New Zealand, for sure, has had probably the most effective response (helped by geography, for sure) among western nations.
That said: having it controlled now doesn't mean that it will stay controlled forever. As we're seeing right now in Spain, France and the US plains states, even very low steady state infection rates can still flare up. Then you spend a week watching people die, locking down, and watch rates go back down slowly. And then... realistically it probably happens a third time. Or a fourth.
Everyone needs to be taking this seriously. NZ isn't immune to the next outbreak, nor Sweden. But no: in areas with known-low and steady infection rates, a full lockdown isn't necessarily required.
Still: stay outside, stay masked, stay apart. Break those rules as little as possible.
That said: having it controlled now doesn't mean that it will stay controlled forever. As we're seeing right now in Spain, France and the US plains states, even very low steady state infection rates can still flare up. Then you spend a week watching people die, locking down, and watch rates go back down slowly. And then... realistically it probably happens a third time. Or a fourth.
Everyone needs to be taking this seriously. NZ isn't immune to the next outbreak, nor Sweden. But no: in areas with known-low and steady infection rates, a full lockdown isn't necessarily required.
Still: stay outside, stay masked, stay apart. Break those rules as little as possible.