Schools and businesses have reopened in Auckland after the lifting of a lockdown in New Zealand’s largest city to contain the resurgence of the coronavirus, but face masks were made mandatory on public transport across the country.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said that she was confident the new measure would be taken up across New Zealand, adding that “a bit of smiling with the eyes behind the mask” and kindness to Aucklanders in particular, would help get the country through the latest outbreak.

“We have a plan that we know will work. We just need everyone’s compliance and help. If everyone sticks to those guidelines and rules, coupled together with all the public health measures that we have, we can make this work,” Ardern, wearing a mask herself, told reporters in Auckland.

People wearing a face mask wait for the bus on the first day of New Zealand's new coronavirus safety measure that mandates wearing masks on public transport. — Reuters
People wearing a face mask wait for the bus on the first day of New Zealand's new coronavirus safety measure that mandates wearing masks on public transport. — Reuters

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