The Covid-19 pandemic has brought the world to a standstill. Above all, it has spread like wildfire. This virus has infected millions of people globally. And a huge number of people lost their lives. The whole situation left leaders around the world helpless. However, amid this dire situation, with the help of the antigen test kit, one country has emerged successful in its fight against the outbreak. The name of this country is New Zealand.
How did this country do it?
New Zealand’s response to this infection has received worldwide appreciation. Their full-scale effort and strict measures have been termed to be the best. As of now, the infected patients have recovered in this country. But how did they get success with such admirable perfection? In this article, we will have a look at their systematic approach.
Proper Leadership
New Zealand’s prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, appeared as the Iron Lady in this situation. She led the control action from the front. When the threat of the virus reached the shores of New Zealand, she didn’t waste time mobilizing her government’s efforts. The health officials kept a close eye on the Wuhan situation. And they realized very early that the Covid-19 scare would take a fatal turn. Jacinda Ardern relied on science and her health experts’ advice to determine the steps.
In mid-March, there were around 100 confirmed cases of infection. This is the time when PM started her quick and hard actions. She immediately cancelled all the memorial events and public gatherings. The government banned international visitors from coming to New Zealand within just days. The citizens who flew back home had to undergo a strict quarantine process. On March 23, the country began the strictest lockdown because of the outbreak. The government banned domestic travel.
Above all, this lockdown was maintained strictly. People were urged to stay home. They could go out to shop for medicines and essential grocery items. As the days of lockdown passed, the number of infections gradually started to decrease.
In the meantime, the government developed its technical capacities and treatment facilities more. New Zealand took the step of testing around 8000 people per day. It was one of the highest antibody test rates in the world. The hospitals and officials also kept track of their infected patients with regular TTR checks. This helped in contract tracing afterwards.
What did they do?
- Firstly, the government sent text messages and started to release information on all the platforms. The prime minister herself came on Facebook Live regularly.
- She used this platform to convey her government’s messages to the citizens.
- She repeatedly addressed her citizens as her team of five million. This was how she united her people to do their bit in this pandemic. This showed the important leadership qualities of the prime minister.
- Secondly, the government prioritized health concerns over the economy.
- Additionally, citizens and different business sectors got NZD 5.1 billion in subsidies. This assured people to stay home while their jobs and businesses suffered.
- Above all, New Zealand also had a geographic advantage. Being an island nation, it was easier for them to control the arrival of foreign nationals.
- The countries with land borders faced tougher challenges in restricting foreign nationals.
In conclusion, strong leadership, swift measures, and people’s willingness to comply with an antibody test helped them crush the threat of Covid-19.
