Editorial: Virus-like fever of political prickliness spreading around 5 Apr, 2021 05:00 PM 3 minutes to read The pandemic and vaccine blitz have set off a chain of disputes between countries. Photo / AP The pandemic and vaccine blitz have set off a chain of disputes between countries. Photo / AP NZ Herald Even as the coronavirus pandemic has stalled life in many places, there's been sharp movement in foreign affairs, with relations between various countries taking a dive. A virus-like fever of political prickliness has been spreading like Covid-19 itself. After long and tense negotiations culminating in a trade deal last December, there was some hope that Britain's ties with the European Union would at least calm down. Yet at present they are at a low ebb.