COVID-19
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared a pandemic on 11 March 2020 in the wake of the worldwide outbreak of COVID-19. There are 1602 cases (confirmed and probable) in Aotearoa New Zealand, with 49 active.
Aotearoa New Zealand now has a four-level alert system to guide the response to the pandemic. We are currently at alert level three in Auckland, and alert level two elsewhere in the country.
Visit the official New Zealand COVID-19 website
Visit the Ministry of Health website
The number of confirmed cases worldwide now exceeds 21 million, with 753,451 deaths reported and nearly 14 million patients officially recovered. Cases have emerged in 213 countries and territories.
The virus originated in Wuhan City, China and was identified after more than 40 people developed pneumonia in December 2019. The virus is a member of the coronavirus family. This is a diverse group of viruses that includes the common cold. Named SARS-CoV-2, it is related to SARS, which caused an outbreak in 2003, and MERS, which emerged in 2012.
Read more:
- World Health Organization
- UK Government Collection of Information
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention (United States)
Last updated: 14 August 2020
Science in emergencies: COVID-19 documentary
By independent filmmaker Shirley Horrocks
Information summaries
Prepared under urgency
Please note that many of these documents reflect current information at a particular point in time, during a rapidly evolving situation.
COVID-19 vaccines – 7 September 2020
A summary of COVID-19 vaccine development efforts including the different approaches, potential challenges, and the current frontrunners.
Can SARS-CoV-2 survive in refrigerated environments – and for how long? – 20 August 2020
A short document on the highly uncertain evidence base for the possibility of SASR-CoV-2 transmission via the cold supply chain. This has been updated with new information on 20 August 2020.
Download ‘Can SARS-CoV-2 survive in refrigerated environments – and for how long?’ (PDF, 208KB)
Masks prevent the spread of COVID-19 – 13 August 2020
A short document on the evidence base for mask wearing to prevent the spread of COVID-19 plus explanation of the different types of masks.
Download ‘Masks prevent the spread of COVID-19’ (PDF, 202KB)
COVID-19 and vitamin D – 2 June 2020
Produced by Cherie Tollemache, one of our MacDiarmid interns, this report summarises the evidence for a link between vitamin D status and COVID-19 severity.
Download the ‘COVID-19 and vitamin D’ report (PDF, 867KB)
COVID-19 and seasonality – 18 May 2020
Produced by Stephen Lo, one of our MacDiarmid interns, this report examines the role of climate and weather in the transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Download the ‘COVID-19 and seasonality’ report (PDF, 375KB)
Is SARS-CoV-2 airborne? – 14 May 2020
This short summary describes research investigating whether an airborne transmission route is possible for SARS-CoV-2 and what role this might play in the progression of the pandemic.
Download the report ‘Is SARS-CoV-2 airborne?’ (PDF, 191KB)
Serology testing for COVID-19 antibodies – 29 April 2020
Focusing specifically on antibody testing, this review builds on the paper below led by Professor Michael Bunce, Chief Scientist at the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) – Te Mana Rauhī Taiao.
Download the report ‘Serology testing for the presence of antibodies against COVID-19’ (PDF, 496KB)
Testing for COVID-19 – 30 March 2020
A commissioned review on COVID-19 testing methods, produced under urgency by lead author Professor Michael Bunce, Chief Scientist at the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) – Te Mana Rauhī Taiao.
Download the report ‘Testing for COVID-19’ (PDF, 880KB)
Download the appendices for the report (PDF, 2.41MB)
Briefings
Advisory information provided to the Prime Minister as part of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Download the June/July/August advice bundle (PDF, 4MB)
Download the May advice bundle (PDF, 693KB)
Download the April advice bundle (PDF, 6MB)
Read the March advice bundle (PDF, 611KB)
News
The five burning questions facing NZ
When will we have a vaccine? And are our borders sufficiently secure now? Science reporter Jamie Morton spoke to Juliet and other scientists to answer five burning coronavirus questions facing NZ.
Short documentary on COVID-19 pandemic response released
The doco, by independent filmmaker Shirley Horrocks, features key players in Aotearoa's COVID-19 response.
Sharing COVID-19 experiences: The New Zealand response
Juliet was interviewed for a short World Health Organization video on Aotearoa New Zealand's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Experts urge caution on reports of new virus strain
Reports of a more transmissible strain of the SARS-CoV-2 virus should be interpreted with caution, says Juliet.
Seven science heroes of the pandemic
Juliet features alongside six other scientists who were instrumental in Aotearoa New Zealand's COVID-19 pandemic response in this NZ Herald article.
Aotearoa New Zealand celebrates as country moves into COVID-19 Alert Level 1
Juliet's celebratory single malt was one of many joyous reactions shared across NZ as coronavirus restrictions lifted.
Target: elimination – experts rate NZ’s response in COVID-19 battle
New Zealand Herald science reporter Jamie Morton asks Juliet and three other experts to rate Aotearoa New Zealand's response to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.
When can we re-open our borders?
As the COVID-19 pandemic rages offshore, how does Aotearoa New Zealand decide to reopen our borders and what constitutes an acceptable level of risk?
Bubbles, borders and risk: What does common sense look like in a global pandemic?
Juliet and Rachel reflect on the risks of reopening Aotearoa New Zealand's borders in the midst of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.
Coronavirus NZ podcast: Extended interview with PM’s chief science advisor
Juliet joined Stuff's Coronavirus NZ podcast, giving an inside glimpse into New Zealand's COVID-19 response – and revealing her lockdown baking habits.
COVID-19, crisis and transformation
In this interview with for The Spinoff, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern discusses the pandemic response and Juliet's critical role.
NZ Herald speaks to PM’s Chief Science Advisor about pandemic response
Juliet spoke to New Zealand Herald investigations reporter Matt Nippert about Aotearoa New Zealand's pandemic plan.
How and when we exit alert level four
At the half way point of the four-week-long level four COVID-19 lockdown, Juliet talks to Kathryn Ryan on Nine to Noon about how and when we exit the strictest level.
Navigating a public disagreement between scientists
Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, some scientists disagreed over the approach Aotearoa New Zealand should take. But such debates are a healthy part of how science works.
COVID-19 coronavirus: In crisis, Kiwis are more likely to trust experts
The New Zealand Herald's science reporter Jamie Morton spoke to Juliet about separating "the fact from the fudge" during the COVID-19 crisis.
COVID-19 data: Why we need to look behind the numbers
As the number of cases of COVID-19 skyrockets globally it’s tempting to dive into the wealth of data updated daily on the internet. But we need to be cautious about interpreting the data.
COVID-19: Chief Science Advisor on effect of global lockdowns
Juliet speaks to Lisa Owen on RNZ about the worldwide measures that will hopefully curb the rate of Covid-19 transmission in New Zealand, as the country prepares for lockdown.
Q&A on COVID-19 with PM Jacinda Ardern and Dr Michelle Dickinson
Juliet sat down with the Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Dr Michelle Dickinson (aka Nanogirl) for a Q&A session on the coronavirus Covid-19 outbreak. The video has received more than 1.8 million views.
Banner images: NIAID/Flickr (CC BY 2.0)