New Zealand isn’t just flattening the curve. It’s squashing it.

[Dawnofhope]

New Zealand appears to be well placed halfway through a 28 day lockdown.

It’s been less than two weeks since New Zealand imposed a coronavirus lockdown so strict that swimming at the beach and hunting in bushland were banned. They’re not essential activities, plus we’ve been told not to do anything that could divert emergency services’ resources.

People have been walking and biking strictly in their neighborhoods, lining up six feet apart while waiting to go one-in-one-out into grocery stores, and joining swaths of the world in discovering the vagaries of home schooling.

It took only 10 days for signs that the approach here — “elimination” rather than the “containment” goal of the United States and other Western countries — is working.

The number of new cases has fallen for two consecutive days, despite a huge increase in testing, with 54 confirmed or probable cases reported Tuesday. That means the number of people who have recovered, 65, exceeds the number of daily infections.

New Zealand isn’t just flattening the curve. It’s squashing it.

What is it that New Zealand does that appears to be working? What are the core strategies that make the difference between saving lives and costing lives?

 

[Salvador]

New Zealand appears to be well placed halfway through a 28 day lockdown.

It’s been less than two weeks since New Zealand imposed a coronavirus lockdown so strict that swimming at the beach and hunting in bushland were banned. They’re not essential activities, plus we’ve been told not to do anything that could divert emergency services’ resources.

People have been walking and biking strictly in their neighborhoods, lining up six feet apart while waiting to go one-in-one-out into grocery stores, and joining swaths of the world in discovering the vagaries of home schooling.

It took only 10 days for signs that the approach here — “elimination” rather than the “containment” goal of the United States and other Western countries — is working.

The number of new cases has fallen for two consecutive days, despite a huge increase in testing, with 54 confirmed or probable cases reported Tuesday. That means the number of people who have recovered, 65, exceeds the number of daily infections.

New Zealand isn’t just flattening the curve. It’s squashing it.

What is it that New Zealand does that appears to be working? What are the core strategies that make the difference between saving lives and costing lives?

Humidity. Corona viruses aren't as contagious in moisture. They can't travel as far weighed down in moist air; hence, they don't transmit over distances from person to person.

 

[dfnj]

New Zealand appears to be well placed halfway through a 28 day lockdown.

It’s been less than two weeks since New Zealand imposed a coronavirus lockdown so strict that swimming at the beach and hunting in bushland were banned. They’re not essential activities, plus we’ve been told not to do anything that could divert emergency services’ resources.

People have been walking and biking strictly in their neighborhoods, lining up six feet apart while waiting to go one-in-one-out into grocery stores, and joining swaths of the world in discovering the vagaries of home schooling.

It took only 10 days for signs that the approach here — “elimination” rather than the “containment” goal of the United States and other Western countries — is working.

The number of new cases has fallen for two consecutive days, despite a huge increase in testing, with 54 confirmed or probable cases reported Tuesday. That means the number of people who have recovered, 65, exceeds the number of daily infections.

New Zealand isn’t just flattening the curve. It’s squashing it.

What is it that New Zealand does that appears to be working? What are the core strategies that make the difference between saving lives and costing lives?

Certainly better curve than Italy:

Australia Coronavirus: 6,010 Cases and 50 Deaths - Worldometer

Italy:

Italy Coronavirus: 135,586 Cases and 17,127 Deaths - Worldometer

 

[Shadow Wolf]

What is it that New Zealand does that appears to be working? What are the core strategies that make the difference between saving lives and costing lives?

Strict lockdown.

 

[Kangaroo Feathers]

Getting people to stay indoors in New Zealand is presumably pretty easy. It's not like there's anywhere else there you'd particularly want to go.

What else are they gunna do? Go to the Bob Semple Museum Of Disgusting Armoured Failures? Visit the fart flavored mud puddles? Throw themselves off that bridge? Please.

 

[lewisnotmiller]

Humidity. Corona viruses aren't as contagious in moisture. They can't travel as far weighed down in moist air; hence, they don't transmit over distances from person to person.

