布鲁金斯学会-新西兰的政策和机构对COVID-19的回应（英文）-2021.1-25页_664kb

Summary of New Zealand's Policy & Institutional Responses to COVID-19

Core Content

New Zealand's response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been characterized by a combination of stringent public health measures and a comprehensive, coordinated institutional approach. The country successfully eliminated the virus from its territory, with only 2,246 confirmed cases and 25 deaths as of January 15, 2021. This success was attributed to early and strict border closures, a robust testing and contact tracing system, and a well-organized all-of-government response.

Main Policy Responses

• Border Closures: New Zealand suspended international flights and implemented a 14-day quarantine for returning residents. This helped prevent the importation of the virus and was a key factor in its early containment.
• Economic Lockdown: In March 2020, the country enforced a strict lockdown, closing all non-essential businesses and restricting internal travel. This was followed by a phased reopening as the virus was contained.
• Physical Distancing: Citizens were restricted to essential activities, with strict enforcement of two-meter distancing. Non-compliance was penalized.
• School Closures: All schools were closed to prevent community spread, but efforts were made to provide students with devices and internet access for remote learning.
• Testing Expansion: Testing was initially limited to symptomatic individuals and those with recent travel history. By late 2020, New Zealand had conducted over 725,000 tests, nearly 15% of the population.
• Medical Supplies: The government eliminated tariffs on medical goods and PPE, and actively procured necessary supplies to support the healthcare system.

Institutional Framework

New Zealand's response was based on its all-of-government approach, which was formalized in the National Influenza Pandemic Strategic Plan and adapted for the pandemic. This framework ensured cross-ministerial coordination and was led by the Officials' Committee for Domestic and External Security Coordination (ODESC), which functions like a national security council.

• National Crisis Management Center (NCMC): Oversees the coordination of the pandemic response.
• Operational Command Center (OCC): Provides day-to-day management of the response.
• All-of-Government Controller: John Ombler was appointed to oversee coordination across various workstreams.
• Special Task Forces: The government established several sectoral workstreams, including Health, Border, Economic, Civil Defence and Emergency Management, and Education, each led by relevant ministries and agencies.

Key Outcomes

• Public Health Success: New Zealand managed to eliminate community transmission by mid-May 2020, with only 21 deaths reported.
• Economic Impact: The country experienced its first recession since 2008, with a GDP decline of 12.2% in Q2 2020. The tourism sector was severely affected, but the government mitigated unemployment through wage subsidies.
• Transparency and Public Support: The government maintained high public support with an 80% approval rating during the lockdown. The response was transparent, and regular public communication helped build trust.

Risk Assessment System

New Zealand implemented a four-level risk assessment system to guide public health measures:

Second Outbreak and Reopening

• A second outbreak occurred in August 2020, primarily due to quarantine violations by returning residents.
• The government implemented targeted lockdowns in Auckland, returning the country to Level 3 and later to Level 1 by October 2020.
• Despite the second wave, New Zealand maintained low case and death rates, with 34 cases per million population and 25 deaths.

Public and Political Response

• There were no major protests or unrest related to the pandemic response.
• The 5G conspiracy theory led to a small protest, but it was deterred by police warnings.
• The government maintained high public approval, and the Epidemic Response Committee provided parliamentary oversight and transparency.

Statistical Accuracy

• New Zealand's reported statistics align with those from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
• The government provided detailed and transparent data, including demographic and symptom information on individual cases.

Economic Response

• The government focused on long-term borrowing to fund extensive financial supports for workers and businesses.
• Measures included wage subsidies, tax reductions, loan deferrals, and support for business development and infrastructure.
• The government also aimed to expand export opportunities and strengthen free trade agreements.

Conclusion

New Zealand's response to the pandemic was both effective in public health and well-structured institutionally, offering a model for other countries, including those in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), to follow. The country's success was due to early, strict measures, transparent communication, and a coordinated, all-of-government approach.