NZ (Commonwealth)_
In the past week, New Zealand has witnessed a concerning surge in COVID-19 cases, accompanied by a regrettable increase of 44 deaths, marking a disturbing trend during the summer holiday season.
The Ministry of Health revealed that the number of hospitalizations more than doubled within three months, reaching a peak of 401 on December 21, before slightly decreasing to 355 on January 7. Notably, this peak marked the highest number of hospitalizations since January 2023.
Despite the escalating crisis and the introduction of highly infectious COVID variants, public health measures were abandoned, contributing to the perilous situation. The Ministry of Health paused its routine reporting of deaths and data between December 18 and January 8, leading to confusion regarding the actual toll. Contrary to initial reports of no COVID-related deaths this week, the Ministry clarified that only nine of the 44 reported deaths were unrelated to COVID, while the cause for the remaining 35 remains undetermined.
Since the abandonment of the elimination strategy in late 2021, New Zealand has faced a substantial toll, with a reported 5,513 deaths attributed to COVID. The Ministry of Health, however, asserts that 1,596 deaths were not caused by COVID, and 272 had unknown causes, resulting in an official death toll of 3,645. Even this figure, likely an underestimate, positions COVID-19 as New Zealand’s deadliest infectious disease, surpassing annual influenza-related fatalities.
The ongoing surge is fueled by the highly infectious JN.1 variant, which has become prevalent globally. Concerns raised by experts in December, including warnings from Professor Michael Plank and Professor Nikki Turner, highlighted the urgent need for protective measures. However, the government’s decision to abandon mask mandates and self-isolation requirements has exacerbated the crisis, leading to overwhelmed hospitals and a surge in respiratory cases.
As New Zealand grapples with the worsening situation, the National Party-led coalition government’s policies appear to deepen the crisis. Austerity measures, including the cessation of free rapid antigen tests and facemasks, threaten to accelerate the virus’s spread, particularly among vulnerable populations. The potential discontinuation of funding for free COVID-19 vaccines and antiviral treatments further jeopardizes public health.
The dire state of affairs underscores a global failure in implementing effective public health measures, revealing a damning indictment of capitalist priorities. In this critical moment, the International Committee of the Fourth International advocates for a global elimination strategy, urging workers to take a stand against policies that prioritize profit over public health. To combat incessant waves of infection and death, workers are encouraged to unite through the formation of rank-and-file workplace committees. The urgency of this life-and-death struggle requires immediate attention and collective action.
