NZ reminds us what a slippery character COVID-19 is
There is a frantic search to find out how the deadly coronavirus slipped into a South Auckland community in New Zealand. Government officials are still baffled by this mystery after the country went through 100 days without a confirmed case. They have taken a hardline response by imposing a three-day lockdown to conduct contact tracing after which they will review the situation and decide what further action to take.
The four who tested positive are from one family so all those that have been in contact with them recently will be tracked down and tested.
This latest incident raises the stakes in the battle against COVID`19 not only in New Zealand but in Fiji and other countries also.
This is a case study for Fiji which has also been praised, like New Zealand, for the way containing the virus and for the low confirmed cases and deaths compared to the rest of the world.
Like New Zealand has found out we cannot be complacent or rest on our laurels. NZ believed it had everything in place to prevent community transmission. But it has been proved wrong.
We must learn from its experience and continue our vigilance to ensure that it does not slip into the community from the quarantine facilities.
We should not be pontificating whether we should use the careFIJI app or not or ignore the existing restrictions. In a matter of national interest like this there should be no question or politics.
Those who are politicising the measures in place are irresponsible because they are misleading the people and putting their lives at risk.
No one wants a lockdown and we have gone down that path before. We do not want to go back there. But in Auckland they are going back there and many Aucklanders are not happy saying the lockdown is too harsh and an overreaction. Businesses and jobs are being hit again, they complain.
But Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said this a necessary action to stop a further spread of the disease in the community. There has been suggestion that the four, in isolation at home, should be taken to a quarantine station or isolation unit, away from the community. This latest development highlights the possibility of the four being asymptomatic.
They were carrying the virus without knowing until being tested. For those with strong immunity system they can overcome the virus and not get sick. But there are others with underlying medical conditions who are susceptible to infection and the associated complications that are the most vulnerable. NZ now drops out from the ranking with Fiji on no new infections over a prescribed period.
Fiji should ensure that it maintains that leading position. If we keep following the measures in place we can maintain our positive record. The NZ experience shows us that we are dealing with a slippery character. We cannot afford to go through a similar experience because it would be a setback to our recovery attempt. Some businesses are just getting back on their feet. Another lockdown could knock them out. So let’s do the right thing - respect and comply with the restrictions and precautions.