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Sir Ray Avery, has endorsed requests for an investigation into New Zealand’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Sir Ray Avery is adding his voice to calls for an urgent official investigation into New Zealand’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic, saying the government does not have a “validated” strategy to prevent the virus.
The scientist and businessman said in a statement Tuesday that the Health Ministry had been “reactive rather than proactive” and did not heed the advice of “international experts on infectious diseases.”
“New Zealand does not have validated long-term Covid prevention strategies and a global agency to manage immediate and ongoing pandemic risks,” he said.
“On a good day, our hospitals have the second highest rates of hospital infections in the developed world and are sadly unprepared for an influx of covid patients.”
It follows the publication of a study by the University of Otago that compared the country’s response to the island nation of Taiwan, published in The Lancet Regional Health: Western Pacific Medical journal last Wednesday.
The research, led by Dr. Jennifer Summers, highlighted Taiwan’s response as “the most effective and least disruptive of any country” in the world.
By the end of August, Taiwan, with a population of 23 million, had reported 488 cases and seven deaths, while New Zealand’s team of five million reported 1,397 confirmed cases and 22 deaths.
READ MORE:
* Covid-19: Public Health Experts Call for Investigation into New Zealand’s Coronavirus Response
* What NZ can learn from Taiwan about preparing for a pandemic
* Coronavirus: Six months after New Zealand’s first Covid-19 case, it’s time for a more strategic approach
The investigation indicated that an investigation would help shape the necessary changes in its laws, public health infrastructure and institutions, a claim with which Avery agreed.
“We should have an urgent investigation,” he said.
Paula Bronstein / Getty Images
A Taiwanese monk stands on the street asking for donations on March 17, 2020 in Taipei, Taiwan. Taiwan, Singapore and Hong Kong have had more successful approaches to fighting the pandemic given their experience with SARS in 2003.
Health Minister Chris Hipkins has said a full review of New Zealand’s response to Covid-19 will take place, but not while the country is “in the middle of dealing with” the pandemic.
Having learned from previous pandemics, including H1N1 flu and SARS, Taiwan had a Centers for Disease Control organization to prevent and treat infectious diseases years before the evolution of Covid-19.
While both Taiwan and New Zealand were successful in their responses to Covid-19, Taiwan’s proactive approach was preferred over New Zealand’s reactive response.
The Ministry of Health has been contacted for comments.
