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It's telling you're reaching for NZ as a comparison of how we should be doing better as an island in Western Europe, and not the UK, an island actually in Western Europe. https://twitter.com/JurassicArse/status/1248921804279873537
People seem to have no concept of geography, distance or how viruses actually spread.
There's 400 thousand people living within 2,500km of New Zealand in island nations.
There's 400 million people living within 2,500km of Ireland, in mostly bordering countries.
There's 400 thousand people living within 2,500km of New Zealand in island nations.
There's 400 million people living within 2,500km of Ireland, in mostly bordering countries.
I'm not going to explain how having 399.6 million less people near you is an advantage, you can work that one out.
But in terms of their actual strategy to eliminate the virus, their remote location is only one element of a broad strategy that couldn't be done in Ireland.
But in terms of their actual strategy to eliminate the virus, their remote location is only one element of a broad strategy that couldn't be done in Ireland.
Their original stated strategy:
-Close air and sea borders until June 30th
-14-day quarantine for repatriated NZ'ers.
-Social distancing measures for a period of 1 year
-Temporary lockdowns when needed, lifted when not needed
-$900 million bailout of national airline
-Close air and sea borders until June 30th
-14-day quarantine for repatriated NZ'ers.
-Social distancing measures for a period of 1 year
-Temporary lockdowns when needed, lifted when not needed
-$900 million bailout of national airline
We can't even get past step 1 unless:
-We implement an army & Guard patrolled hard border stopping anyone going to/from the north
Even if this was politically viable, I doubt we have the resources to enforce that until June 30th, while also trying to implement a lockdown.
-We implement an army & Guard patrolled hard border stopping anyone going to/from the north
Even if this was politically viable, I doubt we have the resources to enforce that until June 30th, while also trying to implement a lockdown.
Without step 1, their entire strategy falls apart. The NZ Epidemiologist leading their response said the border closings underpin everything, because they must be able to control nobody entering the country with the virus.
So it's out the window from step 1.
So it's out the window from step 1.
As for the other measures, I don't know how popular it would prove if we started throwing billion euro bailouts to Aer Lingus but I'm guessing "not very" is the answer.
Moreover, will their strategy actually work?
Moreover, will their strategy actually work?
So far, so good.
But we saw similar early results in Singapore, who were averaging +1.2% daily growth at the start of March.
The last 3 days in Singapore have brought 600 new cases at an average of +12.9% daily increase.
When you open back up, the virus attacks again.
But we saw similar early results in Singapore, who were averaging +1.2% daily growth at the start of March.
The last 3 days in Singapore have brought 600 new cases at an average of +12.9% daily increase.
When you open back up, the virus attacks again.
Critics of NZ's strategy argue all they're actually achieving is kicking the can down the road and they'll end up with an even worse epidemic peak when they open up.
Defenders of the strategy argue it's worth tanking the economy completely because they don't have ICU capacity.
Defenders of the strategy argue it's worth tanking the economy completely because they don't have ICU capacity.
Either way, we couldn't have done it here without causing upheaval and tension on the island.
We're also not blessed with being a very remote island with low connectivity to a big land mass. We're a highly connected island to a big land mass of people.
We're also not blessed with being a very remote island with low connectivity to a big land mass. We're a highly connected island to a big land mass of people.
