“Forty five new cases 43 days into a lockdown shows that the Government’s eradication strategy isn’t working, it has
lost control. On May 5 2020, 43 days into the first lockdown, zero cases were recorded” says ACT Leader David Seymour
“The Government’s strategy has been to eradicate COVID-19 from New Zealand with short sharp lockdowns so we could enjoy
relatively long periods of freedom, such as last summer. This Summer is not looking the same.
“Many of the cases may be within households, but the point of isolation is to ensure that COVID burns out within
households. The fact new cases are appearing within households after 43 days of lockdown shows that lockdown is not
working.
“Delta has changed the costs and benefits of the Government’s strategy. The lockdowns are no longer short and sharp, and
the payoff of freedom no longer guaranteed.
“The Government now needs to show leadership and clarity. The eradication strategy won’t work this time. We are going to
change course. We must move from eradication to harm reduction.
‘ACT’s COVID 3.0 outlines how New Zealand can move from futile eradication measures to a strategy of harm reduction. The goal should be
to include the community in finding ways to reduce transmission and hospitalisation at least cost, and minimise death
from COVID.
"When the facts change, our strategy needs to change, the Government cannot explain away these numbers."