22/02/2023

The global coronavirus pandemic has brought countries to a standstill. Here are the latest updates on worldwide Covid-19 cases, deaths, government responses, and more.

After almost five weeks under a strict lockdown, New Zealand eased restrictions this week.
Starting Tuesday, around 400,000 people have gone back to work, some children have returned to school, and takeaway shops and cafes have reopened.
But its definitely not back to pre-Covid life.
Wellington, the countrys capital city, remains extremely quiet, with few pedestrians out and few cars on the road. In the city center, it feels deserted — like a public holiday.
In the city — known for its coffee culture — some cafes have reopened, but many remain shuttered. Those that have opened have strict rules — some require customers to order through an app so its a contactless transaction, and customers arent allowed in the store. 
On a regular, pre-Covid weekday, the New Zealand Parliament grounds would be packed with people eating their lunch. But on Thursday morning, the grass at the legislature looked overgrown, and there were few people around.
Many Wellington workers are public servants, meaning that many are not allowed back into the office under the eased restrictions.
Has New Zealand “eliminated” the virus? Case numbers in the country have dropped to the low single digits — suggesting “we’ve achieved our goal of elimination,” said Ashley Bloomfield, New Zealand’s director general of health, on Monday.
He added that “elimination” does not mean zero cases, but means “we know where our cases are coming from.” Since April 1, there is only one case where authorities are still investigating the source of infection, he said.