New Zealand records 100 days without COVID-19 community spread

[Ashoka]

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12354489

 

New Zealand relied on three types of measures to get rid of the virus:

1. Ongoing border controls to stop Covid-19 from entering the country
2. A lockdown and physical distancing to stop community transmission
3. Case-based controls using testing, contact tracing and quarantine.

 

So how come other places can't do the same?

[Woodie]

Yes, and the joke was that the US issued a warning about their citizens travelling to New Zealand, because of the dangers of catching the virus!!!.

I think someone with some sense pointed out to the issuing body the stupidity of their stand because of two reasons. One being that entry to NZ is not on right now, due to that flu type thing, and two, there are only 23 cases of Corona active in NZ at this time. This out of a country of about 5 million.

Oh well

[seven]

7 hours ago, Ashoka said:

So how come other places can't do the same?

Because it's not a sustainable solution. In the long run, I think NZ is worst off in the world.

"Prof Ekstrom added that evidence from elsewhere indicated that lockdowns were unsustainable. ‘You go crazy after a while,’ she said. 

'Lockdown is a blunt, unsustainable and harmful instrument over any prolonged period, especially damaging for younger populations, wider healthcare and the economy, with poorer people hit hardest. Closing down primary schools especially is a huge mistake.’

Prof Ekstrom believes Stockholm, currently down to ‘two or three’ patients in intensive care in its infectious disease hospitals, may be coming close to herd immunity as shown by the sustained fall in critically ill patients and fatalities – and that this is a consequence of avoiding lockdown. "

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8607731/Why-Sweden-pilloried-world-refusing-lock-having-laugh.html

[Woodie]

On 8/10/2020 at 7:14 AM, seven said:

Because it's not a sustainable solution. In the long run, I think NZ is worst off in the world.

"Prof Ekstrom added that evidence from elsewhere indicated that lockdowns were unsustainable. ‘You go crazy after a while,’ she said. 

'Lockdown is a blunt, unsustainable and harmful instrument over any prolonged period, especially damaging for younger populations, wider healthcare and the economy, with poorer people hit hardest. Closing down primary schools especially is a huge mistake.’

Prof Ekstrom believes Stockholm, currently down to ‘two or three’ patients in intensive care in its infectious disease hospitals, may be coming close to herd immunity as shown by the sustained fall in critically ill patients and fatalities – and that this is a consequence of avoiding lockdown. "

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8607731/Why-Sweden-pilloried-world-refusing-lock-having-laugh.html

So NZ is worse off than that pillar of democracy, the US, and other countries which refused to believe what was happening?.

I guess time will tell, but from what I am told they seem to be getting along quite well in the Land of the Long White Cloud. Maybe having heaps of the elderly and a few younger ones mixed in joining the casualties, is not a big price to pay for those countries who let things go wild earlier in the year. I would not lay money on either side of the equation in the long run, but I think I know where I would rather be right now.

[seven]

On 8/9/2020 at 11:14 PM, seven said:

In the long run

 

2 hours ago, Woodie said:

So NZ is worse off than that pillar of democracy, the US

Not at all right now, but in the long run. I think we all know which country leading the way in failure responding to covid-19, thanks to their insane leader.

2 hours ago, Woodie said:

I would not lay money on either side of the equation in the long run, but I think I know where I would rather be right now.

Neither would I, but it's my belief that closing a country is not the way forward. It's just my opinion, Woodie. I respect yours. Time will tell whos right.

[BigTel]

6 hours ago, seven said:

but it's my belief that closing a country is not the way forward.

I agree, I see closing the Country tanamount to destroying it from the inside out.  For any one who may be able to get into Thailand now, here's something to welcome you and your finances even before we can have our first beer.

 

[Quietguy]

Auckland has been locked down again after 4 new cases of coronavirus (one family). First cases in 102 days.

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/new-zealand-moves-fast-to-lock-down-auckland-after-surprise-covid-outbreak-following-weeks-of-no-cases-2020-08-11

 

[Ashoka]

7 hours ago, Quietguy said:

Auckland has been locked down again after 4 new cases of coronavirus (one family). First cases in 102 days.

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/new-zealand-moves-fast-to-lock-down-auckland-after-surprise-covid-outbreak-following-weeks-of-no-cases-2020-08-11

 

They didn't seem to travel so would be interesting how they got it.

Non symptomatic carrier?

[Pdoggg]

It's a legitimate debate if society should ever be locked down.  But if one thinks that lockdowns are necessary tool in this fight then better to take quick action and lock down sooner than later.  

