WELLINGTON, June 3 (Xinhua) -- Restrictions on businesses will be removed under COVID-19 Alert Level 1, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern explained the details on Wednesday as New Zealanders are seeing their lives returning to normal.

New Zealand reported no new case of COVID-19 for 12 consecutive days on Wednesday.

The decision to move down to Alert Level 1 will be made on June 8, Ardern said, adding it was possible that New Zealand could move down to Alert Level 1 by June 10.

Strict border controls will still remain, Ardern said, adding restrictions on hospitality businesses, gatherings and community sport will be lifted.

She said it is not necessary to consider physical distancing measures under Alert Level 1, but the government still encourages contact tracing efforts.

Ardern stressed coughing etiquette because risks remain as New Zealand heads into winter with more asymptomatic transmission.

New Zealand's combined total of confirmed and probable cases stayed at 1,504, Director General of Health Ashley Bloomfield told a press conference on Wednesday.

The total number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 remains at 1,154, which is the number reported to the World Health Organization, Bloomfield said.

The number of people who have recovered from COVID-19 is unchanged at 1,481, he said, adding the situation was "hugely satisfying."

The number of COVID-19 related deaths in New Zealand remained at 22, with no additional deaths, he said, adding there is no one in New Zealand receiving hospital-level care for COVID-19.

The NZ COVID Tracer app has now recorded 487,000 registrations, according to the health ministry. Enditem

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