Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


New Zealand Celebrates End of Coronavirus Restrictions

VOA News

   New Zealanders gathered at restaurants and cafes Tuesday to celebrate
   the official end of their long coronavirus quarantine period.

   After more than two months of restrictions that brought everyday life
   to a standstill, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern lowered the four-tiered
   lockdown system first imposed in March to its lowest tier, scrapping
   all virus-related restrictions on public gatherings, including sports
   and weddings, while keeping New Zealand's borders closed to
   international travel.

   New Zealand has had a total of 1,504 confirmed coronavirus infections
   with 22 deaths out of 5 million citizens, according to the Johns
   Hopkins University's COVID-19 dashboard. COVID-19 is the disease caused
   by the coronavirus.

   Despite the return of normal life within its borders, Antarctica New
   Zealand, the government agency responsible for carrying out
   environmental research on the continent, said Tuesday it will cut back
   research visits to its Antarctica base to prevent spreading COVID-19
   outside the country.

.