[Quietguy]

19 hours ago, Ashoka said:

They didn't seem to travel so would be interesting how they got it.

Non symptomatic carrier?

NZ authorities are investigating the possibility it was from incoming freight.

https://www.uk.yahoo.com/news/zealand-delays-election-process-plunges-005012069.html

 

[Quietguy]

NZ PM, Jacinda Ardern, say there are another 13 cases linked to the 4 previous new cases in Auckland.

https://www.uk.news.yahoo.com/zealand-pm-says-covid-19-024207269.html

 

[seven]

12 hours ago, Quietguy said:

say there are another 13 cases linked to the 4 previous new cases in Auckland.

I thought they had exterminated the virus and closed the country down? That didn't work then?

[markm]

thoughts and prayers with nz, lol ,no a lockdown will work better. good luck guys. will be watching with some morbid interest. to compare it to victorias action. 

[BigTel]

6 hours ago, markm said:

will be watching with some morbid interest. to compare it to victorias action

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/300081511/coronavirus-government-will-send-all-confirmed-covid19-community-cases-to-quarantine-facilities

The Government will send all of the confirmed community cases of Covid-19 to a quarantine facility instead of allowing them to recover at home.

[Quietguy]

On 8/14/2020 at 8:46 AM, BigTel said:

The Government will send all of the confirmed community cases of Covid-19 to a quarantine facility

Worker at Quarantine hotel contracts virus: https://www.uk.yahoo.com/news/worker-zealand-quarantine-hotel-tests-022640771.html

NZ authorities believe new outbreak came from Australia or UK: https://www.uk.yahoo.com/news/new-zealand-coronavirus-outbreak-came-from-britain-or-australia-111529249.html

[Quietguy]

Lucinda Ardern hits back at Trump over coronavirus 'surge'.

https://www.uk.yahoo.com/news/zealand-reports-13-confirmed-cases-013620553.html

[Pdoggg]

4 hours ago, Quietguy said:

Lucinda Ardern hits back at Trump over coronavirus 'surge'.

Yesterday, new covid cases:  New Zealand 12  USA 44,000    America First!   

[seven]

On 8/13/2020 at 10:35 PM, seven said:

I thought they had exterminated the virus and closed the country down? That didn't work then?

bump

[BigTel]

On 8/13/2020 at 9:35 PM, seven said:

I thought they had exterminated the virus and closed the country down? That didn't work then?

It makes us both laugh I reckon when we see this as it mirrors what Thailand is doing and we know it ain't working there either.

There is a obsession of posting this daily figures chart yet the Virus respects no border closing so in the big scheme of things what is the point in destroying the economy simply to be saying "We only have imported cases"  surely a case is a case.

[seven]

12 hours ago, BigTel said:

It makes us both laugh I reckon when we see this as it mirrors what Thailand is doing and we know it ain't working there either.

There is a obsession of posting this daily figures chart yet the Virus respects no border closing so in the big scheme of things what is the point in destroying the economy simply to be saying "We only have imported cases"  surely a case is a case.

Exactly. It's really sad to see this ignorance and fear mongering. You would expect if from Thailand, but I thought countries like New Zeeland was more enlightened.

[seven]

https://www.magic.co.nz/home/news/2020/08/nz-should-move-to-similar-approach-to-covid-as-sweden--who-speci.html

On the show today Ryan had an amazing interview with Dr David Nabarro, a special envoy of The World Health Organisation (one of six) specializing in COVID-19.

Dr Nabarro had plenty of praise for the New Zealand Government and the NZ people for reacting quickly and without hesitation to the initial threat of COVID-19, but says that now we should be looking to alternative methods of moving forward in our response to COVID-19.

 

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2020/08/coronavirus-senior-world-health-organization-official-praises-new-zealand-s-pandemic-response-but-suggests-goal-of-sweden-s-model.html

 

 

A senior World Health Organization (WHO) official has praised New Zealand's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, but suggests the world slowly moves towards a model similar to Sweden's.

Dr David Nabarro, one of six special envoys to WHO on the virus, told The Ryan Bridge Drive Show on Magic Talk that New Zealand was strong from the beginning with its response and COVID-19 was taken seriously before there were a large number of cases.

But now Auckland has moved into a second lockdown - something he says WHO urges countries not to stay in for too long - steps need to be put in place so the virus can be lived with.

"And secondly, as quickly as possible, get the economy and social life moving again so that it is possible for people to realise that you can go about life, while having the virus in your midst and keep ahead of it."

