3 community covid-19 cases. I knew it would happen, that is to say there would be more covid in New Zealand. It was just a matter of time. It's not just the fact I lived there a few weeks shy of 10 years, it's also the fact they need better border restrictions. New Zealand has been praised for its response, but the UK and South Africa are not banned and they should be because of the variants. Lots of other places have banned them, but not NZ.
Jacinda Ardern herself said one reason she decided to lockdown NZ was out of fear. But now they have 3 cases and the psychological impact. I am sure having stricter border restrictions will help keep covid out. New Zealand is an island far away from a lot of countries: a disadvantage and an advantage. Swine flu and bird flu never got to New Zealand because it was too far, but it lacks experience with health problems as a result. And being an island also is irrelevant: look at Australia, the UK, Indonesia, the Philippines, they all have covid. There are very few countries that do not have it. It has reached all continents.
Note no place that has had covid is free of it. Until recently New Zealand has always had covid. It has not had community cases, but it has had covid. The difference is important. Two, regardless of how competent authorities are or not, no place that has had covid has been officially declared covid-19 free by WHO (let's accept it's probably them that are going to formally declare this). Hong Kong was declared free of SARS by WHO; wild poliovirus type 2 was eradicated in 1999 and no case of wild poliovirus type 3 has been found since the last reported case in Nigeria in November 2012: both strains have officially been certified as globally eradicated; the UK was declared free of measles and actually lost that status.
When Australia declared its first case ever of covid-19, I was surprised New Zealand didn't get it within the next week. Australia is like a 'travel tunnel' to New Zealand. I wasn't surprised Air NZ was basically wiped out a month later, it's definitely not Qatar or Emirates or Cathay Pacific or Singapore Airlines, but what surprised me a bit was the speed it plunged into financial difficulties.
I have enough experience of the New Zealand psyche too. What I believe are the more loose border restrictions compared to other countries stem from it: "we'll be alright". No you won't. Only let permanent residents and citizens in. Or maybe not even them.
Not only are Kiwis not familiar with mask wearing and carrying hand sanitizer and wet wipes, but there's that mentality of "we're too far away for it to affect us", "chill out and relax", which is applied to many things.
They also don't realize in general how good they have it. I don't think they take it for granted, they do appreciate their country, they just don't fully realize it, especially the ones who don't really travel outside of it or forget after travelling. The ones who travel enough internationally or have emigrated do, but the born-and-bred Kiwis don't.
Yes, I give credit to New Zealand for their response, but you need to look beyond the numbers. The fierce lockdown was in part based on lack of resources, fear and also a female perspective. However, as the majority of leaders are men, a fair conclusion can't be confirmed.
You might think I am being overly critical of NZ, but this is my truth. Maybe it comes from the fact they have been praised a lot; but there are loopholes, don't blindly clap your hands. And possibly because I love it so much I don't want it to be affected too much by covid-19.
- A.M.
Sources:
♩ Swine flu did in fact reach New Zealand: https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/eyewitness/audio/2018738853/swine-flu-2009-2010
No comments:
Post a Comment