“In total, New Zealand has reported 1,504 confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19, including 22 total deaths. The vast majority of these (69%) were linked to travel, either in travelers who recently arrived from affected areas or contacts of travelers.” outbreakobservatory.org/outbreakthursd…
“Over the course of its epidemic, New Zealand’s daily test positivity—an important metric for gauging whether a country is testing enough for the size of its epidemic—averaged less than 1%, which is much lower than many other countries.”
This worked because early on:
The stopped non-residents from entering New Zealand from infected areas.
They required residents and citizens coming from infected areas to do mandatory quarantine.
Implied: They had low travel volume (being disconnected helps).
The stopped non-residents from entering New Zealand from infected areas.
They required residents and citizens coming from infected areas to do mandatory quarantine.
Implied: They had low travel volume (being disconnected helps).
NZ ramped up their testing and didn’t limit it to only symptomatic cases.
The used contact tracing to find and isolate contacts of known cases (recursively).
The used contact tracing to find and isolate contacts of known cases (recursively).
They never required (or did the majority ever) wear masks.
The politicians were decisive early and did the right thing.
“Prime Minister Ardern credits her country’s approach of “going hard and going early” as central to its success in containing the COVID-19 epidemic.”
“Prime Minister Ardern credits her country’s approach of “going hard and going early” as central to its success in containing the COVID-19 epidemic.”
“New Zealanders exhibited a high degree of compliance with population-based social distancing restrictions earlier in its epidemic than many other countries, which has been credited with limiting spread among the broader population.”
“With respect to international travel, the fact that New Zealand is an island nation in a relatively isolated geographic location may mean that its efforts to limit importation through travel restrictions may be more effective than similar measures in other countries.”
“New Zealand also has lower population density than many other countries (#200 in the world), which can slow transmission of the virus and make social distancing measures easier to implement.”
They also have more sheep than people (and sheep don’t catch SARS-CoV-2).
They also have more sheep than people (and sheep don’t catch SARS-CoV-2).
