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People are tested for covid-19 on March. 4 in Otara in Auckland, New Zealand. (Phil Walter/Getty Images)

Life in New Zealand is almost back to normal. While the United States has seen more than half a million deaths from covid-19 — with a death rate of more than 160 per 100,000 of population — New Zealand has lost only 26 people at a rate of 0.53 per 100,000.

Two months ago, one of us, Richard, went to a New Year’s festival with more than 12,000 fellow revelers — something barely imaginable in the United States, where most concerts are online-only. Meanwhile, teachers, including Matthew’s parents, have been instructing in person since May without requiring masks or social distancing measures.…  Seguir leyendo »

On the day New Zealand’s prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, closed the country’s borders to everyone but citizens and permanent residents, I attended an evening choir practice. At the time, there were just 28 covid-19 cases in a country of about 5 million people, but on that night in March, there was a sense that the tide was about to turn for the worse. Hand sanitizer was offered; chairs were pushed farther apart. As our voices joined together in “Homeward Bound,” I was unable to stop the tears from sliding down my cheeks.

As temporary visa holders, my family and I were effectively trapped.…  Seguir leyendo »

La primera ministra de Nueva Zelanda, Jacinda Ardern.

La primera ministra de Nueva Zelanda, Jacinda Ardern, ha declarado que el país ha “eliminado” el COVID-19 “por el momento”. Ardern anunció también que el país abandona el nivel de Alerta 1 a partir de la medianoche del 8 de junio, lo que permitirá que se levanten todas las restricciones relativas a la distancia social y al desarrollo de actividades económicas.

“Podemos afirmar con seguridad que, por el momento, hemos eliminado la transmisión del virus en Nueva Zelanda. Pero esta eliminación no es algo que se logre de una vez y para siempre, sino que se trata de un esfuerzo sostenido”.…  Seguir leyendo »