New Zealand has eliminated coronavirus

[Porpoises]

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

Pics Any country can - and should - block travel from any other country it consider a significant risk
e.g. the UK should have blocked travel from China much earlier
For that matter, so should France have done

Sweden was not a risk to France; the UK was

France is much further away from Sweden and has far far fewer visitors from there
Also Sweden, even without lockdown, had far fewer cases at that time than the UK

(the Scandi countries with or without lockdown had v low cases compared to Western & Southern Europe)

You don't see NZ 'ers making comments like this about the UK.

I've heard much worse about the UK, and the English particularly, from Kiwis back in NZ. Scathing and nasty, even.

They have not eliminated the virus, they have stopped the first wave. You really needed to listen to the PM
The population is tiny and spread our so easy to damp down the zero. It is controlled but not eliminated

Any country can - and should - block travel from any other country it consider a significant risk

The fact remains that it seems the UK didnt chop and change on an ignorant or flippant whim, it had an approach but was threatened and had little choice but to change tack (if only in a partial basis) as a result.

Different countries have very different situations

• population density, international travel connections, age demographics, ethnicity, culture, single person / multiperson households, temperature, vitamin D level ...

Hence the optimum strategy will differ,

NZ's policy was feasible for them and worked
The UK couldn't do this

Sweden's policy was feasible for them and seems to have worked
Their deaths were multiples higher than their Scandi neighbours in lockdown, but "acceptable" - comparable to the Uk with lockdown

The UK couldn't "do a Sweden" either, at least not then, because multiples of Italy would have been carnage

Probably very similar groups of countries, e.g. Scandi, will find the optimum within that group works for them all

Pics The UK govt did not change tack because of Macron,
but because UK people and businesses were already doing their own disorganised lockdown

The govt basically accepted a fait accompli from a hefty section of its people

Many businesses shut down, either because too many employees were off, or because customers dropped too much to make a profit

Schools shut down because so many teachers and pupils were off sick, or just staying hme anyway

That was chaotic and was hitting the economy anyway, without giving nough benefit in infection reduction

BigChocFrenzy

I would agree with that. I think the point is that the UK should have been permitted to "do a UK" ... although we effectively have, between the lines, and arguably it had worked so far for us, with our economy not (yet) having collapsed and the NHS surviving and now reopening to all non COVID care, with COVID capacity retained in the Nightingale, Louisa Jordan and Dragon's Heart hospitals for further waves of the disease.

Each country needs to take the approach which best suits it's own demographics and geographic and economic circumstances.

When it comes down to it I don't think you can compare any countries equal and therefore compare their response to Covid-19.

To be clear NZ still has Covid-19 cases. Up today by 3 but they are all linked to already known clusters so able to be tracked.

NZ is an island nation that locked down quickly and at level that is higher that most (but not all) nations. We had the benefit of time and also a centralised government that didn't need to negotiate with states/other areas with clear borders as well as a responsibity towards our pacific island neighbours who definately cannot cope with this widespread infections. And a labour government that puts people over the economy.

We have a Prime Minister and Director of Health that are very Charismatic and clear in instruction.

We also have a health care system that just cannot cope with this Virus. There are 520 ventilators in NZ with 563 ICU beds (from my limited research). We clearly would have been overcome very quickly and as lockdown is the only option at the moment to solve this.

But Australia has had a far less restrictive lockdown down with similar results. It may well be that such restrictions weren't necessary.

However in the weeks leading up to lockdown it felt like we were sitting ducks here just waiting for this to hit us like others. So even if it was an over reaction I'm pleased. However our income and lifestyle at this point is unchanged - this is totally not the case for all New Zealanders.

I'm looking forward to the analysis and the information we gain from this to try and stop this again.

Instead of attacking New Zealand's response let's look forward and make learnings from this so we are never in this position again.

@pinsinred I've heard much worse about the UK, and the English particularly, from Kiwis back in NZ. Scathing and nasty, even.

Really??? Sorry we are too busy living our lives on the other side of the earth to have any discussion about this lol!

Even now in this thread I haven't seen a NZ'er make any negative comment towards the UK but yet it's full of nasty comments the other way.

itstrue

Nonsense. It's a pervasive sentiment in NZ.
Heard it repeatedly for decades.

