ilovepussy said: And just an FYI: New Zealand has a population of approx 4.9 million people whereas the USA has a population of approx 330 million. Many of them are packed into cities like sardines in a sardine can. Population density plays a huge rule in controlling ANY outbreak. What works in one country may not be as effective in another country.
Yes you are right US population is much larger than NZ, approximately 66 times bigger. But on that basis the US should have had 1,914 deaths.
Even allowing for density it wouldn’t be anywhere like the US current death rate. And the SE Asian countries with high density also didn’t have the per capita death rate of US.
As I’ve said before our health system didn’t fall over which it would have. I think we have the lowest number of ICU beds per capita in the OECD.
It would seem to me that the issue became a political one in the US, whereas it didn’t in NZ - even the Opposition parties quickly changed the viewpoint when the majority of the population got behind the public health measures & they could see the writing on the wall.
The British comedian, Russell Howard when talking about our first lockdown, at a show here commented that “ Jacinda [(Ardern) our Prime Minister] went get the fuck inside and we all went, agh okay”. Funny (it’s on YouTube) but pretty much how it went. We had 48 hours to get home. There’s a Canadian/ Swiss family (also on YouTube) who have been here for a year as the Government extended all visas.
Our one community transmission delta case turned into 1000+ - it’s really amazing that if we hadn’t done something just how much the outbreak would have grown. I’m waiting upon all those pundits overseas (& in NZ) to admit they were wrong- but I won’t hold my breath.
What a lot also don’t understand is because of our reaction the economy bounced back so much that even the economists in the reserve bank, trading banks, treasury, etc all thought we were stuffed - some egg on their faces when the economy came back to pre-Covid levels, stronger than UK, US, Canada & Australian economies and the unemployment rate was 4% (not the 25% they’d been throwing around) which also is the lowest rate in 30 years.
Sure there’s been some issues but which country hasn’t had some issues. And a major one is Auckland now at level three seems to think they have no lockdown rules- they do, no masking (although not mandatory - but watch this space) & no social distancing. They’re pissing the rest of the country off.
NZers overseas were told in March 2020, to come home, large numbers did, but large numbers didn’t. A Managed Isolation & Quarantine system was subsequently established at five star hotel’s. Now those (including some of my family) that didn’t come back when told are upset that we have a supply of MIQ spaces that doesn’t meet their demand. They’re even complaining about sports teams (including our Olympic team) getting rooms. It’s like they expect the rest of us to put our lives and activities completely on hold for them.
Cases seem to be in one gang which is proving hard to control- the authorities may have to issue a quarantine notice against those particular persons. But the daily cases have dropped (slight jump today to 13) but they are all traceable, which is good.
We live in South Island (Christchurch where the earthquakes were and mass shooting occurred) and we’re at level two (with some additional “delta” controls) rest of country also at level two and want to get to level one, but can’t unless Auckland gets to level two. Hence why we are getting pissed off with Dorklanders.
We looking for an uptake of 90% vaccination rate, which should prevent future lockdowns. It looks like 80% will be achieved easily (43% fully vaccinated & 37% with first shot - something like that) the remaining 10+% might be more difficult. Lots of organisations (Government & NGOs & businesses) all trying to do their part and get over the 90%. No one wants anymore lockdowns.
We have a plan to reopen to world (including having dedicated Covid wards in hospitals). Some trials to be started on travel, self-isolation that sort of thing. Vaccine passports are to be introduced. The Government released “Reconnect Plan” the week before the delta outbreak- kind of a perfect storm.
Even though this is the fourth lockdown for Auckland (still has 18 months free) the Government is still the favoured political party - not as much as before the election after the first lockdown, but still miles ahead of any other party.
Keep your fingers crossed for us, but it looks like we may have done it again.