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How New Zealand Beat Covid

  • Writer: Ethan Mehta
    Ethan Mehta
  • Apr 15, 2022
  • 2 min read

Updated: Jul 28, 2022

The COVID pandemic has no doubt been a defining event for our generation and a pivotal time in world history. With the mass number of infections and deaths, we saw nationwide lockdowns and unfortunately, many heartbreaking moments as a result of this pandemic. This being said the country of New Zealand has broken the mold and due to smart countermeasures has been largely free of the death toll and infection rate that COVID has caused in other nations.

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How was this done?

Firstly, New Zealand is a highly vaccinated country with 95% of its population over the age of 12 having received both vaccination shots and 57% having received a booster shot. This allows for a very low transmission rate in the country. Another key factor is New Zealand's Zero COVID Policy. In the first 18 months of the pandemic, New Zealand exercised a zero-tolerance policy toward COVID. This included tough border closures, skillful contact tracing, tough lockdown restrictions, and unity and trust in their Zero Tolerance policy. Following an initial lockdown last year, the country recorded only 1,500 cases and 22 deaths without significant restrictions on individual liberties or substantial cost to the economy. In fact, in New Zealand, there were only 56 deaths before the Omicron outbreak which is the lowest rate of any major democracy. Lockdowns were also taken very seriously. Auckland, a major city in New Zealand, ended a 107-day lockdown that was caused as a result of the Delta variant outbreak from mid-August to the beginning of December 2021. Even when things were reopened, they only re-opened services to fully vaccinated customers. Vaccine passes are given by the government to vaccinated citizens and are incredibly important. The vaccine passes are required to enter most workplaces, hospitality, retail, and entertainment venues. At the moment, unvaccinated people can do little more than shop for essentials. The Government has doubled down, stressing the mandate will continue into next year, and showing little sympathy for the unvaccinated minority. New Zealand plans to keep its border restrictions with 7 days quarantine upon entry and vaccination being (for all intents and purposes) mandated to enter the outside world until 2023.

 
 
 

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