Tackling the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis

In tackling the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis, governments must follow scientific evidence & public health best practice in pandemic responses. 

I am happy to be in New Zealand where the Government is taking a rigorous approach and is communicating openly and clearly with the public. 

Check out the NZ Government website below and follow the social media of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and our Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and Ministry of Health - all are active on Facebook. 

MFAT is doing its best to provide consular services to New Zealanders traveling abroad - if you need help, please register at https://register.safetravel.govt.nz/login .

I am tweeting information from a global perspective from @helenclarknz. The World Health Organisation is doing an excellent job in providing global leadership. 

Now the G20 leaders must step up their public health responses in a co-ordinated way. The centre of the pandemic is now Europe, and the virus is spreading in the Americas.

There is great concern that the pandemic could get traction in poor countries with little public health capacity. Every country must do what ever it can to stop this disease in its tracks. International solidarity is needed, and WHO’s emergency appeal for funds must be supported. 

The tried and proven approach in the face of a pandemic is to detect cases, isolate them, treat the sick, trace their contacts, and impose quarantine measures. It is urgent that countries are capacitated to do that. 

The world can overcome this pandemic if there is a concerted approach based on the evidence of what works.