Battle going local: Clark

The national battle against Covid-19 will become a localised one next week, Health Minister David Clark predicts.

Dr Clark clamped down on mass gatherings nationwide this week, and the Government has introduced stringent border controls and strict requirements around travel and self-isolation.

Dr Clark said yesterday he expected big national initiatives would become less of a feature of attempts to stamp out Covid-19, to be replaced by local efforts to prevent any community transmission of the disease.

‘‘If there is any suggestion of a community outbreak we will want to act quickly in that locality to make sure that we are taking the steps that we can take to keep people safe.

‘‘New Zealanders need to in the meantime go about their ordinary business but in a slightly different away, such as taking a really cautious line on going out if they are at all unwell.’’

The scare in his own Dunedin North electorate this week, in which Logan Park High School closed temporarily after a pupil was diagnosed with the disease, was an example of an excellent proactive response, he said.

‘‘Some people would say it was quite a drastic step to take given that there were no symptoms with any of those others but we felt that this was a unique circumstance and that [we] had to move quickly to make sure that there was no wider outbreak.

‘‘Those people are still in self-isolation and I do want to send a message of support and thanks to them because these steps we are taking, even though they are unprecedented, are vitally important for the wider community and all of New Zealand.’’

Dr Clark, who yesterday visited doctors and nurses working in the South Dunedin community-based Covid-19 assessment centre, said the entire health workforce had gone above and beyond the call of duty in recent days — ‘‘I am very proud of the response of our frontline health workers. They have stepped up.’’

 

Do you have symptoms of the coronavirus? Call Healthline: 0800358-5453

 

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