#ashleybloomfield

Are New Zealanders as laid back as they are famous for? Thus went a query on Quora. Yes, in a nice way, said one software engineer who lived in New Zealand. Yes, agreed a New Zealand author too, but with a caveat – “Until you push us into a corner or do something we view as unfair or unjust. Then watch out. We are a warrior nation at heart. And we won’t back down from something that feels wrong to us.” One Indian software engineer disagreed and said ‘laid back’ should be substituted with ‘pragmatism’. The positive identity of New Zealanders is tied to Kiwi ingenuity as they often can come up with unconventional solutions to problems.

As an Indian, I only know the famous Kiwi cricketers as they were called until the term ‘Kiwi’ sort of came to be identified with a racist slant. Now they are Black Caps. Who can forget the famous and charismatic Richard Hadlee, one of the four great all-rounders of his time (Kapil Dev, Ian Botham and Imran Khan being the other three)? Then there was Martin Crowe, who stole our hearts with his beautiful cover drives, and also in the way he fought cancer and finally was consumed by it one day. Kane Williamson, the cool captain of the present New Zealand cricket team, stood like a rock when handed out what looked like an unfair defeat in the World Cup final in 2019. He said, “The players are shattered at the moment.”

New Zealand PM the Knight in the Country’s Shining Armour

But the New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern didn’t let the nation get shattered when it needed her the most.

For a country of 4.91 million people today, with more than one-fourth of them overseas-born, Prime Minister Ardern’s response to the rampaging pandemic – that threatened the Britons to almost the brink and exposed the many deficiencies in their response – ensured that it was contained in a stellar way in this isolated nation, which in 1907 became self-governing Dominion of New Zealand under the British Crown. In 1983, the country technically severed the imperial connection through the new letter patent ‘Realm of New Zealand’, repealing the Imperial Letter Patent of 1917, and cut off the remaining link by removing the residual power of British Parliament to legislate for New Zealand by bringing in the Constitutional Act 1986. Always shadowed by its more famous trans-Tasman rival, Australia, New Zealand today has shown to the world what a determined leadership in a crisis can do. The kind and firm Prime Minister, who faced more crises in her short term at the helm, has proved much more capable of handling them superbly. The world stood up and took note of this centre-left Labour leader, who stitched up a delicate coalition to win the 2017 polls, when terrorists struck in a mosque in Christchurch in March 2019, as she led the nation in providing an empathetic leadership. Close on its heels came the Whaakari/White Island volcano eruption in December 2019 and Prime Minister Ardern again led the nation with determination.

Britain’s Feet of Clay and New Zealand’s Grip over the Situation

The Sunday Times from London made a scathing expose of the British government’s ‘laid back’ response to the coronavirus infections that was initially brushed off as non-threatening. The Times report alleged that the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson – who later was to get infected with the coronavirus necessitating his admission into the ICU of St. Thomas’ Hospital and who eventually recovered from Covid-19 – was taking it easy and holidaying, mired in personal problems of his life, at a crucial time period in late February when tough decisions such as a lockdown should have been made. Poor modelling and a belief in herd immunity, repeatedly parroted by the establishment as enough to take of the disease in itself, resulted in British government’s initial intrepid response. When the British PM finally woke up to strike a lockdown in late March, things were under water. The death toll in UK (in hospitals as of April 19, 2020) has crossed 15,000 and infections well over 100,000.

While you could also take a sympathetic view that the British government, which sent as much as 270,000 pieces of support equipment to China on its request, did not foresee a worst situation as it eventually panned out, staying under the Covid-19 curve and then fighting it out. The situation seems overwhelming as the NHS is trying to procure enough PPEs and put in the required number of ICU beds. The good news is that people staying in hospitals from the Covid-19 disease is showing signs of tapering off. But the British government had to fight hard to bring the situation under its control, which seems to have not happened completely yet.

What makes New Zealand a role-model in its fight against coronavirus infections is the foresight with which the Prime Minister responded to the developing situation. Although, like many nations, New Zealand stopped incoming flights and people into the country late February, Prime Minister Ardern clamped a nationwide lockdown from March 25, 2020, a day after the British PM announced it from March 24, alarmed by the situation in Italy and Spain and modelling studies, which suggested 80,000 infections and 14,000 deaths if the situation goes unchecked in New Zealand. At that time, New Zealand had 102 cases of coronavirus infections and not a single death. The message to New Zealanders was “Act as if you have Covid-19. This will save lives.” The emphasis was on what was called a bubble – a smaller area where you could move around for biking and walking, say just your neighbourhood, with social distancing.

