New Zealanders queue up along streets as barbers return to business

New Zealanders have welcomed the easing of Covid-19 restrictions with dozens lining up on the streets at midnight to get a haircut.

Hairdressers and barbers throughout Auckland opened their doors at midnight, according to the New Zealand Herald.

This cafe and barbers in Birkenhead, Auckland, opened at 1 minute past midnight Thursday, after New Zealand’s lockdown moved to level 2. I took this at 1.30am. Had a tasty treat from Dutch Delight, where I met 2 women dining out while wearing pyjamas.

According to reports, at least three Auckland barbers opened their doors at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday.

The state of emergency was declared in New Zealand on 25 March. On Monday, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced that the country would move from the alert level 3 to level 2 starting from Thursday, further relaxing coronavirus-related restrictions. Over the past day, New Zealand registered no new COVID-19 cases with the total tally stands at 1,147 with 21 related deaths.

COVID-19 alert level 2 in New Zealand envisages that retail stores, shopping malls, restaurants, cinemas, and other public places will reopen.