New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern declared on Monday that the country "beat the virus again" and announced restrictions in the country's largest city would be eased after a second Covid-19 wave was contained.

The virus was believed to have been eradicated in late May after a strict national lockdown led to New Zealanders enjoying 102 days without community transmission. 

With no new confirmed cases in Auckland for 12 days, Ardern said Monday the virus was now under control and congratulated residents for enduring the second lockdown.

"It felt longer and dragged on in what was already starting to feel like a very long year," she said.

"But despite this, Aucklanders and New Zealanders stuck to the plan that has worked twice now, and beat the virus again," she added.

Ardern said from late Wednesday Auckland would join the rest of New Zealand on level one, the lowest rating on the government's four-tier virus alert system. 

She pointed to a decline in the use of the official Covid-19 tracing app and falling virus test numbers.

She said, "A resurgence of the virus is not our only worry, the resurgence of complacency is right up there too."

Source: AFP