NZ's coronavirus success shows the way

As of Monday, no new cases had been recorded for 17 straight days. The last known coronavirus sufferer was pronounced cured.

This is a remarkable achievement given, like Australia, New Zealand had an influx of overseas cases in the early days of the pandemic and, also like Australia, risked widespread community transmission.

When their government said it was going for the complete elimination of the virus New Zealanders co-operated with some of the most stringent lockdown laws put in place anywhere.

That has paid off. After a relatively short period of intensive inconvenience, which eclipsed anything seen here, people have been rewarded with the relaxation of all COVID-19 restrictions.

New Zealand's return to life as normal, albeit without the foreign tourists that play such an important role in shoring up the country's economy, should serve as an inspiration here.

While Australia opted not to follow New Zealand down the path of total elimination, our policy of containment and control has delivered results not far short of that.

While the ACT recorded its first case of COVID-19 in more than a month on the weekend, the experts are certain the patient contracted the disease overseas.

Canberra is as effectively coronavirus free as the land of the long white cloud if the absence of community transmission is used as the criteria for assessment. Several other of the smaller states are in a similar happy place.

All that may change quickly however if the dire predictions of significant spikes in cases as a result of the Black Lives Matter rallies are fulfilled.

Much has been made of the fact that thousands of people congregated in open spaces to express their very legitimate grievances and concerns, including here in Canberra.

Authorities had to strike a delicate balance between public health and safety and people's right to express their views. Commonsense seems to have prevailed. Media reports showed an overwhelming majority of those taking part wore face masks.

Another factor which many, including the ABC's Dr Norman Swan, suggest may have reduced the risk, is the events were held outdoors.

It will be difficult, in the event there is a spike eight to 10 days from now, to say whether it was the fault of the rallies or the relaxation of restrictions in many jurisdictions that coincided with the long weekend.

Thousands of Canberrans, for example, flocked to the south coast where they took full advantage of newly re-opened hotels, restaurants and cafes to escape the so-called new normal.

While concerns about the rallies are legitimate and defensible, the government can't have it both ways. You can't tell people to stop hiding under the doona on the one hand, while telling them their civil liberties are suspended on the other. That is one mixed message too many.

READ MORE:

It has always been acknowledged spikes and outbreaks would occur as restrictions were eased. The path forward is the same as it has always been. That is to test, test, and to test again. We have the know-how, the resources, and the personnel.

If an individual has a cough or a sniffle, regardless of whether or not they attended a rally or went to the coast, they should get tested and self-isolate until the results are known.

Australia has made good progress but this is not over by a long shot. Stay motivated, stay alert, and maintain the momentum.