Let’s crush Covid

For the past month, Dr Hasan Bhally has spent almost all his time thinking about the coronavirus pandemic.

He is also a cricket fan. If this was the Cricket World Cup, he says, then New Zealand would be on course to chase down its goal of stamping out Covid-19 and winning the semi-final.

The conditions are unpredictable and other countries have already been knocked out, but New Zealand is doing well.

‘‘We did not lose early wickets,’’ Bhally says. ‘‘I’m optimistic, but cautiously optimistic.’’

The infectious diseases specialist works for the Waitemata¯ District Health Board based out of North Shore Hospital in Auckland. Bhally and his colleagues have been assessing patients with confirmed or suspected Covid-19.

‘‘I don’t hesitate to go and see a patient with Covid if I have the right protective gear to do it.’’

Stuff is celebrating the coronavirus champions – including essential services workers like Bhally, and community volunteers – who have been keeping New Zealand going through the pandemic.

When Bhally walks into a room with a confirmed Covid-19 patient, he’s in full personal protective equipment (PPE): a surgical mask, eye protection, gloves and a gown.

The infectious disease team also review suspected cases, such as people who might initially return a negative test result but where there is still suspicion they might have Covid-19, and give guidance to staff on how they should be managed.

Since late last year when the coronavirus first started spreading in Wuhan, China, Bhally says there has been an explosion of information.

He might not feel so confident