@PicsInRed Most countries have got pride in themselves - ‘Great’ Britain, etc I genuinely believe that people should have pride in their country but I experienced plenty of nasty comments towards NZ and Australia while living in the U.K. Its the only country where a group of colleagues called the Immigration (Home Office) as I was “working illegally”. It was humiliating being visited at work but I have both a U.K. and an EU passport. No country is perfect but in most countries thankfully 99.9% of people are decent. I’m sorry you didn’t enjoy your time in NZ but be careful that that chip on your shoulder doesn’t fall off and break your foot.

40% of tourism arrivals into NZ are Australian, compared to 7% from the U.K.

I don’t think that any country is going to come out of CV19 in a wonderful place. Each country will have economic struggles, many of us will have financial issues and possibly have lost family members, friends, colleagues etc. Each country will ask questions of those in charge, I hope that lessons are learned in all countries and hopefully we can all move towards normality soon

I’m sorry you didn’t enjoy your time in NZ but be careful that that chip on your shoulder doesn’t fall off and break your foot.

I'm a proud Kiwi, lovely. Just a realistic one.

‘Great’ Britain

This refers to the larger ('Greater') of the British Isles, rather than being a self declaration of awesomeness.

@picsinred

I'm a proud Kiwi, lovely. Just a realistic one.

Really??? Because your comments are totally on the minority. Are you actually a New Zealander living in New Zealand?

As for hearing consistently negative comments about the UK in NZ I suggest you change your toxic circle of friends!! Because the rest of us have no comment about a country on the other side of the world to us!

@picsinred I’m yet to see any pride or even realism. As for ‘Great’ I’m well aware of the geographic meaning however I heard it often enough as a declaration of awesomeness. Fair enough, it’s a great country as is NZ but I think you’re being extremely critical and unfair in measuring NZ poorly against the U.K. in its response to Covid 19.

I hope you find a happier, more positive and realistic mindset because bitterness and toxicity isn’t healthy

@unmentionables

I hope you find a happier, more positive and realistic mindset because bitterness and toxicity isn’t healthy

Perfect response!

I do apologise. Have I not Kiwi'd correctly today? I'll be more endlessly positive tomorrow. Promise.

If you look at my initial comments you'll see that I don't have negative feelings towards NZ, rather a mix of pride and concern.

I think you’re being extremely critical and unfair in measuring NZ poorly against the U.K. in its response to Covid 19.

Supporting the UK response is not criticism of NZ's response. It isn't a zero sum game - as it's not a competition, there can be more than one success story. I was clear that different nations have different needs and need to take the action which is best for their own circumstances.

@picsinred yeah right

My island is small, and already mentioned up thread.

We have adopted a similar approach to New Zealand. Borders closed and prior to that anyone coming in had to do 14 days self isolation.

Testing has been fairly prolific (I was positive) and with the exception of one nursing home which tragically accounts for most of the deaths, and will probably result in more) the virus in the community seems to be largely gone.

My issue is the same as the one NZ are now facing. How the he’ll do we get back to normality.

I made well over 50 trips on and off island last year - it’s essential to the economy that we can get to Dublin, London, Manchester etc for training, conferences and meetings. Many people commute each week.

We have lots of workers from all over the world who have relocated here to work but on the basis that their employer facilitate regular travel back to their own country.

Even residents who are currently off island are only being allowed back in small numbers once a week on a dedicated sailing then forced to stay in a particular hotel for two weeks.

People will leave if they can’t travel freely and the economy will be knackered.

There is already resentment building and people realise that the second wave will come at some point when we try and get back to normal.

Personally I would have adopted the Swedish approach, but hope to be proven wrong and that there is some grand plan to get back to normal.

itstrue

Undies undies togs

@PicsInRed - I'm afraid I have to agree with itstrue and Unmentionable. You are constantly putting NZ down (one assertion is that most of us are alcoholic, and I seem to remember obesity being mentioned as well), and in fact most of your posts are put downs. You don't live here, and I suspect haven't done for some time. You seem to be rather bitter against us for some reason - which of course you are entitled to be - but why must you spout the same negative comments on every post where NZ is mentioned? I see no sign of pride at all - and as for realistic, well you are at odds with the rest of us there.

Well said Picsinred

@picsinred lol!

Stop being an arse then! But you do realise that add is at least 10 years old now. You might want to upskill.

one assertion is that most of us are alcoholic, and I seem to remember obesity being mentioned as well

Problem drinking is statistically an issue, as is obesity. I would not claim it is an issue in "most" of the population. I believe the word I used was "widespread".

Again, I apologise for not Kiwi'ing correctly today. I'll have a stern word with myself and turn up a more acceptably positive Kiwi tomorrow.