Ardern announces plan to re-open NZ economy

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Monday announced a plan to re-open the economy and the nation's schools over the next 10 days. Life is expected to resemble what it was like before the outbreak in many respects, although social distancing rules will still apply, and social gatherings will be limited to 10 people at events like weddings and funerals.

Under the plan, almost all businesses will be able to re-open from Thursday, including retail stores, malls, restaurants, hair salons and gyms. Schools will then re-open from next Monday and bars will be the last businesses allowed to reopen, from May 21.

Ardern said bars posed a high risk. "We don't want to be South Korea, open our bars only to close them again," she told reporters in Wellington.

New Zealand has been successful in reducing new cases of the virus to a trickle. In total, the country has reported close to 1,500 cases and 21 deaths. Ardern said New Zealanders needed to remain cautious.

"We may have won a few battles but we have not won the war," she said.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.