Health Advisors Angry with New Zealand Prime Minister Misleading the Public
Yesterday, the New Zealand Prime Minister was publicly bragging about how New Zealand had “eliminated the virus…” and “beaten the virus”, also making comments about how it was all due to her Government’s great work going into lockdown and closing the borders before other countries (which in fact is incorrect, many countries acted before NZ did).
Many experts overseas and in New Zealand were reportedly shocked by the comments, as expert opinion has long been that it is impossible to “eliminate” or “beat” the virus, and the best any country can do is keep it at low levels, “stamping out” any new infection clusters as they happen – and that would in itself be a feat.
Unfortunately many sub standard Journalists, and fake news outlets like Stuff and CNN quickly jumped on the PMs comments and used them as a criticism of other Governments – ‘Why can’t they eliminate the virus like New Zealand has’. Worse still it had the affect of making much of the lower intelligent NZ public believe they could now do what they used to do. With the combination of NZ moving down to level three and the PM’s comments effectively inferring New Zealanders no longer have to worry about the virus, people crowded the streets around the country. Car parks were full, roads busy, people gathered in groups, and other than cafes, restaurants, bars and smaller shops – people all flocked back to work. Parties were held or planned, and social distancing went out the window for many.
Within hours the Director General of Health Ashley Bloomfield tried to “clarify” the PMs comments, explaining NZ had neither eliminated nor beaten the virus, and the PM just meant NZ succeeded in what it intended to do in Level Four. Behind the scenes though Health Advisors are angry and frustrated with the level of boasting, bragging and the type of comments the “Saint” of a Prime minister has been making.
New Zealand now faces the possibility of two things happening. A huge dose of luck, that the virus does not spread and result in hundreds of deaths because of a bragging Prime minister, or her arrogance leads to disaster that will never be forgotten.
