COVID-19 Response: New Zealand vs The World

New Zealand's COVID-19 response is now rated the best in the world. According to the ‘The Best (and Worst) Places to Ride Out Covid’ released by Bloomberg last 24 November, NZ ranked as the most resilient out of 53 countries. 

The report further elaborates that New Zealand is able to return to normal, even without a proven vaccine. Live music and huge social events such as packed rugby games have been happening since June, and mostly with no masks on.

Living what seems like a far-off dream, NZ gained a resiliency score of 85.4, ahead of other countries such as Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea.

Take a look at these effective responses New Zealand has utilised to win against COVID-19.

Early and strict lockdown

New Zealand imposed full-on lockdown on 26 March, even before the country’s first recorded death. Although government ministries have only recorded a few mild cases, they’ve imposed Level 4 lockdown, which prohibits people from going out except for essential activities.

Read: New Zealand’s Physical Distancing Rules for Every Alert Level

This lockdown has completely prohibited all public gatherings, as well as closed international borders. This way, the virus can be easily detected and contained. Possibility of mass transmission can also be avoided. 

Rigorous contact tracing

The NZ government knows that lockdown alone isn’t enough to contain the virus. They also need to implement mass testing and contact tracing systems. The NZ COVID Tracer App was immediately developed, which records accurate tracking results.

Read: How Effective is New Zealand’s COVID Tracer App?

Fusing technology in medical responses proved to be successful for NZ. In cases of local transmission, medical experts were able to trace where suspected or confirmed COVID-19 positive patients went. This has prevented further spread in the community.

Keeping communication open

New Zealanders aren’t left behind! The NZ government made sure they have constant clear communication of what’s exactly happening in the fight against COVID-19. Be it a possible transmission, deaths, access to vaccines, or lockdown measures — every Kiwi, no matter how remote they may, are informed.

And because Kiwis are well-informed about the pandemic, they know exactly what to do and what not to do. This has allowed easy cooperation among the locals. This is also one of the reasons why the infection and fatality rates of the country are some of the lowest in the world.

Reaping investments in universal healthcare

If ever Kiwis test positive for Coronavirus, they can trust their public healthcare systems. This is why New Zealand has seen only a few deaths. It’s free to take COVID-19 tests anytime! You can confirm if your symptoms are due to COVID-19, without spending big bucks.

If you’re unwell and worried about your health, Kiwis can always call Healthline. There are available interpreters on the line, so no need to worry about the language barrier. It’s available every day, all-day — including weekends and holidays — and it’s free of charge.

COVID Resilience Ranking

All these measures have made New Zealand the best country to ride out COVID. Check out how other countries are coping.

Source: Bloomberg Survey

Stay safe and cautious

Life is almost back to normal for New Zealanders! Children can play outside, friends can hang out, and families can get together. However, do note that the threat of COVID-19 is still out there. Always be extra-safe by taking medical precautions like wearing masks, sanitising before and after physical contact, as well as maintaining physical distance.

Most of all, you can never go wrong with keeping yourself up-to-date! Know if there are possible transmissions or new health protocols imposed by the government. Stay connected wherever you are with an unlimited mobile plan.

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