Covid 19 coronavirus: NZ could have been faced with 1000 cases a day

New Zealand could have been staring at 1000 cases of the deadly virus a day if the country hadn't gone into lockdown when it did, the Government claims.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is warning New Zealanders on the last day of lockdown the country had avoided the worst, but needed to remain vigilant to make sure the country does not have a second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic sweeping the globe.

She again reminded the "team of five million" that as some headed back to their workplaces tomorrow under alert level 3 restrictions - it was not a time to socialise.

"Level 3 will not be a return to pre-Covid life", she said.

"We must make sure that we do not let the virus runaway on us again and cause a new wave of cases and deaths."

She said NZ needed to move slowly and cautiously to bring back the social element. It would happen, but not yet.

Ardern said people should pause to digest the country's low number of confirmed Covid-19 deaths.

However, those lives lost were still a tragedy, she said.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern speaks to media on the last day of lockdown. Photo / File

She said that without the lockdown there would have been more than 1000 cases a day and this showed why the lockdown was necessary.

"We will never know what would have happened without our level 4 restrictions but we can look overseas and see that this devastating scenario has played out in many other countries. Through our accumulative actions we have avoided the worse."

She said the numbers - including a 0.4 per cent transmission rate - were incredible and were due to the sacrifice every single New Zealander had made.

Ardern said there was strong evidence NZ does not have strong community transmission, but hunting down the last few cases was a challenge.

"... this is like a needle in a haystack," Ardern said.

New Zealand could process up to 8000 tests a day - one of the highest testing per capita in the world.

Ardern again reminded people to remain vigilant and if they were extending their bubbles that it should only be to a few people and they should remain small and exclusive.

People should also maintain social distancing with anyone outside their bubbles.

She encouraged people who were unwell to stay home and to get tested for Covid-19.

Ardern said if New Zealand needed to remain at level 3 after two weeks then it would as she would not risk the gains that had been made. Cabinet will meet on May 11 to discuss moving from level 3.

• Covid19.govt.nz: The Government's official Covid-19 advisory website