It probably goes without saying that Australia’s response to the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic has been a bit of a mixed bag. Despite (finally) instigating strict lockdown rules, there have been a few dodgy moments like the Ruby Princess fiasco. Perhaps we should take notes from New Zealand because not only has Jacinda Ardern shown the leadership we need during these tough times, our neighbours are actually showing the world how it is down when it comes to lockdown and flattening the curve.
The Washington Post took a deep dive into why New Zealand’s response to COVID-19 was so effective compared to Australia’s and whatever sh*tshow is going in the U.S. and it can be pinpointed to two things: Jacinda Ardern’s impeccable leadership skills and New Zealand not half-arsing it when it came to lockdowns.
While most countries opted to go for the “containment” option and gradually ramping up its lockdown rules over time in hopes that this will slowly flatten the curve, New Zealand basically said “nah, f*** this” and went straight to the “elimination” option by quickly implementing super-strict level 4 lockdown rules and shutting its borders to foreigners on March 19.
It may have sounded like an overreaction at the time but it’s clearly working as the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases are falling in New Zealand each day and the majority of cases can be linked to international travellers, making contact tracing easier.
In fact, the number of recovered people exceeded new cases on April 6, making it the first time that’s happened since the country hunkered down.
New Zealand also benefited from some great leadership that’s helped guide them through this tough situation as Jacinda Ardern has been absolutely nailing it.
From giving out succinct statements and instructions to New Zealanders on a consistent basis to easing people’s worries through regular informal Q&As on Facebook, Jacinda has been the calming voice people look forward to hearing. It’s not often you see a world leader give a press conference specifically aimed at kids but it worked a treat.
It’s not just showing empathy and reassurance to New Zealanders either as Jacinda has had to put her foot down when someone was being a dumbass, like when her Health Minister, David Clark, got demoted for breaking the country’s strict lockdown rules and was only spared from getting sacked because it would’ve caused a “massive disruption.”
In short, Jacinda Ardern has been stepping it up big time on all fronts.
All in all, these efforts have paid off big time as not only are COVID-19 cases decreasing in New Zealand but the country’s measures have flattened the curve so much that the virus is on its way to being eliminated altogether.
It’ll be a new challenge to keep things COVID-19 free when the day comes, but based on what we’ve seen from Jacinda Ardern so far, New Zealand have got this.
The world better be taking notes because the Kiwis are showing us all how it’s done.
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