News from Aotearoa/New Zealand and the Pacific Islands

[Hutan]

We've moved discussion of that currently recruiting Long Covid and ME/CFS immunology study to the Dysimmune/Anna Brooks thread.

The discussion includes contact details, links through to the participant information sheet and some compliments about the participant information sheet.

 

[Chandelier]

The Press

www.thepress.co.nz

(Paywalled)

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New Zealand entering ninth wave of Covid, precautions urged as winter illnesses approach​

New Zealand is heading into its ninth wave of Covid-19, with data showing 184 hospitalisations and 19 deaths reported in the past week, according to public health expert Michael Baker.​

…​

Baker said the virus likely caused more harm than influenza when factoring in long Covid cases.​

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“Hundreds of people will be getting infected every week and risking long Covid,” he said. “Based on international evidence, it's quite correct to assume that scores of people will be getting quite severely impaired every week from this infection.”​

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New Zealand currently had no surveillance system for long Covid.​

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“There are still almost 20 people a week dying from this infection. So that's going to translate into a thousand people a year dying from this infection.”​

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[Chandelier]

Ninth wave of Covid-19 suggests wane in immunity, expert says everyone must 'act to reduce impact'

The latest figures show 50 hospitalisations and 19 deaths with the virus in the past week.

www.rnz.co.nz

Another article with quotes from University of Otago professor of public health Michael Baker:

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But this wave wasn't following the pattern of a new subvariant emerging, which suggested a wane in immunity.​

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Baker said the virus was still New Zealand's most impactful infectious disease - equating to about 1000 deaths a year - compared to influenza which accounted for about 500.​

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Baker said getting regular boosters reduced the risk of Long Covid.​

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The "disabling illness" was not being monitored at all in New Zealand which Baker said was a "gap" in tracking the virus.​

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He suggested periodic surveys would be enough to track how many people are living with it.​

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[SNT Gatchaman]

It might also reflect summer holiday socialising and return to school at the end of January.

 

[Ravn]

Viewable for a few more days (TVNZ account needed I think). Short segment on Long Covid on Breakfast starting at about 35min in

Long Covid advocate makes a cogent argument for monitoring cases and for an economic impact study in NZ. Ministry of Health responds with the following written statement (complete with inconsistent spelling of LC):

“We recognise the significant impact long COVID has on people and understand there are individuals experiencing prolonged symptoms.​

There are no plans for Long COVID monitoring nor for any economic analysis.”​

 

[Adam pwme]

Viewable for a few more days (TVNZ account needed I think). Short segment on Long Covid on Breakfast starting at about 35min in

Long Covid advocate makes a cogent argument for monitoring cases and for an economic impact study in NZ. Ministry of Health responds with the following written statement (complete with inconsistent spelling of LC):

“We recognise the significant impact long COVID has on people and understand there are individuals experiencing prolonged symptoms.​

There are no plans for Long COVID monitoring nor for any economic analysis.”​

Thanks, I couldn’t get to watch it. I downloaded the app and set my VPN to New Zealand, but it won’t let me watch it. I checked my IP address and my location and it it should be New Zealand. Not sure what’s going on.

 

[Ravn]

Thanks, I couldn’t get to watch it. I downloaded the app and set my VPN to New Zealand, but it won’t let me watch it. I checked my IP address and my location and it it should be New Zealand. Not sure what’s going on.

How annoying!

Did you create an account, too? I have a feeling they don’t let you watch if you’re not logged in with an account

I’ve also come across situations where an overseas website seemed to be able to pick I was using VPN and blocked access, maybe tvnz are doing the same?

Anyway, thanks for trying

 

[Sean]

Thanks, I couldn’t get to watch it. I downloaded the app and set my VPN to New Zealand, but it won’t let me watch it. I checked my IP address and my location and it it should be New Zealand. Not sure what’s going on.

They can tell if you are using a VPN, and blanket bans on VPNs are an effective, if crude, tool to stop people watching from outside the country.

Same problem here in Australia if I try to watch stuff on our national broadcaster (ABC). Have to turn off my VPN to access it.