New Zealand's COVID-19 eradication efforts have been so successful, there is now just one active case in the whole country.
Health officials announced the startling result on Friday as they also confirmed a seventh consecutive day without a positive test. Australia, by comparison, has 467 active cases although none in the ACT or NT.
The last remaining Kiwi with COVID-19 is an Auckland resident aged in their 50s, whose recovery will allow New Zealand to become the first country since the onset of the global pandemic to declare itself free of the disease.
On Friday, the NZ government relaxed its restrictions further, allowing gatherings of up to 100 people.
Finance Minister Grant Robertson said New Zealand "now has some of the most relaxed settings in the world".
"Because of our success in fighting this virus, our public health efforts to go hard and go early have allowed us to open up our economy much quicker than many other countries," he said.
"We are more liberal than Australia, Canada, Ireland, France, Italy, the Netherlands, the UK and the US to name a few."
The government will review its last remaining restrictions on 8 June.
Four months from an election, Jacinda Ardern's governing Labour party is taking fierce criticism from both governing partner NZ First and the opposition National party to remove all societal and business restrictions.
In total, 1,504 Kiwis have contracted the virus, with 22 deaths.
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others and gatherings are limited to two people unless you are with your family or household.
If you believe you may have contracted the virus, call your doctor (don’t visit) or contact the national Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080. If you are struggling to breathe or experiencing a medical emergency, call 000.
SBS is committed to informing Australia’s diverse communities about the latest COVID-19 developments. News and information is available in 63 languages at sbs.com.au/coronavirus.
lavere1997 on May 29th, 2020 at 08:48 UTC »
Man it must suck to be that last person who has it there, not including the obvious reasons. "Hey John, remember that time the entire country no longer had the virus except for you?" "Get bent"
Comeonjeffrey0193 on May 29th, 2020 at 08:23 UTC »
My dad is convinced coronavirus is here to stay, so we should just get used to it and open everything back up; i mentioned this to him and he goes, “why don’t you move to New Zealand then?”
umarwong4 on May 29th, 2020 at 05:49 UTC »
Kiwis have been encouraged to enjoy a "normal" holiday weekend after seven straight days of no new Covid cases - and there is now just one active case in this country.