New Zealanders line up for midnight haircuts as shops reopen

Residents of New Zealand lined up at midnight on Thursday for haircuts as barbershops reopened in the country, which has seen some of the most notable success in containing the coronavirus.

New Zealand imposed some of the world’s strictest restrictions and has recorded less than two dozen deaths, along with 1,147 cases. After eliminating community spread of the virus, the country announced it would begin lifting restrictions. Australia, by contrast, is set to remove its restrictions by July, Axios reported.

Barber Karl Hurcombe told the publication he had been anxious about his finances during the lockdown but that he had been grateful for the time to himself during the lockdown period as well.

“Part of me was like I’ve got myself in a bit of a laid-back rut now!” he said.

The country has moved to Level 2 of its alert system, which, according to New Zealand’s government, “means you can resume many of your everyday activities — but you have to do so safely.”

The relaxed restrictions will allow all businesses that “can do it safely” to reopen to customers, and school and early-learning centers will also reopen.

“You can travel between regions,” the government said. “Initially, gatherings like weddings, religious ceremonies and social gatherings can have up to 10 people.”

Residents will also be allowed to socialize and engage in recreation with friends and family, initially in groups of 10 or fewer.

“We went hard and we went early. We got control of the virus, and now we’re in a position where we can safely step out of those controls and open our economy back up,” New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said this week.