush of people at testing centres.

At 5pm on Saturday the government’s official United Against Covid-19 social media channels posted a notice advising people in West and South Auckland, home to some 700,000 people, to get tested regardless of whether they showed any symptoms.

The following morning saw a significant rise in turnout at testing centres, lasting until 1.15pm when the Prime Minister stated the notice was incorrect. Ms Ardern said she was “incredibly angry” about the misleading information being disseminated.

Within 25 minutes, the posts were replaced with a new statement stating only people who have been in contact with a confirmed or probable case needed to get tested, “even if they don't have symptoms”.

Ms Ardern thanked Aucklanders following the easing of lockdown measures, but also urged them to “keep going” with their vigilance and caution. She warned that New Zealand will return to higher alert levels if necessary.

The new level of restrictions for Auckland, which the Prime Minister referred to as level 2.5, entails level 2 restrictions but with additional limits on public gatherings. In effect, the short-term lockdown introduced in the city to curb a second wave of infections is over.

The rest of New Zealand remains at level 2. Masks on public transport are mandatory across the entire country, and on September 6 the government will make a decision on whether it is possible to further ease the alert levels in Auckland and the rest of the country.

The new cases reported on Sunday are linked to the same Auckland cluster, director of public health Caroline McElnay said at the same press conference.

Since the beginning of the pandemic crisis, 750,000 New Zealanders have been tested, more than one seventh of the country’s entire population.

There are 136 known active cases in the country at present, with 10 people in hospital and two in intensive care.