Coronavirus: Australia has deadliest day as New Zealand records 100 days without a domestic case
- New Zealand’s successful fight has made it one of the safest places in the world right now
- Australia had its deadliest pandemic day, with 17 Covid-19 fatalities in the state of Victoria
New Zealand on Sunday marked 100 days since it stamped out the spread of the coronavirus, a rare bright spot in a world that continues to be ravaged by the disease.
Across the Tasman Sea, a different situation was emerging in Australia as the second-most populous state, Victoria, reported its deadliest day of the Covid-19 outbreak, with 17 people dying. Ten of the deaths were related to elderly care centres, Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews said. The new deaths bring the state’s total to 210.
The southeastern state, with infections concentrated in the capital Melbourne, accounts for more than two-thirds of the national tally of nearly 21,000.
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While Australia enjoyed early success in flattening the curve of infections, Victoria is at the centre of a renewed outbreak. The state is experiencing some of the strictest social-distancing measures in the Western World, crippling economic activity there and shaking confidence across the nation. The state reported 174 such “mystery” cases in the past 24 hours, up from 130 on Saturday and bringing the total to 2,758.
Ten new cases were reported for New South Wales state.
Meanwhile in New Zealand, a nation of 5 million, life has largely returned to normal for many people as they attend rugby games at packed stadiums and sit down in bars and restaurants without the fear of getting infected. But some worry the country may be getting complacent and not preparing well enough for any future outbreaks.
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“Achieving 100 days without community transmission is a significant milestone, however, as we all know, we can’t afford to be complacent,” director general of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield said.
“We have seen overseas how quickly the virus can re-emerge and spread in places where it was previously under control, and we need to be prepared to quickly stamp out any future cases in New Zealand,” he said.
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“It was good science and great political leadership that made the difference,” said professor Michael Baker, an epidemiologist at the University of Otago. “If you look around the globe at countries that have done well, it’s usually that combination.”
From early on, New Zealand pursued a bold strategy of eliminating the virus rather than just suppressing its spread. Baker said other countries are increasingly looking to New Zealand for answers.
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“The whole Western World has terribly mismanaged this threat, and they’re realising this now,” Baker said.
Prime Minster Jacinda Ardern’s leadership has been widely praised. She reassured people during the lockdown with daily briefings and a message that resonated: “Go hard and go early”.
Total infections were limited to just over 1,500 and the country has had just 22 deaths.
Associated Press, Bloomberg and Reuters
