New Zealand is set to start easing its coronavirus lockdown restrictions as Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced at the start of the week that a number of businesses can resume operations. 

Shopping malls, movie theatres, restaurants, playgrounds and gyms are to open their doors once again as from this Thursday, the PM stated.

Additionally, schools in New Zealand are open Monday next week, on the 18th of May. 

Despite there being a number of places reopening, the government urged the public to keep distant from one another and apply the social distancing measures that have not been lifted. 

Bars will not open before May 21st, whilst the country’s borders to tourists will remain closed. 

During the televised address, Ardern said, “Your efforts New Zealand have got us to this place ahead of most of the world and without the carnage that Covid has inflicted in many other places. But there are risks ahead, so please be vigilant.”

“This is a transition out of our bubbles, you can see people you haven’t seen in a while, you just can’t do it all at once.” 

“At Level Two we are out and about again, just about all parts of the economy are opening up again.”

Non-essential services were shut down at the end of March.