"You do everything possible to avoid the lockdowns, and in that regard, I think comparison with Sweden and with other countries that are able to get going again without major lockdowns, that's the right comparison and that's the goal of the future."

 

[Woodie]

Seven ,I know you are not, but it may appear to some from your writing, that you are hoping/waiting for NZ to have an upsurge in cases, or fall in a heap, because they have taken the wrong steps.

They may have, but I am no medical specialist, (although after last Thursday being flat on my back in Emergency I did learn a bit!!!). I don't think any country has got it right but I think I would rather be in one that has minimised the effects, and still operates in a manner that at least does not make the virus out to be something that is not worth worrying about.

[seven]

16 hours ago, Woodie said:

Seven ,I know you are not, but it may appear to some from your writing, that you are hoping/waiting for NZ to have an upsurge in cases, or fall in a heap, because they have taken the wrong steps.

They may have, but I am no medical specialist, (although after last Thursday being flat on my back in Emergency I did learn a bit!!!). I don't think any country has got it right but I think I would rather be in one that has minimised the effects, and still operates in a manner that at least does not make the virus out to be something that is not worth worrying about.

Not at all. I hope the world can unite and take the reasonable way out of this nightmare. The virus knows no borders, you can't keep it controlled within national borders. NZ is the perfect example of that.  It's here to stay,  just a matter of learning to live it. Hopefully a vaccine will make that  easier, but to wait for it like a divine solution is dangerous and will eventually ruin nations and societies.  It takes the whole planet to fight this together.

What good is Swedens success if Norway or any of our neighbours choose the opposite way? You can take a quick train ride over from Denmark and obviously bring anything unwanted along. 

 I'm as eager as anyone  here to be able to travel to LOS again, but it takes a joint effort worldwide.

Lockdowns will only hurt the already weak and poor, like we see in Thailand now. Give them a chance to survive, ffs. Is it better to let them starve to death while the virus is "controlled"?

You and I (I assume) are fortunate enough to survive through tougher times, but the less fortunate are threading a thin line.

So no, I hope for the exact opposite you suggest.

 

[Woodie]

2 hours ago, seven said:

Not at all. I hope the world can unite and take the reasonable way out of this nightmare. The virus knows no borders, you can't keep it controlled within national borders. NZ is the perfect example of that.  It's here to stay,  just a matter of learning to live it. Hopefully a vaccine will make that  easier, but to wait for it like a divine solution is dangerous and will eventually ruin nations and societies.  It takes the whole planet to fight this together.

What good is Swedens success if Norway or any of our neighbours choose the opposite way? You can take a quick train ride over from Denmark and obviously bring anything unwanted along. 

 I'm as eager as anyone  here to be able to travel to LOS again, but it takes a joint effort worldwide.

Lockdowns will only hurt the already weak and poor, like we see in Thailand now. Give them a chance to survive, ffs. Is it better to let them starve to death while the virus is "controlled"?

You and I (I assume) are fortunate enough to survive through tougher times, but the less fortunate are threading a thin line.

So no, I hope for the exact opposite you suggest.

 

I am somewhat confused by what you say.

You say it takes the whole planet to fight this together. Apart from a successful vaccine, what would you suggest?. Are you saying Sweden's method is the best. You dont think NZ's is.

What about the USA?. Are they doing it right?. Spain , Italy, the UK?. None of us on here have the answer.

Some countries such as China are giving numbers that may or may not be true. How would you know?. Some "experts", quote South Korea as a good example. Have not heard much from there lately.

Hell, the economies of many countries are going to pot, along with individual companies, and right down to the one man bands all over the world. I for one cannot travel. I have business to conduct in China and Thailand. I cannot get out of the country even if I wanted to!.

I dont have the answer thats for sure. Where I live, we are in isolation. Very limited options of where we can travel. 

I ,like a lot of people are pinning their hopes on a successsful vaccine but that could be a year or more away.

[seven]

2 hours ago, Woodie said:

I am somewhat confused by what you say.

You say it takes the whole planet to fight this together. Apart from a successful vaccine, what would you suggest?. Are you saying Sweden's method is the best. You dont think NZ's is.

I truly believe its better to "open up" the world, yes. Let people get on with their lives and hope a vaccine will help us along the way. 

Lockdown is not a sustainable solution, imo. Do you believe it is?

2 hours ago, Woodie said:

I dont have the answer thats for sure. Where I live, we are in isolation.

Neither do I. I appreciate we're living under completely different circumstances right now and I'm grateful for the approach we took by not shutting down everything.