NZ’s COVID Pivot
A few friends sent me this NYTimes article about NZ's COVID strategy pivot this week from elimination to mitigation. The gist of conversation right now is whether or not this is the right thing to do. In short, it depends on who you ask, and time will tell. Some say the NZ government's loosened restrictions are still too severe; that the economic harm is grave; the psychological toll has been exhausted. Others say this relaxation comes too soon; that it indiscriminately endangers Māori and Pasifika peoples, who currently lag in vaccination ; that we've invested so long and at great cost to change course now. The [few] locals I talk to overwhelmingly say it's time for a transition from elimination to mitigation, and in theory they embrace what comes with it—that NZ learn to live with COVID, loosen border restrictions, roll out and enforce strict vaccination incentives (but not requirements , the majority agree, as that would overly infringe one's freedom). To say n...