posted August 25, 2021 12:55 AM            

To the overseas folks who find watching New Zealand’s Covid-19 response encouraging, Kia Ora. It’s Day 7 of lockdown. In the past 1 week, genomic sequencing has traced the outbreak to single person who went thru MIQ on 7th August.

We have stopped 107 chains of transmission /1

Our amazing contact tracers have contacted 13,000 possible contacts. Mass testing continues. In Auckland, the heart of the outbreak, over 10% of the region’s population (representative sample of households) have been tested in the past 1 week. /2

The short timeframe: 10 days only, between 7th and 17th August when the lockdown was announced means that we caught the outbreak relatively early. The Devonport man who got himself tested (sentinel case) when he became symptomatic is publicly praised for his actions /3

Wastewater testing has reassuringly found only positive samples in Wellington and Auckland, where we know cases have already been identified. Wastewater testing is sensitive to detect 10 positive cases per area of 100,000 ppl https://esr.cri.nz/our-expertise/covid-19-response/other-covid-19-work/wastewater-faqs/ /4

Wastewater testing is being expanded to new regions. After a momentary pause, to reconfigure vaccine centres, the vaccine rollout is now flying, with up to 1% of the population being vaccinated in single day earlier this week. /5

Prime Minister Ardern’s succinct communication at daily press conferences means we have in general a high level of understanding of incubation periods, we expected to see a rise in cases before the impacts of our lockdown are felt. Great communication means we know what to do /6

Cabinet has decided to extend lockdown in Auckland to the full 14 day virus cycle, and for 10 days for rest of country. The elimination approach continues to be overwhelmingly supported by the public /7 https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/23-08-2021/exclusive-poll-resounding-popular-support-for-decision-to-take-nz-into-strict-lockdown/

While you might see negative pieces from a tiny minority of commentators, the vast majority of New Zealanders support this. Very soon, we will have vaccinated to the same level as other countries, achieving similar immunity without deaths and hospital overwhelm.

posted August 25, 2021 02:24 AM            

Why do you believe, what you believe?

posted August 25, 2021 10:34 AM            

Mild to moderate functional neuroses is useful in child rearing, particularly young children. Not so good for nation building. You see the conundrum.