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Several countries, including France and the Netherlands, have reduced working hours. A trust company in New Zealand, Perpetual Guardian, also instituted a four-day workweek in 2018 after research found it was successful in reducing stress without decreasing productivity, Fast Company reported.

Last week, workplaces in New Zealand were able to reopen, as Ardern lifted most of the country's restrictions. In addition to offices, all businesses, including restaurants, bars and retail stores, as well as schools, were able to open with social distancing guidelines in place. Residents are also allowed to travel between regions and hold events with up to 10 people.

\"PHOTO:
Marty Melville/AFP via Getty Images
PHOTO: People walk on a street in Wellington on May 14, 2020.
>

Known COVID-19 infections have largely stabilized in the country over the past few weeks. New Zealand has had no new confirmed COVID-19 cases for two days in a row as of Wednesday. The South Pacific nation of 5 million has reported just 1,503 cases and 21 deaths.

In part thanks to her pandemic response, Ardern is New Zealand's most popular leader in a century, according to a Newshub-Reid Research poll released Monday. Nearly 60% of those surveyed preferred her party, Labour.

A Newshub-Reid Research poll also found that an overwhelming majority of New Zealanders backed the government's lockdown measures.

Last week, the leader warned that the Southern Hemisphere nation will have a \"very tough winter.\"

\"But every winter eventually is followed by spring, and if we make the right choices we can get New Zealanders back to work and our economy moving quickly again,\" Ardern said.

What to know about the coronavirus:

Tune into ABC at 1 p.m. ET and ABC News Live at 4 p.m. ET every weekday for special coverage of the novel coronavirus with the full ABC News team, including the latest news, context and analysis.

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