Pandemic seems far from over
Ayear on from the pandemic’s first wave of infections, lockdowns and border closures in Australasia, both countries are in the midst of a second peak.
This one involves the threat of coronavirus variants coming ashore, dealing with vaccine rollouts and navigating the pandemic endgame.
It’s a year since all returning Kiwis were first required to go through MIQ facilities.
Having the right initial strategies to protect the public counted for a lot. Thankfully, both New Zealand and Australia did not have to live with high levels of death and infection. While other regions struggled, the pandemic essentially peaked here last April.
Our coronavirus curve became a line. We were able to do normal things. A suspicion then that the pandemic’s path was running almost too smoothly in this part of the world has been borne out by what has happened since.
Late winter outbreaks in Melbourne and Auckland last year, followed by the rise of variants and vaccines this year, have made the jobs of politicians and health officials increasingly more complicated.
The positive case of a NZ border worker has raised questions over vaccination details on top of the speed of the rollout. A contact of the case has also tested positive. Australia’s rollout has been beset by problems.
There has been a silver lining to all this. Missteps and evolving expectations have gradually meant more public scrutiny, which has resulted in necessary changes. If things appear to be managed adequately, there’s less incentive to look deeper at how they could be improved or plan ahead. The Government and health authorities have often looked reactive, but have also made good calls, such as going with a single, highly effective vaccine and concentrating the early rollout on border workers and the South Auckland community.
In recent months pre-travel testing has been introduced and last week the Government took drastic action to try to deal with a surge of infected returnees coming from India. The transtasman bubble has a date and we are told the vaccine rollout will be revving up. Changes to MIQ include moving unvaccinated workers to low-risk jobs. A group of scientific experts will advise the Government on key decisions over vaccines and the border. And the idea of a purpose-built MIQ facility has received a fresh look.
A year on, there’s once again a lot to deal with, even as the pandemic’s end gets closer. We are back in the thick of it.