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New Zealand has nobody in hospital with coronavirus and has not discovered a new case for five days, the health ministry said today.
The last remaining hospital patient was discharged in Auckland overnight in the latest mark of success for New Zealand’s widely-praised response to the pandemic.
New Zealand only confirmed its first case on February 26, but had shut its borders by March 19 and started imposing a full-scale lockdown on March 26.
The country’s success means the lockdown could be virtually scrapped within weeks, with gatherings of up to 100 already permitted and plans being made to re-open travel to Australia.
The official tally of 1,504 infections has not budged since last Friday, while the death toll of 21 has not increased since May 6.
