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New Zealand marks 100 days without community transmission of coronavirus

Today marks 100 days since New Zealand recorded its last case of community transmission of corona...
Stephen McNeice
Stephen McNeice

09.59 9 Aug 2020


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New Zealand marks 100 days wit...

New Zealand marks 100 days without community transmission of coronavirus

Stephen McNeice
Stephen McNeice

09.59 9 Aug 2020


Share this article


Today marks 100 days since New Zealand recorded its last case of community transmission of coronavirus.

There are currently 23 active cases in the country, but all are being managed in isolation facilities.

Officials say it has now been over three months since a case of COVID-19 was "acquired locally from an unknown source".

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New Zealand's director-general of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield urged everyone in the country to 'not let the team down'.

He said: "Achieving 100 days without community transmission is a significant milestone, however, as we all know, we can’t afford to be complacent.

"We have seen overseas how quickly the virus can re-emerge and spread in places where it was previously under control, and we need to be prepared to quickly stamp out any future cases in New Zealand.

"Every person in the team of five million has a role to play in this."

The total number of confirmed cases in New Zealand is 1,219.

Everyone who arrives in the country has to quarantine for 14 days.

New Zealanders will go to the polls in six weeks, with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern this weekend launching her party's re-election campaign.

Ms Ardern acknowledged it will be a 'COVID election' - saying there is "no denying that COVID has changed New Zealand, and therefore it will inevitably change what we talk about this election".

Opinion polls have shown Ms Ardern and her Labour party surge in the polls in recent months, with local media this weekend reporting the prime minister has a 'crushing' lead over her nearest rival.

Main image: New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. Picture by: Guo Lei/Xinhua News Agency/PA Images

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