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Original poster

New Zealand has eliminated coronavirus

282 replies

Porpoises · 27/04/2020 19:33

I keep seeing posters saying "well we'll all have to catch it sooner or later". It's not true. If the government had the political will and competence, they could pursue an elimination goal.

New Zealand has eliminated coronavirus, no new cases today. They locked down early, semi-closed their borders and are aggressively testing, tracking and isolating people exposed. This means they can ease lockdown with everyone safe. They will obviously have to be vigilant in case they have missed cases, but it looks like they will succeed in getting coronavirus free.

Wish I could emigrate - but for obvious reasons they're not accepting visitors right now!

www.bbc.com/news/amp/world-asia-52436658

OP posts:
mbosnz · 29/04/2020 12:35

No shit.

Yes, the rich-poor gap in NZ has been widening badly, particularly under the previous National Government. The current Government at least is attempting to address it.

In the UK, there's been this little thing called Austerity for the last how many years? That's really not been very nice for the people at the bottom of the money chain. Quite a few deaths are laid at its door in fact. And then there's the shit show called Universal Credit.

And how about how fun it is in Florida, to be poor, mentally and/or physically unwell, and homeless? And how many of those poor souls there are. . .

The idea of anyone getting a house in Waiheke now, that doesn't have money by the truckload, is laughable. It's sad for the locals when a place is 'discovered' and becomes the place to live. Just like Queenstown, Wanaka, Lake Tekapo, Golden Bay. . .

NZ is by no means perfect. It is not Utopia. No place is, no place should be lauded as such, or held up to be, or expected to be. It has very similar problems to most other developed Western nations, some it has better, some it has worse. It can and should do better in many areas, just as other developed Western nations should do so.

DDemelza · 29/04/2020 13:12

Yep. I live in the UK now (have lived in better places but this is what our family circs currently require), and I think NZ and the UK are pretty much fucked up along the same lines, in all honesty. A lot of English people do seem to think it's a brave new world down there, though- Christ knows why.

I would never dream of calling either country "developed."

mbosnz · 29/04/2020 13:58

I would never dream of calling either country "developed."

LOL. Alrighty then.

Rebootingagain · 29/04/2020 14:02

On the original topic, my gut feeling (that’s all it is) is that Sweden have done this right.

I think if the UK had adopted the same approach the NHS would have been overwhelmed so probably were largely correct in the steps they took.

I think NZ approach has probably just delayed their second wave when they have to return to normality (same applies where I live completely closed borders and now basically no cases in the community)

fedupfrida · 29/04/2020 17:21

NZ has more sheep than people Grin
Much easier to handle CV than our overcrowded country.
Good for them though. It’s a great country.

DDemelza · 29/04/2020 19:53

The ratio of sheep to people is decreasing, however. When I was born, there were 20 sheep per capita. Now there are fewer than 15 per capita, I believe.🎻

Incidentally, I had a pet sheep called Polly. She was a total bastard.

eaglejulesk · 29/04/2020 22:11

The ratio of sheep to people is decreasing, however. When I was born, there were 20 sheep per capita. Now there are fewer than 15 per capita, I believe

Much less than 15 now - something like 6 I believe. In some places we have to look hard to find sheep as they've been replaced by cows.

Cherryblossomsnow · 29/04/2020 22:46

Jesus I still had the 20 per person figure in my head. I grew up with a paddock of sheep next to me in NZ 😀👍

DDemelza · 29/04/2020 22:54

6? Sad.

Mind you all my mates who farm have or work with cows. Bonus titbit: apparently, they're lesbians. The cows, not (all) my mates.

Cherryblossomsnow · 29/04/2020 22:58

DDemza - so many sheep but I only ever knew one sheep farmer. Like you I knew lots of diary farmers?? I didn't know that about the cows.

DDemelza · 29/04/2020 23:04

People are going to think that whenever New Zealanders get together, we start talking about sheep, Cherry.

Cherryblossomsnow · 29/04/2020 23:38

Ha ha I thought that too actually- I am turning this thread into a discussion about sheep aren't I Blush

DDemelza · 30/04/2020 00:01
Grin
nannytothequeen · 30/04/2020 04:17

I know quite a few sheep farmers. It's a hard life. And for poor rewards. I've had quite a few pet sheep. They are all bastards in the end. Massive and without fear. The cute bottle drinking lamb stage doesn't last long and before you know it they are a ball of muscle on legs with shitty arses that refuse to be caught who would knock you flying as soon as look at you.

