“New York Times” praised Australia and New Zeland for their handling of the Covid-19 pandemic

A recent  “New York Times article”  has praised Australia and New Zeland for their handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, saying the approach of the two naigbouing nations is restoring trust in democracy.

A conservative leader Scott Morison in Australia and a progressive prime minister in New Zealand Jacinda Ardern  are steadily guiding these two countries toward a rapid suppression of the coronavirus outbreak.

The article by Damien Cave was published on 24th April  and is headlined 'Vanquish the Virus? Australia and New Zealand Aim to Show the Way'.

“Thousands of miles from President Donald Trump’s combative news briefings, a conservative leader in Australia and a progressive prime minister in New Zealand are steadily guiding their countries toward a rapid suppression of the coronavirus outbreak”  he wrote.

“Whether they get to zero or not, what Australia and New Zealand have already accomplished is a remarkable cause for hope. Scott Morrison of Australia, a conservative Christian, and Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand’s darling of the left, are both succeeding with throwback democracy — in which partisanship recedes, experts lead, and quiet coordination matters more than firing up the base” he wrote in the article.

However, he notes that the trans-Tasman neighbours need to be vigilant when relaxing restrictions that have seen Covid-19 cases dwindle to a handful of cases per day.

Elimination means reducing infections to zero in a geographic area with continued measures to control any new outbreak, and that may require extended travel bans," he wrote.

“This is certainly distinct from the United States,” said Dr. Peter Collignon, a physician and professor of microbiology at the Australian National University who has worked for the World Health Organization.

“Here it’s not a time for politics. This is a time for looking at the data and saying let’s do what makes the most sense.”

Cave believes if there are any countries that can defeat the virus, Australia and New Zealand are best placed to do so given the geographic locations of the countries and a "history of pragmatism and underdogs’ craving for recognition."

“And it may end up being a mirage or temporary triumph in Australia and New Zealand. Elimination means reducing infections to zero in a geographic area with continued measures to control any new outbreak, and that may require extended travel bans. Other places that seemed to be keeping the virus at bay, such as China, Hong Kong and Singapore, have seen it rebound, usually with infections imported from overseas”

“And yet, if there are any two countries that could pull off a clear if hermetically sealed victory — offering a model of recovery that elevates competence over ego and restores some confidence in democratic government — it may be these two Pacific neighbors with their sparsely populated islands, history of pragmatism and underdogs’ craving for recognition”

Playing their own versions of explainer in chief, Morrison has veered toward conservative radio, while Ardern prefers Facebook Live. But they’ve both received praise from scientists for listening and adapting to evidence.

“It’s a case of politicians just not being in the way,” said Ian Mackay, a virologist at the University of Queensland who has been involved in response planning for the pandemic. “It’s a mix of things, but I think it comes down to taking advice based on expertise.”

Folwoing is the link to the Article published on New York Times

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/24/world/australia/new-zealand-coronavirus.html