New Zealand's cabinet agreed to downgrade the country's pandemic alert level from three to two in a four-tier system, New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said at a press conference on Monday.

The lower emergency level means that cinemas, restaurants and gyms will be able to reopen from Thursday this week, the prime minister said, adding that gatherings would be allowed for up to 10 people.

In addition, she noted that schools in the country will began to reopen on May 18 and bars from May 21.

As of Monday, New Zealand has reported a total of 1,497 cases of COVID-19 with 21 deaths.