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Puzzling New Zealand coronavirus outbreak grows to 17 cases

37 Comments
By NICK PERRY

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37 Comments
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Whatever the initial source, it clearly spread thru asymptomatic transmission. Wearing masks could have helped but no one could have been expected to wear one when there was zero case of community transmission in the first place

1 ( +6 / -5 )

Just proving again that the 'hard' Lockdown that seemed to have worked well but was always doomed to failure was a waste of time causing huge economic damage. This has now once again now led to panic buying which causes lack of social distancing and further transmission leading to even more economic damage, hardship , depression and suicide. Lockdown is NOT the answer. If it didn't work in NZ where it was so strictly implemented and appeared to have worked its not going to work anywhere else.

-4 ( +12 / -16 )

The 13 newly discovered cases have been linked back to the 4 announced yesterday, so its all one single cluster. One thing they are doing differently this time, is all positive cases are now required to quarantine in an isolation facility, instead of at home.

9 ( +11 / -2 )

...marked 100 days without any cases of local transmission

But were they PCR testing during these 100 days and why not ?

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

But were they PCR testing during these 100 days and why not ?

yes, they were.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

yes, they were.

Perhaps buggy PCR returning false negatives ?

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

But were they PCR testing during these 100 days and why not ?

Why are you asking two questions at the same time and answering yourself as well?

5 ( +8 / -3 )

Why are you asking two questions at the same time and answering yourself as well?

....fine .. and if not why not ? Have you got any numbers ?

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

Its going to be interesting seeing if the total lockdown was worth it. My opinion from the beginning has been "no".

0 ( +7 / -7 )

It must be despairingly frustrating.

The New Zealand Government followed the text book definition of efficient science based handing of this catastrophic pandemic, only to be stumped by COVID-19, that can prevaricate at will.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

@Vanessa: Totaly agree and I don't think we have even begun in truth to see the fallout from the effects of a 'hard' lockdown any of the countries that implemented it. It is interesting to see that the normal advocates of 'Lockdown' have refrained from commenting over the last few days. We know they are reading as they are presumably self isolating.

-1 ( +5 / -6 )

If foreigners have been tested and quarantined on entry, how could this strain of Covid have come from Britain or Australia? Obviously this has been passed on by those not displaying any symptoms, but if everyone entering NZ was tested and quarantined the the virus was never eradicated in the population in the first place.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

And a lockdown in Auckland designed to extinguish the outbreak could be extended well beyond an initial three days.

Unless the citizens wise up and ignore the lockdown order.

You don't shut down an entire economy for a virus. Never have before, why this one?

-9 ( +3 / -12 )

...fine .. and if not why not ? Have you got any numbers ?

Have you ever read the name at the top of the page here? It's says "JAPAN Today", you are just as capable as anyone else here of "checking" to get the answers yourself.

However, I do believe your interest is just in looking to find something to nit-pick or complain about.

If you want "numbers" "Google-Sensei" can help you a lot! Have a great night!

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

Have you ever read the name at the top of the page here? It's says...

No ! It is not like that ! It is more like "we told you so" .

I hope the title just below the top will once and for all help you and the like understand that neither lockdowns nor PCR testing will eradicate the virus.

-7 ( +0 / -7 )

@n1k1

Here are the numbers https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-current-situation/covid-19-current-cases

Scroll down to the bottom. If you don't want to read the rough daily test average since the start of July is 2000. Lowest day being 500 highest being 10,000.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

NZ did better than most, and have suffered a setback.

Okay that is fair comment ! We don't know what NZ was doing during these 100 days but I hope they were preparing their hospitals and equipment. Quite honestly this has the potential to overshoot.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

@Kiwikid and ? what is your theory about this ? faulty PCR test ? strong wind from Australia ?

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

July is 2000. Lowest day being 500 highest being 10,000.

But why ? What is the criteria for testing there ? What makes them think this is enough ?

Why not 1 million per day every day until 2021

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

@n1k1 you asked for the numbers mate, just giving you them.

Not about to speculate on something I've got no idea about. All I know is there are new cases and they're trying to find the source. In the meantime there's a temporary lockdown.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

A lot of debate about the lockdown and the damage it does to the economy. IMO the damage will be much greater in the long term if NZ don't lockdown now. The sooner they get rid of it and are able to get businesses running at 100% again the better. We haven't seen the mass bankruptcies yet, but if many businesses like restaurants etc, continue operating on less than half capacity like they are in Japan, many will fail. Business failures cascade. Then it will cost the government considerably more.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Do they no the definition of insanity?

Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.

Now back to lockdown then after lockdown, open up again then another case is found and back to lockdown, and so on and so on.

-6 ( +3 / -9 )

Do they no the definition of insanity?

Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.

The first lockdown resulted in taking the stress off the health service and saved lives. It was not a failure. The idea you are putting forward is based on the idea that you are repeating failures. It wasn’t a failure.

I’m actually not in favour of nationwide lockdowns in situations like this where the outbreak is localized, but let’s keep it accurate.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

@Jimizo

If it as you say then why the lockdown now?

Oh right it is a localised lockdown, that is until a case is found in another area then it expands.

It is far to frightening how willingly people are read to give up their rights and freedoms.

Oh I am by no means advocating the ridiculousness if what is going on in the USA.

But as we are now clearly aware of Covid is here to stay for the time being and we have to learn to deal with that without resorting to locking people in their homes or in Jail for defying the lockdown.

Do people know that TB infects 10 new cases every year 2 new multi resistant strains are spreading doubling the new cases each year,

Both these strains are present in Canada USA EU Australians, even with top medical care 60% will die.

Those infected do not realise they have it for years spreading it to those they come in contact with.

Far more deadly nearly untreatable, but no one is panicking because death is slow less dramatic than Covid.

But if it when but does start to affect larger portion of the western population what will the response be lockdown or locking up.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

@Jimizo

Mental health issues are on the rise in every place long lockdowns were or are in place, suicides are up (no not the 200% falsely claimed but significantly up).

People are not designed to be locked away in isolation.

How crazy are things getting.

In Canada people cannot get to their own homes or new jobs because provinces block people from entering.

They are trying to implement a social bubble which would limit contact to groups of the same people up to 10 people in the group no contact outside the group.

5 Back teens playing basketball in an empty park ages 15 to 19 3 brother and 2 friends also brothers fined $11,000 for not maintaing social distance.

Is this what we really want the future to be?

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

They found the virus on the meat of frozen chicken wings, and frozen shrimp packaging. This outbreak was first detected in a worker at a frozen food distribution center. It's spreading via formite transmission. It's stability in frozen food suggests winter is going to be bad.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.cnn.com/cnn/2020/08/13/asia/china-coronavirus-chicken-wings-intl-hnk/index.html

1 ( +1 / -0 )

"Do they no the definition of insanity?

Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result."

The "same result" you complain about was a drastic reduction in the transmission of the disease followed by over three months of no new occurrences of the disease. Sounds like the height of sanity to me.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Will caution eventually be sacrificed to the economic realities? ……..

NZ's second lockdown may be one too many..

https://www.afr.com/world/pacific/nz-s-second-lockdown-may-be-one-too-many-20200812-p55l3w

The RBNZ is also cranking up the printing press, expanding the value of its quantitative easing program from $US60 billion ($84 billion) to $US100 billion. The bank on Wednesday also predicted 12 per cent unemployment in the event of a longer lockdown, the highest since the early 1990s.

The RBNZ’s bearish scenarios point to a central truth: that the elimination strategy that everyone in New Zealand has signed up to will have to give way to reality after the election. It simply is not feasible that lock-downs ramp up and down on the basis of a few positive tests.

If central banks increase the money supply, there is a danger that inflation could take hold, a possible scenario for a central bank is that If the central bank quantitative easing program/strategy fails to stimulate economic growth. Then the spectre of Okun's Law, and the misery index, although this relationship between unemployment and production is really only applicable to 1960/70 US economic model.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

"They found the virus on the meat of frozen chicken wings, and frozen shrimp packaging. "

The Chinese raise shrimp in tanks beneath the chicken coops. The shrimp eat the droppings.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Fight clusters and localised outbreaks as they appear, and let the rest of the country get on with it. Masks and social distancing should be encouraged.

Very good comment. The reason why the authority is overreacting is because NZ's fight against covid-19 takes the unusual strategy of 'elimination'. While most other countries are aiming for 'suppression'. Therefore, responses can be very different.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

https://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2020-08-13/new-zealand-racing-track-down-source-coronavirus-outbreak/12555718

0 ( +0 / -0 )

And a lockdown in Auckland designed to extinguish the outbreak could be extended well beyond an initial three days."

Just extend it indefinitely, Jacinda.

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

What's happening with lockdowns is truly Orwellian indeed. My previous comment was sarcasm, BTW.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

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