Since when is New Zealand a humid locale?
#confused

 

[Harel13]

What is it that New Zealand does that appears to be working? What are the core strategies that make the difference between saving lives and costing lives?

Law-abiding citizens?

 

[lewisnotmiller]

New Zealand appears to be well placed halfway through a 28 day lockdown.

It’s been less than two weeks since New Zealand imposed a coronavirus lockdown so strict that swimming at the beach and hunting in bushland were banned. They’re not essential activities, plus we’ve been told not to do anything that could divert emergency services’ resources.

People have been walking and biking strictly in their neighborhoods, lining up six feet apart while waiting to go one-in-one-out into grocery stores, and joining swaths of the world in discovering the vagaries of home schooling.

It took only 10 days for signs that the approach here — “elimination” rather than the “containment” goal of the United States and other Western countries — is working.

The number of new cases has fallen for two consecutive days, despite a huge increase in testing, with 54 confirmed or probable cases reported Tuesday. That means the number of people who have recovered, 65, exceeds the number of daily infections.

New Zealand isn’t just flattening the curve. It’s squashing it.

What is it that New Zealand does that appears to be working? What are the core strategies that make the difference between saving lives and costing lives?

Very clear messaging from the government.
Quick action based on overseas experience.
Defensible borders (water) with many of the flights routing from other countries (including Australia) with defensible borders also.

That's about it.

Jacinda Arden appears to be doing a good job, looking from the other side of the ditch. Again.

 

[Dawnofhope]

Very clear messaging from the government.
Quick action based on overseas experience.
Defensible borders (water) with many of the flights routing from other countries (including Australia) with defensible borders also.

That's about it.

Jacinda Arden appears to be doing a good job, looking from the other side of the ditch. Again.

They are some of the main points that suggest why New Zealand is in a good place in regards managing this pandemic. Our government and citizens are sensible and have carefully heeded the advice of scientists. We have taken evidence based strategies. Mindful of the experience of China and Italy we have taken the pandemic very seriously and acted promptly to close our borders, test for the virus and do rigorous contact tracing. The government, community and individual citizens have worked well together. Jacinda Ardern has been excellent and the opposition party have been supportive and constructive.

 

[Sunstone]

As I see it, the fact New Zealanders have been staying six feet apart is a thinly disguised attempt on their part to appear to the rest of the world as far more numerous than they actually are. Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. Some countries will go to virtually any lengths in order to impress the rest of us.

 

[Salvador]

Since when is New Zealand a humid locale?
#confused

"The climate of New Zealand is varied due to the country's diverse landscape. Most regions of New Zealand belong to the temperate zone with a maritime climate (Köppen climate classification: Cfb) characterised by four distinct seasons."

Please check out source reference: Climate of New Zealand - Wikipedia

Auckland, New Zealand's most populous city has had many recent days with relative humidity of around 80 percent. ...

Please check out source reference: Relative humidity Auckland - Observations | Auckland Weather History

Christchurch, New Zealnad's second most populous city, has had many recent days with relative humidity around 90 percent.

Please check out source reference: Relative humidity Christchurch - Observations | New Zealand Weather History

 

[stvdv]

What is it that New Zealand does that appears to be working? What are the core strategies that make the difference between saving lives and costing lives?

1) Corona starts very slow ... my feeling is, that N.Zealand is still in the start of the curve. IF after 2 more weeks it's still low, then I would say it works
2) New Zealand is very strict with virus for many years, because of their sheep business; people have been brainwashed of it's importance for years
3) New Zealand has ocean all around, no borders with other countries; much easier to control, and when you stop flights+boats you stop all

 

[Revoltingest]

New Zealand appears to be well placed halfway through a 28 day lockdown.

It’s been less than two weeks since New Zealand imposed a coronavirus lockdown so strict that swimming at the beach and hunting in bushland were banned. They’re not essential activities, plus we’ve been told not to do anything that could divert emergency services’ resources.

People have been walking and biking strictly in their neighborhoods, lining up six feet apart while waiting to go one-in-one-out into grocery stores, and joining swaths of the world in discovering the vagaries of home schooling.

It took only 10 days for signs that the approach here — “elimination” rather than the “containment” goal of the United States and other Western countries — is working.

