It became eighth nation to declare itself free of any active coronavirus case? So what it did successfully that many developed nations could not?
On Sunday at a news briefing in New Zealand, Prime Minister Jacinda Arden declared that New Zealand has successfully eliminated transmission of novel COVID19 and is ready to open its economy and day to day life without any restrictions. This wonderful news came at a time when still more than half of the world is still grappling with active cases of this pandemic disease including in nations like USA,UK, India, China, UAE etc. So what a small nation like New Zealand did which even giant economies could not able to do to contain this virus disease?
New Zealand is a country of Five million people. Although population is not large as to other countries including Australia yet the course of action its health ministry did is definitely commendable. It pursued an ‘Elimination Strategy’ to beat deadly coronavirus which means it eliminated ‘chains of transmission’ of virus among people successfully for 28 days since June 15.
Health experts are of the view that due to its isolated location in the South- Pacific region, New Zealand had ample amount of time to notice the outbreak of this disease in other countries and for seven weeks, it went on complete lockdown with movements allowed only for essential workers. During seven week lockdown there was no news of people violating any government restrictions that were put in place. All these factors successfully averted any chain reaction of virus among its people. Due to strict government action and active participation by its citizens, only 1500 people contracted the virus including 22 death.
However, New Zealand Prime Minister took note of the situation that from Tuesday all restrictions will be lifted except border closure restriction and that there is a possibility that incoming cases of coronavirus may be found in people entering into New Zealand via airways.
New Zealand became eighth country to join exclusive group of nations successfully ending active COVID19 cases according to Johns Hopkins University. Besides New Zealand, Montenegro, Eritrea, Papua New Guinea, Seychelles, Holy See, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Fiji, East Timor have either have successfully eliminated any active cases.
Developed and Developing economies must consider the policies adopted by these nations’s government in containing growing active cases in their countries and must implement it in their policies. These 8 countries can now look forward to accelerate their economy without any restriction and loss of life due to coronavirus whereas other nations who have lifted restrictions partially or completely are still at huge risk of losing lives and more spread of this pandemic disease.
“It’s time for big nation to learn from so called small nations”
Space Curiouser 