New Zealand no longer has any COVID-19 patients in hospitals, as the nation marks five consecutive days without any new cases of the coronavirus
During the country’s the latest coronavirus update, Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield said that the only person in New Zealand who had been in hospital with COVID-19 had been discharged, meaning that there was no longer anybody receiving care for the illness in hospital.
“I think this is the first time, at least probably in a couple of months, that we haven’t had somebody in hospital, so that’s another good position to be in.”
There have now been five days without any new cases of the coronavirus in New Zealand, and only just one singular case in the past week.
The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country remains at a total of 1154.
There have been no further coronavirus-related deaths in New Zealand, and one further person has reportedly recovered from the virus, only 21 people still have COVID-19 in the nation.
Bloomfield said labs in New Zealand processed 4279 tests yesterday, bringing the total number of tests conducted to 267,435.
This news comes after no new cases of infection of COVID-19 were recorded for the first time in New Zealand in early May, for the first time in almost six weeks.
He said the nation was to remain at alert level 2 in order to be certain that there was no further spread of the coronavirus and also to ensure border procedures in the country were safe and secure.
“Especially as we contemplate a possible bubble with Australia and/or more people coming into the country.”
He said he could not speak on Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters’ comments that the country should already be at alert level 1.
“What I can say is that we are working very hard on what level 1 will look like, and also separately working very hard with a whole range of players … on what a trans-Tasman bubble will look like and that requires having confidence in the arrangements on both sides of the Tasman.”
“What our job is, is to provide really good advice … to help make sure there is no risk of transmission between countries.”
Dr Bloomfield also encouraged those who had been going out and getting exercise during the lockdown to continue to participate in physical activity.
“I know it’s getting more difficult with shorter and colder days, especially those mornings, but if you can retain that physical activity and build it into your day, perhaps for local trips, that will help you stay well for the winter.”
Yesterday the government announced that they were putting $37 million into a COVID-19 vaccine strategy aimed at helping national, as well as global efforts to create and widely distribute a vaccine to fight COVID-19.
University of Otago associate professor James Ussher has said that he’s confident that a vaccine will be produced by the global scientific community.
“We’re already making some good progress, we have a strong team across a number of institutions,”
This news comes after The Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern, announced that herself ,as well as other ministers, would take a pay cut while the country deals with the coronavirus pandemic.
