[tweetiepooh]

New Zealand is probably not a good comparison simply because of geography. It is isolated, split into two distinct islands so controls on incoming and movement are likely easier. It is also likely that isolating self has been practised and planned for other situations so they could have mechanisms in place already to enact them.

We still have coastguard picking up people trying to get into Britain by boat so yes we can close borders and be an island but we are closer to other countries than New Zealand.

New Zealand has a total population of 4 million - less than London alone so surely contacts are more easily traced and dealt with. And how do populations behave? Did New Zealanders see the problem coming and prepare themselves BEFORE government made any pronouncements. In the UK we could see there was an issue, it was suggested we stayed at home but we saw the biggest numbers at some beauty spots recorded as if our idea of preparations was to get out and enjoy now, then hoard up and force government to bring in stricter enforcement.


We also need to take into account if NZ has mostly had the "A" form of the virus that some figures show to have a lesser impact.

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On the issue of ethnicity and poverty in the statistics it is hard to separate out the factor as the press want to but if poorer and non-white families live in more multi-generational households whether forced to or by choice/culture that will have an impact. It is worth study and we should work to lessen poverty and the impacts of poverty but where groups choose to live larger households then infectious diseases will likely hit them more.