Original poster
Porpoises · 30/04/2020 08:05

I've had quite a few pet sheep. They are all bastards in the end. Massive and without fear. The cute bottle drinking lamb stage doesn't last long and before you know it they are a ball of muscle on legs with shitty arses that refuse to be caught who would knock you flying as soon as look at you.

I'm learning all kinds of unexpected things from this thread Grin

For anyone wondering, Britain has three people to every sheep. I looked it up.

OP posts:
nannytothequeen · 30/04/2020 11:02

Don't get me started on chickens. I had a flock for a while. Evil bullies who give massive side eye before pecking your hand hard given the chance. They lived on their nerves though. They got taken regularly by hawks.

Rangoon · 16/06/2020 05:41

Well NZ was covid-free till we let in two people from the UK and let them out of isolation early on compassionate grounds. I think we'll be less likely to do that again and people in quarantine will be tested more.

Guineapigbridge · 16/06/2020 05:58

Yep, two new cases in NZ today. Hopefully they didn't spread it anywhere.

JimMaxwellantheshippingforcast · 16/06/2020 05:59

Well I hardly think letting them out of quarantine early is relevant. If they've got it they'll be positive wherever they are.

I also think it highlights the precarious position New Zealand is in with covid being in nearly every other country in the world.

pigeon999 · 16/06/2020 06:07

I don't think we can call anywhere 'CoVid free' until every person in the world has either had the virus (and tested for antibodies) or has had a successful vaccine. Every country will be at risk from another outbreak at any time of varying degrees in severity.

I would still socially distance, avoid the masses and be sensible if I lived in NZ as I think complacency is probably the biggest risk now.
NZ will have to make some hard choices soon about opening the borders. They depend heavily on tourism (and sheep!)

NZ is a wonderful country, and I hope they are enjoying life again and continue to be safe.

CKBJ · 16/06/2020 06:44

Just shows how easily things could rise again. New Zealand is in a precarious situation can they survive with no tourism until a vaccine is found and it’s eliminated from around the world (or significantly reduced)? And here in England people are complaining about a 2 week quarantine rule and want it abolished. If anything this shows the rules need to be stricter not abolished here eg stay in accommodation the government has hired, hotels close to airports, sea ports etc paid for by the visitors, no travelling on public transport to your destination.

Derbygerbil · 16/06/2020 07:03

I would still socially distance, avoid the masses and be sensible if I lived in NZ as I think complacency is probably the biggest risk now.

These two new cases aside, NZ has been Covid-free for weeks. I’m all for being cautious, but if you’d continue to socially distance in such circumstances then you’re effectively resigning yourself to isolation for the rest of your life!

Redolent · 16/06/2020 07:32

@JimMaxwellantheshippingforcast

Well I hardly think letting them out of quarantine early is relevant. If they've got it they'll be positive wherever they are.

I also think it highlights the precarious position New Zealand is in with covid being in nearly every other country in the world.

How is it not relevant? They drove from Auckland to Wellington (at least six hours I’d imagine), then attended a funeral. That’s very different to being quarantined at the border.
sashagabadon · 16/06/2020 07:49

NZ gov have got themselves in a difficult position now as the public expectation is to be and remain covid free and one case is too many.
It will be impossible to keep this up indefinately but they now have no choice but to.
They cannot make their own vaccine and even if they could they cannot test it and they now have to rely on other nations to create a vaccine and sell it to them.
They will be the bottom of the list for an international vaccine as they do not have covid ( and so their population is not at risk unlike some other nations )and they are a developed nation so no one will be arguing they should get it before others. Not sure they could even argue that!
It could work with their trans bubble but that does cut them off from europe/ america for potentially a very long time.

pigeon999 · 16/06/2020 08:02

derby Er, no I won't be resigning to isolation for the rest of my life because we are developing a vaccine right now, and it is going extremely well and looks to be ready by September.
The minute NZ opens their borders CoVid will reenter for sure, so do you intend to keep NZ completely isolated indefinitely is the real question?

If you have experienced 50,000 people dying in your country you may not be so quick to go and mingle trust me! I hope it doesn't happen to you.