Ben McKay
(Australian Associated Press)
HOW AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND EFFORTS TO COMBAT COVID-19 DIFFER
OVERVIEW:
* As of midnight on Wednesday, New Zealand will head into a brutal four-week lockdown in an effort to slow transmission of the virus.
* New Zealand has 155 positive or probable coronavirus cases.
* Six Kiwis are in hospital, none are in intensive care and no one has died.
* New Zealanders will soon find police patrolling their streets demanding they stay home, and just a few essential services will remain open.
* Australia has roughly five times the population of New Zealand and more than 10 times the number of cases – with more than 2130 confirmed to have the virus and eight deaths.
* In contrast to New Zealand, the Australian government is currently taking a less extreme approach.
HOW THEY COMPARE:
Here are some of the different restrictions planned for the two countries.
KEY QUOTES
* Australia: “I don’t think we should rush to that sort of scenario. I think you could rush to failure in that sort of scenario.” PM Scott Morrison, when asked why Australia isn’t implementing a total lockdown.
* New Zealand: “The trajectory is clear. Act now, or risk the virus taking hold as it has elsewhere.” PM Jacinda Ardern, on her country’s total lockdown.
SELF-ISOLATION RULES
* Australia: House visits to be kept to a minimum with very small numbers of guests.
* New Zealand: No interaction with other people outside households, except immediate family (partner, children).
WORK
* Australia: Work from home encouraged if feasible.
* New Zealand: Work from home mandatory where possible with only essential workers to leave their house.
RESTAURANTS AND FOOD DELIVERY
* Australia: Takeaway only for restaurants, Food delivery services allowed.
* New Zealand: Restaurants completely shut. Food delivery services banned.
HAIRDRESSERS
* Australia: Open for haircuts under 30 minutes.
* New Zealand: Closed.
EXERCISE
* Australia: Gyms closed, personal training limited to groups under 10.
* New Zealand: Solo runs or dog-walking allowed.
WEDDINGS
* Australia: Allowed for the couple, the celebrant and two witnesses.
* New Zealand: Banned.
SCHOOLS
* Australia: Up to states. Largely open or on school holidays.
* New Zealand: Closed.
CASES (as of Tuesday 3pm AEDT)
* Australia: 2136 cases (up from 1091 on Saturday) and 8 deaths.
* New Zealand: 155 cases (up from 52 on Saturday) and zero deaths.
