Today, New Zealand reaches a bright milestone: It has been 100 days since it eliminated the coronavirus, the Associated Press reports.
The country got rid of the COVID-19 scare by imposing a strict lockdown in March, back when only 100 people were tested positive for the disease. Now, life in the country has basically returned to normal, as only returning travelers account for the few new cases that have been reported over last few weeks. Said travelers have then been quarantined at the nation’s borders.
"It was good science and great political leadership that made the difference," said professor Michael Baker, an epidemiologist at the University of Otago. "If you look around the globe at countries that have done well, it’s usually that combination."
As of this writing, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in New Zealand is only at 1,569, which is a far cry from countries on other parts of the globe. The US, for example, is nearing yet another grim milestone as the total confirmed cases inches closer to 5 million. Brazil—the country with the second-most cases—has also just recently breached the 3-million mark. India follows with just over 2 million total confirmed cases.
