As Parliament wraps up ahead of this year’s election, our focus remains firmly on COVID-19. While I’m excited to be returning home to campaign in Kaipara ki Mahurangi, I know we cannot afford to be complacent.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!We have all seen the devastating re-emergence of community transmission in Victoria.
While New Zealand had now gone 102 days without a case in our community, Victoria too had very low numbers for a time in June, with some zero-case days – and they just reported over 600 new cases and declared a state of disaster. Then, as we all know, we discovered a community transmitted cluster here in Auckland that called for prompt action to contain the virus and trace all the possible contacts.
As the outbreak demonstrated, in order to stay on top of COVID here in New Zealand, we all have a role to play. One part of this is getting tested.
A recent survey showed that a quarter of people offered a COVID test have declined it. At Alert Level 1, ongoing contact and surveillance testing is critical to keeping COVID out and knowing if it has arrived. Someone refusing a test could be the difference between discovering a chain of transmission or it going undetected in our community.
We have seen how quickly COVID can spread overseas and around the world – it is still a raging pandemic. So while our borders remain our first line of defence, surveillance testing can give us confidence that the virus has not crept in.
The reaction of Aucklanders to the present outbreak has been positive, especially in getting tested and ensuring that the Health Department workers were able to track and trace all the possible contacts in their efforts to contain the virus. For that we owe everyone a huge vote of thanks.
In the meantime the Government is doing a range of things to lift the test numbers. For example, we’re increasing the frequency of testing for border workers, and we’ve issued clear guidance to GPs so anyone presenting with cold and flu symptoms is offered a test.
You can help to lift testing numbers, too. If you’re sick, please visit your doctor. And if your doctor offers, please say yes to the test – because we can only keep our COVID-free status by knowing a sick person doesn’t have the virus.
The Government remains committed to keeping New Zealanders safe, while minimising the ongoing economic impact of the virus. This won’t change now that Parliament has adjourned.
We’ll continue our work to stop COVID at the border, boost testing numbers, and support New Zealand’s economic recovery. Even when ministers return to their respective electorates, they will still meet fortnightly to make important decisions, and the Prime Minister can convene a meeting remotely at any time if need be.
The Ministry of Health will continue to issue a daily COVID update, and Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield will hold a weekly press conference, as will Minister of Health Hon Chris Hipkins.
But New Zealand’s strong COVID response relies on everyone doing their bit – and this includes saying yes to the test. As a member of our team of five million, it’s one way that you can help to keep New Zealanders safe – and it will be hugely appreciated.
– Marja Lubeck , Labour List MP based in Rodney.