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NEW Zealand is set to scrap social distancing from next week after 11 days without a single new case of coronavirus.
The country has just one active case of COVID-19 in the country today and has recorded only 22 deaths and 1,154 cases since the pandemic began.
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Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern had previously said June 22 was the latest a decision to loosen remaining social distancing restrictions would come, and on June 8 the Government would reconsider the "settings" of alert level 2.
But after speaking with director-general of health Dr Ashley Bloomfield this week, Ardern said the country could be in level 1 as early as June 10, "as long as we keep seeing the results we're seeing now".
She said: "We are exceeding our expectations in terms of our progress, which is a fantastic position to be in.
"Our strategy of go hard, go early has paid off."
We will be one of the first countries in the world to return to this level of normality so quickly
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern
Gong to level 1 means all social distancing measures and limits on mass gatherings will be lifted, but borders will remain closed to the outside world
The South Pacific island nation of 4.8 million people had introduced a strict lockdown and enforced it for nearly seven weeks, despite there being no signs an epidemic was taking hold.
Most businesses were shut and everyone except essential workers had to stay at home.
Ms Ardern added: "We will be one of the first countries in the world to return to this level of normality so quickly."
Meanwhile in the UK daily coronavirus cases are falling to some of the lowest rates since the outbreak with the latest daily cases standing at 1,613 and the overnight death toll of 324, with nearly 40,000 dead so far.
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Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the coronavirus outbreak has had a "very significant impact" on Britain.
He told tonight's No 10 briefing that it underlined the importance of developing a test and trace system.
"It is undoubtedly true that we have had a very significant impact from this virus - there is no doubt about that," he said.
"We have been learning all the way through it how best to deal with that.
"The test and trace system that we have built over the past few weeks is one of the lessons that comes out of it - the absolute vital importance of having a system that is big enough to be able to trace as many of those who tested positive as possible."
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Hope for pubs as Boris says hospitality industry could get back quicker than predicted - and the two metre rule can be reduced too
As the country emerges out of the worst of the pandemic, it has relaxed lockdown to allow people to meet up outside.