Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Community and Physician, cilt.36, sa.5, ss.333-341, 2021 (Scopus)
Emerging from an epicenter, the causative agent of COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) spread rapidly across all World Health Organization (WHO) regions. When we consider a country with fully susceptible individuals where SARS-COV-2 transmission is not yet reported, the initial and simplest measure is to prevent the entry of infectious individuals. If the entry of infectious individuals has not been prevented, detecting and isolating infected individuals and quarantining their close contacts are essential. Island countries are naturally advantageous in epidemic control due to geographic isolation and partially small populations. According to WHO COVID-19 weekly epidemiological update as of April 25th 2021, all 10 countries (or territories) with “no case” classification were islands. New Zealand transformed the health system beginning in the early 2000s to reduce health inequalities between different groups, but the country was caught unprepared for the pandemic. After seeing that the COVID-19 burden might by far exceed the health capacity, New Zealand switched to the elimination strategy and succeeded in the fight against the pandemic. By May 1st 2021, all of New Zealand was at the lowest alert level. Science-led, early and strict measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the public’s compliance with governmental actions played an important role in the success.