In 2020 New Zealand and China both took a hardline stance on Covid19, aiming for eradication of the virus. The strategy worked well for both countries, with only limited isolated outbreaks through out the later half of 2020 and early 2021.
Both countries benefited from their handing of the virus enjoying stronger economic growth than much of the rest of the world, and limited disruption for their citizens.
In both cases, New Zealand and China provided support to other countries who were struggling with outbreaks sending medical professionals and vaccines to the Pacific Islands and Africa respectively.
In mid-2021 the Delta Variant of Covid19 spread around the world and once again both China and New Zealand experienced outbreaks. Both countries governments acted quickly and assertively.
The Chinese outbreak started in Nanjing and spread to 15 provinces. New Zealand’s started in Auckland and spread to Wellington. During the handling of the outbreaks, China and New Zealand both broke records in their respective countries for Covid19 testing and vaccinations.
China has run vaccinations campaigns, with over 60% of its population fully vaccinated.
Earlier this week, China reported there were no new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases today for the first time since July, according to its National Health Commission (NHC), as authorities double down on the country’s stringent zero-COVID approach. While New Zealand is still seeing new cases, the prediction is new case numbers will fall this week and continue to reduce over the coming two weeks.
If the trends continue in China and New Zealand, they will be the first two countries to have controlled major Delta outbreaks.
