NO COVID-19 CASES IN NEW ZEALAND

Corona Pandemic have caused serious damages to people's lives, day-to-day life and nation's economy at higher rate in almost all the nations. Off all the Nations worldwide, New Zealand can be crowned that it had handled the pandemic outstandingly. After a strict lockdown, New Zealand have brought down the nation to 'No more corona' phase which is probably the only goal to all other nations now.

Being under complete lockdown, the number of newly confirmed cases were seem to be in single digits for few days and on Monday(April 27,2020) New Zealand Health Dept recorded only one new case. But, they're not celebrating the feat now.

Ashley Bloomfield, New Zealand's Director General of Health said that, the number of confirmed covid-19 cases showing up in single digits for the past few days is  so encouraging that this pandemic can be eliminated from the Nation sooner. He also insisted firmly that, there was only one confirmed case since April 1 and the Officials are still investigating to find the root, so that it can get rid off from New Zealand completely.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who is the third woman among the 40 Prime Ministers of New Zealand asserted that, the most strict constraints made on New Zealanders in modern history. But, the people uninamously accepts that the strict constraints fetch good results by lowering the confirmed cases of covid-19 in greater level which other countries are now stumbling. April 27, 2020 was the final day of the more than month lockdown which can be stated as Level 4 of lockdown measures.

PM Jacinda also addressed that, from Tuesday(April 28,2020) the New Zealand Govt has slightly relaxed the strict lockdown measures that have been imposed so far than a month. Nearly 4,00,000 New Zealanders are getting back to work and 75% of the National economy resume to operate. She also insisted that New Zealand has now moved down to level 3 lockdown measures from level 4, which allows people to hold funerals(with limited number of people) and buy takeaways from eateries and restaurants.

New Zealand initially reported 1,472 confirmed cases of Covid-19 and out of which 1,214 cases have been recovered. That makes 82% of people who got infected were recovered according to the statement from New Zealand's Health Ministry. PM Jacinda is very clear about the fact, this isn't time for celebrating and urging the state officials for strict vigilance. She said," "We are not out of the woods, (Level three) is a recovery room of sorts to assess if the incredible work that New Zealanders have done ... has worked." to the Press and Media on Tuesday(April 28,2020).

How New Zealand did that?

Being remote island nation, New Zealand confirmed its first case of corona virus on February 28, which is a month after the United States confirmed its first case. Since, the nation is centrally governed, it didn't had many transit flights like United States or even their neighbour Australia. New Zealand strictly followed three steps right from the day one, they are: a) Move fast, b) Test widely and c) Trust in science

a) Move fast

The rule 'move fast' that New Zealand followed is actually 'act fast'. While many nations were implementing lockdown once after knowing about the seriousness of corona virus, New Zealand was on their half-way of lockdown. PM Jacinda Ardern can be appreciated for her measures to fight corona pandemic in the Nation. On March 14, Ardern ordered that anybody who needs to enter New Zealand was asked to self-isolate for 2 weeks, which is said to be most tough border restriction implemented in the world before a month. On March 19, Jacinda Ardern banned the foreigners from entering the Nation and on March 23, the lockdown was announced. 

b) Test widely

PM Jacinda also informed the Press on Tuesday that they were carrying out nearly 8,000 tests per day which makes 126,066 tests till date. Dr. Mike Ryan, Executive Director of the WHO's Health Emergencies Programs said, "Good benchmark is to have at least 10 negative cases for every one positive case confirmed. That means if a state or country carries out testing and comes back with positive cases of around 9% or under, then it's likely that it is testing well." 

On Monday(April 27,2020) PM Jacinda told the Press that New Zealand's test positivity rate is around 1%. She also revealed that, in other nations a covid-19 infected patient can pass the virus to 2.5 people and after New Zealand's lockdown, the ability to pass the virus fall down to 0.4 which is less than half a person.

c) Trust in science

This could be said as the foremost thing that other nations should really take from New Zealand though they have skipped the first two of the measures. The mutual respect between science and leadership can help us to fight and defend any deadly virus like corona. In the lockdown period, whenever PM Jacinda appeared in front of Press, she was along with Bloomfield, who is qualified in medicine. Jacinda never hesitates to pass a question to him, when she couldn't answer. Jacinda have well understood the situation that, people's health and lives is more important than taking credits in front of cameras.

Though this is an early success for New Zealand, the Nation is under lockdown still, with most people still being told to stay home by the Government. PM Jacinda Ardern while speaking to Press on Monday(April 27,2020) quoted and said, "(Level three) is not and cannot be returned to pre-Covid-19 life, That day will come, but it is not here yet."