When compared to most other countries of the world, the response of New Zealand to tackling the COVID 19 threat, the pandemic hitting the wider world in 2020 before becoming a giant disruptor, was far better than most would imagine. From the onset of 2020 up to this point in time, there haven’t even been 30 deaths in all in a country that’s run pillar to post in ensuring well being of its citizens at a time where being amid the COVID 19 pandemic, is well, not the easiest of things.
And while the overall cases in New Zealand have, reportedly been a little over 3,000, that the country kept the fatality rate incredibly in check goes to define the success of a country where women leaders have sparkled brightly.
Though that was in the past. What’s 2021 unfurled that may be bothering New Zealand? The Jacinda Ardern-led nation, as of the last few hours, confirmed the outbreak of that COVID variant that’s got the world talking and concerned akin to being chased off by a predator.
New Zealand confirmed the outbreak of the Delta variant of the Coronavirus, which is neither good news nor a sign of the nation having the luxury to sit back on what’s hitherto been swift action toward alleviating the risks associated with the pandemic.
But what must also be duly noted is that prior to the confirmation about the outbreak of the Delta variant of the COVID 19 virus, things were moving on swift and soothing pace in a country untroubled by the morbidity of the pandemic.
So just how is that and how does one know that this was actually the truth?
Up to the arrival of the Delta Variant in the country, New Zealand had no COVID cases whatsoever in the course of the last six months. That’s a fact. There was no sense of panic in the country whose population maybe a little over that of Indian states’ Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh combined.
Although, at present, things have changed and there’s a hint of concern in the air.
CNN reported the following excerpts from the land famous for its Maori culture, intrepid love of Rugby and sheep and kiwi bird:
The country of five million people went into a nationwide lockdown late Tuesday night, hours after confirming a Covid-19 case, and on Wednesday, New Zealand authorities announced they had confirmed another six positive cases all linked to the first case. One of the new cases worked at a hospital in Auckland. The outbreak marks the first time New Zealand has confirmed the presence of the contagious Delta variant in the community. Earlier this month, the World Health Organization said more than 142 countries had reported cases of the Delta variant. New Zealand’s Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield warned Wednesday the country could see between 50 and 120 more cases based on modeling that took into account the Delta variant. “Our job now is to find any and every case,” he said.
That being said, one’s also hopeful that New Zealand, which has a penchant for initiating stringent lockdowns since it doesn’t desire leaving anything to chance, will bounce back from this anomaly sooner than later.