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<div class="header reader-header reader-show-element"> <a
class="domain reader-domain"
href="https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2022/08/01/ocwj-a01.html">wsws.org</a>
<h1 class="reader-title">New Zealand goes from zero COVID to
world-leading infections and deaths: Workers must fight for an
elimination strategy</h1>
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<div class="reader-estimated-time" dir="ltr">10-13 minutes</div>
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<p>The disastrous situation in New Zealand reinforces the
urgent need for working people to take up the fight for
a global strategy to eliminate COVID-19. We urge readers
to share this statement and to contact the Socialist
Equality Group to discuss the practical steps and the
socialist perspective required to save lives and end the
pandemic.</p>
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src="https://www.wsws.org/asset/b1f16b7d-000e-4c05-a115-affcad93c737?rendition=image1280"
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<figcaption>Medical staff test shoppers who volunteered
at a pop-up community COVID-19 testing station at a
supermarket carpark in Christchurch, New Zealand. (AP
Photo/Mark Baker)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Over the past six months, since the start of the school
year in February, New Zealand has gone from having one
of the lowest COVID-19 infection rates, to now being one
of the most dangerous countries in the world. Total
deaths within 28 days of a coronavirus infection have
sky-rocketed from about 60 at the end of January to more
than 2,000 by the end of July.</p>
<p>According to the Worldometers website, New Zealand
recorded 36 COVID-related deaths per million people in
the seven days ending July 29—the highest death rate of
any country.</p>
<p>This horrific toll is the outcome of deliberate policy
decisions by the Labour Party-led government, which
includes the Green Party. For most of the pandemic, NZ
remained largely free from the coronavirus, thanks to a
relatively strict nationwide lockdown imposed from March
26 to May 14, 2020, which reduced cases to zero, as well
as further lockdowns in Auckland and the imposition of
border quarantine measures.</p>
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<div>horrific?</div>
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