key: cord-0807766-p3lorw3n
authors: Tokuda, Yasuharu
title: Japan should learn useful ideas from successful countries during the pandemic: a case of New Zealand
date: 2021-05-03
journal: J Gen Fam Med
DOI: 10.1002/jgf2.443
sha: 3560dd14361c43dc7bf564ee5b18ae3eb19abc41
doc_id: 807766
cord_uid: p3lorw3n

nan

Using the whole-genome sequencing, they identified that 20 percent of all index cases led to a chain of transmission, with the origin for the cases was proven to come from North America. 2 This conclusion is compatible with the fact that there are direct flights from North America into New Zealand and there were no travel restrictions at that time. Currently, by using robotics, the genome sequencing can be performed in less than 10 hours in New Zealand.

As a virus spreads, it undergoes mutations, which will be inherited by the next person. Thus, the viral RNA of each case contains the fingerprints of that of all previous cases and a genetic family tree can be developed for linking one case to another, revealing history of where it might have come from.

There are many more useful ideas that Japan should learn from New Zealand to improve life and care for our own people during the pandemic. One such idea is to provide online list of all essential workers for supporting their life and work. 3 Before going to work in a hospital, a nurse with a card of essential worker can go shopping at a supermarket in a special morning time period with no ordinary people allowed to shop inside.

The growth rate of GDP for the July-September quarter 2020 in New Zealand was 14% greater than the previous quarter, the highest growth rate ever. 4 This marked a record recovery from the economic downturn caused by the new epidemic. On November 3, 2020, the WHO director announced in Twitter that "we all have a role to play in suppressing transmission and we have seen across the world that it's possible. We have released videos featuring multiple countries demonstrating their comprehensive responses to COVID-19. This includes New Zealand." New Zealand Prime Minister Ms. Jacinda Ardern responded that she will work with Joe Biden to help the U.S. fight COVID-19 when he called her during the U.S. presidential campaign, saying "We are happy to work with any country to share our knowledge and data." Japan should learn useful ideas from successful countries during the pandemic, when the ideas can be easily shared by international collaboration. 

Go To Travel" campaign and travel-associated coronavirus disease 2019 cases: a descriptive analysis

Genomic epidemiology reveals transmission patterns and dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 in Aotearoa New Zealand

COVID-19: Essential services in the health and disability system