The number of new cases has fallen for two consecutive days, despite a huge increase in testing, with 54 confirmed or probable cases reported Tuesday. That means the number of people who have recovered, 65, exceeds the number of daily infections.

New Zealand isn’t just flattening the curve. It’s squashing it.

What is it that New Zealand does that appears to be working? What are the core strategies that make the difference between saving lives and costing lives?

I have a theory that New Zealand, like Australia, doesn't exist.
So your statistics can be whatever you want.
Although this means Burt Munro never really existed.
That's a darn shame.

 

[Dawnofhope]

Strict lockdown.

That is absolutely correct. Our government announced severe restrictions two days before the event. At the time we had just over 100 cases of coronavirus but that day we had suddenly gone up 30+ new cases whereas in previous days it had been 10 or so each day. We were reminded that Italy once had 100 cases.

 

[Dawnofhope]

Law-abiding citizens?

We have those who flout the rules like everyone else. However when our restrictions were implemented we were collectively aware of what had happened in both China and Italy. Now two weeks into the restrictions its also Spain, Iran, France, the UK, the USA and too many others following a pattern of escalating rates of infection and death. Is it preventable? Absolutely. As a nation we collectively understand and most of us genuinely want to play our part to stop the spread of coronavirus.

 

[Dawnofhope]

1) Corona starts very slow ... my feeling is, that N.Zealand is still in the start of the curve. IF after 2 more weeks it's still low, then I would say it works
2) New Zealand is very strict with virus for many years, because of their sheep business; people have been brainwashed of it's importance for years
3) New Zealand has ocean all around, no borders with other countries; much easier to control, and when you stop flights+boats you stop all

1/ At the time we implemented our lockdown we had less than 200 cases and no deaths. So we took action early.

2/ We know all about bio security not just because of sheep but because of the diverse agriculture and horticulture that is the backbone of our economy.

3/ We have over 4 million tourists visiting each year so its one of the key contributors to our prosperity. Once we secured our borders through cruise ships and flights we stemmed the tide that had already gained momentum. Our closest neighbour is Australia nearly 1000 miles away! So having no neighbouring countries physically has certainly helped.

 

[Dawnofhope]

I have a theory that New Zealand, like Australia, doesn't exist.
So your statistics can be whatever you want.
Although this means Burt Munro never really existed.
That's a darn shame.

Joking aside, there is some truth to the notion that countries outside of the USA either don’t exist or don’t matter as the mantra ‘America first’ has its truth. It is good to have pride in one’s country but the twentieth century taught us about the excesses of nationalism.

 

[Dawnofhope]

"The climate of New Zealand is varied due to the country's diverse landscape. Most regions of New Zealand belong to the temperate zone with a maritime climate (Köppen climate classification: Cfb) characterised by four distinct seasons."

Please check out source reference: Climate of New Zealand - Wikipedia

Auckland, New Zealand's most populous city has had many recent days with relative humidity of around 80 percent. ...

Please check out source reference: Relative humidity Auckland - Observations | Auckland Weather History

Christchurch, New Zealnad's second most populous city, has had many recent days with relative humidity around 90 percent.

Please check out source reference: Relative humidity Christchurch - Observations | New Zealand Weather History

New Zealand’s climate is diverse as with the USA and most likely has little to do with the spread of coronavirus. However its an interesting thought and there’s certainly evidence to suggest temperature and humidity affect coronavirus in laboratory conditions.

 

[Revoltingest]

Joking aside, there is some truth to the notion that countries outside of the USA either don’t exist or don’t matter as the mantra ‘America first’ has its truth. It is good to have pride in one’s country but the twentieth century taught us about the excesses of nationalism.

We are the 500 pound gorilla.
You are our fleas.

 

[Regiomontanus]

Humidity. Corona viruses aren't as contagious in moisture. They can't travel as far weighed down in moist air; hence, they don't transmit over distances from person to person.

Yeah early on I read that it looked like the virus did not like heat and humidity. But like most other reports on different aspect of this situation, it may not be the case after all?

Coronavirus shown to spread in high heat and humidity