A Clear Elimination Strategy and Ashley Bloomfield a National Hero

As on April 19, 2020, only nine people have died from Covid-19 and 1431 infected with the coronavirus in New Zealand. Recoveries are at an impressive 912 cases. For a country of nearly 5 million people, there are only 519 active cases. New Zealand’s policy of ‘elimination’, rather than containment pursued by the United States and other Western nations, “is working,” reported the Washington Post in its report on April 7. A simple stat on this would make the situation clear: the number of new infections was lower than the number of recovered cases.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/new-zealand-isnt-just-flattening-the-curve-its-squashing-it/2020/04/07/6cab3a4a-7822-11ea-a311-adb1344719a9_story.html

In New Zealand’s fight against the pandemic. at the forefront is the nation’s Director General of Health, Dr. Ashley Bloomfield, whose press conferences – at times addressed alongside Prime Minister Ardern – have become a huge hit among New Zealanders for the precise way in which he delivers data. It even prompted New Zealanders to make him New Zealander of the Year 2021 for his “competent, calm and factual” updates. But he is humble enough to say, “I am lucky to be part of a fantastic team.”

https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/dr-ashley-bloomfield-responds-humbly-news-petition-him-new-zealander-year

On April 6, Tess Nicole called Ashley Bloomfield “the country’s unassuming rock star.”

https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2020/04/new-zealand-covid-19-coronavirus-ashley-bloomfield.html

Typical New Zealander Coming to the Fore

“New Zealand is a low-context country,” said Rosie, host of the YouTube channel, NotEvenFrench, in one of her YouTube videos. Rosie is a New Zealander who lives in Paris with her French partner. She says New Zealanders are open, warm and friendly and believe in clear and straightforward communication. And they are casual in their dress sense too, she emphasised, preferring flip-flops and even walking barefoot. “New Zealand is a beautiful country,” she points out and there cannot be two views on that. Bountiful nature is spread across New Zealand, uninhibited in some parts, with only the cities and urban areas a bit dense with populace.

Prime Minister Ardern uses the characteristic New Zealander trait of open and clear communication. She takes pains to explain, repeat and emphasise. She is active on Facebook and goes Facebook live to delve into questions posed by the people of her country. When announcing the lockdown on March 23, she clearly explained the rules of the lockdown. And when the imminent end of the lockdown is slated for April 22, a month after it was clamped, the New Zealand PM has started explaining the rules for relaxation from level 4 (complete lockdown) to level 3 (lockdown with some relaxations but strict on social distancing). She gets to the bottom of it, clearly explaining the implications of various scenarios, including what it would mean to scale down to level 3 and what precautions that the country has to take to adhere to those. She also cautions that a revert to level 4 might happen if there are flagrant violations.

New Zealand’s Future

The New Zealand government has also understood the pain of its countrymen during the lockdown and Finance Minister Grant Robertson announced a series of concessions including a six-month holiday on principal and tax on mortgages. The Government also plans to implement a business finance guarantee for small and medium businesses to protect jobs and support the economy in the unprecedented times.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-newzealand-banks/new-zealand-announces-mortgage-holiday-business-finance-support-to-cushion-virus-impact-idUSKBN21B0CA

But as everywhere, economic slump is a worrying outcome of the lockdown. And how economy will fare during the lockdown and after the lockdown is lifted is a challenge that the New Zealand government is confronted with. New Zealand is slated to go to polls in September 2020, and if Jacinda Ardern would pull it off again also remains to be seen.

Cricket-crazy Indians little realise that rugby is a religion in New Zealand. And the country won the Rugby World Cup in 2015. There was a YouTube video released then: The Greatest haka ever?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiKFYTFJ_kw

The unprecedented worldwide lockdown, triggered by the threat of the novel corona virus that originated from Wuhan in the Hubei province of China leading to the deadly respiratory disease, defined as Covid-19 by WHO, has also showcased some unlikely heroes who take the podium every day to brief the press with daily updates on largely the ground situation, including number of Covid-19 infected persons and those tested, and the measures being taken to tackle the present and the expected contingencies. The Coronavirus Research Center of John Hopkins University and Medicine provides a live update of just the (alarming) numbers: global Coronavirus infections and deaths in an easy-to-visualise numerical dashboard, which is usually used by all news outlets across the world. The local data is gathered by the governments of various countries at different levels (country-wide down to state and district levels) and shared with the public through a press meet daily.

Five heroes have emerged and many more unsung who haven’t hogged the limelight out of this threatening virus infection and disease that has killed close to 100,000 people and has spread to 185 countries worldwide. Governments are grappling with countermeasures and mostly have resorted to lockdowns in response to this deadly virus that is sparing no one. It has already claimed the life of Princess of Spain, aged 84. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson (55) was also infected with this virus and was admitted to the intensive care unit of St Thomas Hospital, but he has managed to get out of ICU and over Covid-19.

