New Zealand announces review of its handling of COVID-19 pandemic

New Zealand announces review of its handling of COVID-19 pandemic

About time.

The aim would be identifying lessons that could be applied in a future pandemic.

Don't abandon a strategy that saves lives.

The complete lockdowns they had in place achieved nothing except a massive debt that the next 3 generations need to pay for.

The NZ government, to date is the only administration globally, that with open honest integrity to admit that their handling of this pandemic requires independent analysis to perhaps review mistakes made.

I think that first and foremostly needs to be recognised

Don't abandon a strategy that saves lives.

That's the first sensible comment of PK's about Corona that I agree with

Well done, never too late to change eh?

Jacinda must go.

Now.

Elvis is hereToday  01:43 pm JST

That's the first sensible comment of PK's about Corona that I agree with 

Well done, never too late to change eh?

So you finally agree with the Chinese lockdowns.

Great you came around!

Only 25% of under 22 years old have social psychological effects, so not so bad policy.

Call me a cynic, but governments rarely launch an inquiry without knowing the outcome beforehand. My prediction is that it will issue a few wrist-slaps, and there may be a few scapegoats tossed out to appease the public, but the real decision makers who were in charge will get away scot-free.

Ardern is on the ropes and will probably score a plum UN job after she loses the next election, leaving someone else to pick up the pieces from this fiasco.

just wondering if Jacinda s government will be held responsible for damages caused by their orders and "solutions"?

or will will just easily walk away???

itsonlyrocknrollToday  01:32 pm JST

The NZ government, to date is the only administration globally, that with open honest integrity to admit that their handling of this pandemic requires independent analysis to perhaps review mistakes made.

since the Government is instigating this, it's not "independent". this comment is not an opinion on wherher or not this is needed/a good idea/a bad idea... or anythng else. but it's hardly 'independent'.

A one-time poster child for tackling the coronavirus, New Zealand's swift response to the pandemic and its geographic isolation kept the country largely COVID-19 free until the end of 2021, winning Ardern strong domestic support.

just 4 months ago, NZ had the highest new case rate and deaths per capita in the world.

Literally nothing the government did made a difference. At best it only delayed the inevitable.

This "review" is more mealy-mouthed admission that their covid response was disastrous.

There is only one response that governments like NZ who trampled on human rights should be doing.

Apologizing and stepping down in disgrace.

just 4 months ago, NZ had the highest new case rate and deaths per capita in the world.

Right. For a couple of weeks, four months ago.

"Whats the big deal? It was only a few weeks they led the world in deaths. And that was soooo long ago!

LOL!

My very good friend said this is all a distraction to take attention away from the BIG issue. 3 Waters, where the government will take over local government's water assets (stormwater, sewerage, and drinking water). First step to privatisation of water assets.

Probably a good thing for me as I have 300Ha of land there that I can't do anything but agri uses because the local government won't put in infrastructure so it can be developed. The land is 10min drive to major tourist attractions like ski resorts, towns, and oh 15min from Reese Witherspoon's place.

On the flip side though, rates will go up when it's all privatised and ran by for profits corps.

Why does the steep increase in cases track with the uptake of vaccines? Will that question every be answered without the "that means it's working" argument?

Jexan

Next time be more like Sweden. That was the only government that got it right. The rest should take note.

Sweden's approach ended up being more restrictive than NZ's. And more deadly. I wonder why you would espouse such a failing approach.

There is only one response that governments like NZ who trampled on human rights should be doing.

Don't forget the government was very aligned with China, not having restrictions etc. would probably upset the boss in Beijing.

I have spoken a few people now, it's all a distraction...like how it is with the central gov in NZ.

master

just 4 months ago, NZ had the highest new case rate and deaths per capita in the world.

Literally nothing the government did made a difference. At best it only delayed the inevitable.

Ummm, I don't think so.

Deaths per million:

NZ: 681

US: 3,306

UK: 2,880

Sweden: 2,064

At best it only delayed the inevitable.

Even if true, delaying the spread of disease can have benefits. It allows health services to prepare. It prevents hospitals from becoming overcrowded and people with other issues not getting treatment.

A study of various countries' approaches to the problem would be helpful. I'm sure none were perfect, but hopefully we can learn something.

diagonalslip, at least the government have instigated a Royal Commission, public inquiry.

I have never even had the opportunity to holiday in NZ, let alone understand fully the politics.

Please, if a native educate and give me your opinion.

master

just 4 months ago, NZ had the highest new case rate and deaths per capita in the world.

Literally nothing the government did made a difference. At best it only delayed the inevitable.

Ummm, I don't think so.

Deaths per million:

NZ: 681

US: 3,306

UK: 2,880

Sweden: 2,064

Not only are those cumulative numbers, they are totally skewed. It has zero to do with the fact that New Zealand led the entire world in per capita cases and deaths in July.

but Its fun making things up, aint it!

Remember:

The Science is unquestionable!

However, they're sorry they got it wrong.

Wobot- you're not up on your buzzwords.

for destroying lives, livelihoods, tearing communities apart, destroying the world economy, committing the worst human rights abuses the West has seen in memory, its:

"mistakes were made on both sides"

The Science is unquestionable!

However, they're sorry they got it wrong.

Science is questioned constantly by scientists, what is not valid is just to repeat lies and misleading information and pretend this is "questioning the science"

Not only are those cumulative numbers, they are totally skewed. It has zero to do with the fact that New Zealand led the entire world in per capita cases and deaths in July.

How does that contradict the fact that cumulative numbers are precisely what reflects better what a country have done during the whole pandemic? do you believe that reducing the scale gives a better perspective? how about just taking into account the last day? last hour?

for destroying lives, livelihoods, tearing communities apart, destroying the world economy, committing the worst human rights abuses the West has seen in memory, its:

You have never provided any analysis that proves measures did not prevent even worse problems, and no, exaggerating and thinking lockdowns are the "worst human right abuses" in memory clearly disqualify your point as invalid hyperbole.

Science is questioned constantly by scientists, what is not valid is just to repeat lies and misleading information and pretend this is "questioning the science"

This particular character for 2 years insisted "the science is settled" on masks, lockdowns and early on the 100% protection that the vaccines offered.

How does that contradict the fact that cumulative numbers are precisely what reflects better what a country have done during the whole pandemic? do you believe that reducing the scale gives a better perspective? how about just taking into account the last day? last hour?

When cumulative numbers include 90 year olds dying with 4 co-morbitities, they are worse than useless.

You have never provided any analysis that proves measures did not prevent even worse problems, and no, exaggerating and thinking lockdowns are the "worst human right abuses" in memory clearly disqualify your point as invalid hyperbole.

the lockdown disaster is plain for all to see in the worldwide economy and excess non-covid deaths in heavily vaccinated countries.

Ill give you another hint; Its kinda the point of this whole article.

NZ isn't "reviewing" their lockdown policy because it went super well.

People still are coughing up their lung from long COVID

They aren't.

and people still try to minimize the COVID 19 virus

as they should for what is now as lethal as the common cold.

the gift that keeps on giving Google Long COVID Long-term Medical Problems

long covid is a figment of imagination. Particularly in those with a vested interest in keeping the C19 madness a permanent fixture in our lives.

Funny how those who "suffer" from "long covid" are all from one political persuasion.

NZ isn't "reviewing" their lockdown policy because it went super well.

And yet deaths per million were low compared with many other nations, including ones that didn't impose lockdowns. Oh but I forgot, overall numbers don't count - it all hinges on two weeks last July. 

The overall response, of which the lockdowns were one part, is being reviewed, as clearly explained in the article which you either didn't read or understand. 

You see, thinking people like to examine things in hindsight to see if progress and improvements can be made.

Oh, well.

I guess its because they just want to dot an i and cross a t....Perhaps hand out a few medals....

Or! They want to find out how they disgraced themselves behaving like their evil counterparts in China.

master

Not only are those cumulative numbers, they are totally skewed.

Yes. Cumulative numbers give an indication of overall performance. In what way are they skewed?

It has zero to do with the fact that New Zealand led the entire world in per capita cases and deaths in July.

And what does that statistic tell us? One thing it tells us that NZ was in winter while the US and Europe is in summer. It's pointless to take a point in time if you want to get an overall picture.

NZ isn't "reviewing" their lockdown policy because it went super well.

They aren't only reviewing their lockdown policy. They are reviewing their handling of the pandemic to learn from it. What worked well and what didn't. I would recommend other countries do the same.

Or! They want to find out how they disgraced themselves behaving like their evil counterparts in China.

But their response was nothing like China's response. I wonder how you could come to that conclusion.

master

long covid is a figment of imagination. Particularly in those with a vested interest in keeping the C19 madness a permanent fixture in our lives.

Ignoring the studies on long covid is putting your head in the sand. Long covid is real and leads to a marked increase in cardiovascular incidents. This gets worse the more times you are infected.

Here is one:

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-022-01689-3

A one-time poster child for tackling the coronavirus, New Zealand's swift response to the pandemic and its geographic isolation kept the country largely COVID-19 free until the end of 2021, winning Ardern strong domestic support.

Shouldn't have been difficult, as a small island nation with low population density.

Science is questioned constantly by scientists, what is not valid is just to repeat lies and misleading information and pretend this is "questioning the science"

Let's let non-scientists others believe what they believe to be valid and let the actual scientists determine what is valid. Not the other way around.

Jeans and T-shirtToday  01:39 am JST

You are against 'evil' lockdowns, but you lament the high caseloads that occured after the lockdowns were ended. 

Exactly--the caseloads skyrocketed after the lockdowns ended. Not recognizing this is pure anti-science.

Government reviews always determine that the government was right and should do whatever it wants to in the future. They should save the money the review will cost and give it the lowest paid.

This particular character for 2 years insisted "the science is settled" on masks, lockdowns and early on the 100% protection that the vaccines offered.

Can you bring a reference for that "100% protection"? when you have to lower yourself to make up things nobody said to have something to criticize you only make evident that you have no argument against what was actually said.

Nothing in the article even hints at masks, lockdowns or vaccines not being effective, the point is to evaluate costs and benefits, which is something very difficult to do during a pandemic. There is nothing against the science in doing it.

When cumulative numbers include 90 year olds dying with 4 co-morbitities, they are worse than useless.

You may not want to consider the most comprehensive data when it completely contradicts you, but people that could have survived for a long time dying from the infection is still something health care professionals want to avoid, it is fortunate they have more empathy.

the lockdown disaster is plain for all to see in the worldwide economy and excess non-covid deaths in heavily vaccinated countries.

Yet when asked to bring even one respected medical or scientific institution to support this personal view of yourse you can never bring even one name, that clearly shows what is what everybody clearly sees, even if it is the contrary of what you belive.

as they should for what is now as lethal as the common cold.

Experts explicitly contradict what you claim as wrong, they are much more trustworthy since they can show the data that proves what they say. Covid is dangerous, long covid clearly is also a public health problem, a nameless person on the internet saying the opposite without any data to prove it is not an argument against this.

Let's let non-scientists others believe what they believe to be valid and let the actual scientists determine what is valid. Not the other way around.

Scientist are the ones saying this is the normal situation of science, only people with deep antiscientific bias repeat the myth that science stops being questioned when proven lies are not taken into consideration.

Exactly--the caseloads skyrocketed after the lockdowns ended. Not recognizing this is pure anti-science.

Many months after, and this also happened in China that did not ended up the lockdowns, this clearly proves the origin of the increase is the omicron strain, variants were the ones making the lockdowns less efficient and much more costly, not the other way around.

Many months after, and this also happened in China that did not ended up the lockdowns, this clearly proves the origin of the increase is the omicron strain, variants were the ones making the lockdowns less efficient and much more costly, not the other way around.

You have no evidence. Especially when government statistics show it was not "many months".

Just posting disinformation does no service.

The evidence stands---after the lockdowns were eased the infection cases related deaths skyrocketed to the highest levels ever in New Zealand.

All according to the New Zealand government.

Even spiking today because there are no lockdowns:

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/479704/covid-19-new-zealand-sees-spike-in-cases-with-6000-reported-today

painkiller

Exactly--the caseloads skyrocketed after the lockdowns ended. Not recognizing this is pure anti-science.

Actually, case loads didn't skyrocket after the lockdowns ended. They skyrocketed many months later with Omicron and also a public not taking as many precautions.

You have no evidence. Especially when government statistics show it was not "many months".

NZ abandoned zero covid in October 2021. Cases didn't skyrocket until late Feb / early March 2022.