The cost of Covid-19 in lives and livelihoods
Cases per 100,000 Source: Ministry of Health The death toll would have been much higher if the early and significant action New Zealand opted for had not been taken. New Zealand was "literally a week away from not being able to contain" coronavirus when the decision was made to plunge into a nationwide lockdown, Royal NZ College of General Practitioners' medical director Dr Bryan Betty said in June. At the time, Betty said New Zealand was staring down the barrel of a "potential health system meltdown" similar to those seen in Italy, Spain, the UK and the US. With the spectre seen in parts of ...