Pandemic in New Zealand: As on another planet, a resident of Quebec witnesses

New Zealand is one of the countries that has acted aggressively to contain the epidemic and the result speaks for itself: there are no new cases of community transmission at the moment.

• Read also: All developments in the COVID-19 pandemic

In the past 24 hours, only 9 cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the country, for a total of only 2,276 since the beginning of the pandemic: an exceptional tally, which also shows a total of 25 deaths.

Alison Bouvard, a Quebecer who lives in this country, testified about the sanitary procedures in place, which are somewhat different from what we see elsewhere in the world.

M explained. “All the cases that you see are announced, they are all at the borders, in the hotels requested by the government.”^I Bouvard gave an interview on LCN Friday afternoon.

Because unlike other countries, New Zealand forces travelers arriving in the country to do a 14-day quarantine in a monitored hotel.

The government requires $3,000 for travelers and $4,000 for spouses to be in an army-guarded hotel. COVID cases are all in these hotels”, specified M^I Bouvard.

deterrent measure

This very strict measure, which several countries such as Canada are considering implementing, is a real deterrent for those who might be tempted to go on a trip.

“Although the trips aren’t that expensive, people don’t want to pay $3,000 when they come back!” Illustrated by Alison Bouvard.

In addition, the authorities have a very rapid response to the virus: they are reshaping if there are few cases of COVID-19 in the community.

“The last time we had cases in the community, it didn’t take a day and we were back in confinement,” she explained.

Alert levels could also be raised based on suspected cases of COVID-19: a way of doing things that could create resentment, but it isn’t.

“Citizens see how successful it is and the percentage of the unhappy population is very small. Here, you can do almost anything you want, even go to festivals. People are very satisfied,” emphasized M.^I Bouvard.

Dining rooms and cinemas are also open.

tight fit

Thus, as soon as there are cases, the population is restrained, and as soon as they cease to exist, life resumes its normal course.

“For me, it’s like the virus doesn’t exist, and I haven’t seen patients. It’s crazy for me to see what’s going on in the world,” Quebec said.

Masks are mandatory on buses, public transport and planes, but not mandatory anywhere else.

“I don’t see many people wearing masks, even I don’t have a mask here. Two counters are not mandatory at the moment, but if we go back to level 2, it will be,” the young woman explained.

Alison Bouvard lived through two shutdowns in Auckland and everything had to shut down, but the whole thing only lasted two to three months.

As for vaccination, nothing has started yet, given the current control of the epidemic and the urgency of the situation elsewhere in the world. It is supposed to start within the next few months.