Horacio Arruda, the unlikely hero of Quebec

Source: ValMo-Illustration on Facebook.

Dr. Horacio Arruda, an unknown bureaucrat in the Canadian province of Quebec, has become a sensation because of his daily press briefings. This 59-year-old Director of Public Health of Quebec Province has charmed the Canadians through some of his controversial actions such as touching his face, in warning the audience about the consequences of some actions that lead to contacting Corona virus infections. He has found his way into t-shirts and memes.

https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/04/06/826617849/this-quebec-health-official-has-become-a-sensation-with-his-coronavirus-tips

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New Zealand is falling in love with the Ashley Bloomfield Show

New Zealand’s Ashley Bloomfield, “the extremely competent, somewhat boring” Director of Health, has set the “New Zealanders’ hearts aflutter” through his daily press briefings. Hailed as a “mild-mannered health care hero” he takes the podium every day and “in his gentle, measured way delivers whatever news he needs to, good or bad.” What has come to be called the Ashley Bloomfield Show, his daily press briefing is eagerly awaited by Dr. Bloomfield’s fans as well the country’s people.

Anna Rawhiti-Connell, who writes for newsroom.co.nz, in her ode to Ashley Bloomfield, confessed her unqualified admiration for him: “When children ask me what I did during the great pandemic of the 2020s, I will tell them I participated in idolatry so egregious that the Golden Calf would’ve blushed a dusky shade of metallic rose. Every day, at 1 pm, I tune in to my new favourite TV programme, the Ashley Bloomfield Show starring Ashley Bloomfield.” She added, “My Twitter account became the national headquarters for the Ashley Bloomfield fan club. Hundreds of like-minded souls have since followed me. If Ashley Bloomfield were Jesus, I am at least one of the lesser known apostles now. Jude Thaddeus perhaps.”

Here is a funny take on how he greets before starting the interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pH6O94k1Tc4

If you want to indulge further, watch this press briefing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6J7IjpfPvA&t=533s

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Pinarayi Vijayan attracts Malayalis across the globe

Closer home, Kerala’s Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s daily press meet, lasting over an hour from 6 to 7 pm, is a worldwide hit, with Keralites across the globe following the updates closely. The Kerala CM’s message delivered with a deadpan face still has won millions of admirers for his ability to provide clear view of the situation. At times, Mr. Vijayan also indulges in advice: in one press meet, he asked husbands to help wives in the kitchen!

Writing for the News Minute, Sreedevi Jayarajan says that the Kerala CM’s 6 pm press meet has reached popularity levels of entertainment TV soaps. She says, “The daily press meets have also ensured that fake news circulation has reduced to a large extent.” The interesting tit bit about the press meet is that “Interestingly, Pinarayi’s speeches with a deadpan demeanor have not only generated jokes and discussions in the state; data on the BARC audience measurement of Malayalam channels between March 21 and 27, now show that the CM’s 6 pm press meets have turned into a staple of sorts for the average Malayali.”

https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/pinarayi-vijayan-s-6-pm-press-meets-have-become-staple-kerala-viewers-122158

Video of a press meet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYR82t7bi88

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The Health Secretary of Tamil Nadu Is Winning Admirers All Around

Tamil Nadu’s Health Secretary Dr. Beela Rajesh’ no-nonsense press briefing has won her admirers all over, with praise pouring in for her clarity and elaborate explanation. A doctor by education, Dr. Beela joined the IAS in 1997. She patiently answers all the questions posed by reporters. She deftly defers tricky details on data sought for by reporters but has also proven quite adept at negotiating some controversial questions related to treatment and death. Her appeal on Twitter as well during the press meet to treat Covid-19 patients with kindness went viral. Her sartorial taste has also generated conversation as well as memes on social media. She usually wears a saree with a matching neck-covered elbow-length blouse in bright colours.

This video went viral, in which she clearly explained how Covid-19 testing is done in Tamil Nadu. After this, she was regularly followed by press and the public on her daily press briefing:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWq_DxgdA64

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Rajasthan’s Health Official Explains How District Administration Can Make a Difference Literally to People’s Lives

Rohit Kumar Singh, Rajasthan Additional Chief Secretary of Health, in his interview with Shereen Bhan of CNBC-TV18, displayed an admirable clarity, combined with clear articulation, in the strategy adopted by the Rajasthan Government, especially the district administration, in preventing an outbreak in the textile town of Bhilwara just after one case of infection of a doctor was detected. It is now hailed as the Bhilwara Model. Mr. Singh said the strategy has been “ruthless containment, ruthless containment, ruthless containment.”

Watch the interview (from -14:40) here after the daily briefing by the Union government officials: