The second in our new series of charts, graphics and data-visualisations by Chris McDowall, covering the Covid-19 epidemic within New Zealand. We’ll publish the latest set each day on The Spinoff. This work is entirely funded by the generosity of The Spinoff Members Information about confirmed and probable cases of Covid-19 in New Zealand is … Read more
In the worst-case scenario modelled, almost 150,000 New Zealanders would be hospitalised with Covid-19 and more than 35,000 would lose their lives. The Ministry of Health has released its mathematical models that project the severity of the Covid-19 outbreak based on different measures imposed on the populous. The modelling delivers “a clear warning of the … Read more
Introducing a brand new series of charts, graphics and data-visualisations by Chris McDowall, covering the Covid-19 epidemic within New Zealand. This is the first edition – we’ll publish the latest set each day on The Spinoff. This work is entirely funded by the generosity of The Spinoff Members Information about confirmed and probable cases of … Read more
Some countries are now using a serology test, which uses blood or serum samples to look for antibodies we produce in response to the virus. Siouxsie Wiles explains its strengths and weaknesses. Read Toby Morris’s new Side Eye comic, created with Siouxsie Wiles, here. And more of Siouxsie’s writing here. The Spinoff’s Covid-19 coverage is made possible … Read more
A month ago, not many had heard of Ashley Bloomfield. But as the Covid-19 response has ramped up, the director-general of health has become a calm, reassuring presence in a time of uncertainty and fear. Rachel Thomas profiles him, in a piece first published on RNZ. Today, Saturday, director-general of health Dr Ashley Bloomfield is … Read more
Want to avoid Covid-19? Skip the high dose vitamin C, and take a moment to learn about the statistical modelling that helps us understand how diseases spread. Shaun Hendy explains. Infectious diseases like Covid-19 spread from person to person. If, on average, every person who gets it goes on to infect two other people, then … Read more
A widely reported study revealed that Covid-19 can be made to be airborne. That doesn’t mean you’ll ever catch it that way. You may have seen several reports over the last few days that the Covid-19 coronavirus is airborne. This is in the news again because the study I wrote about a week ago has … Read more
An anti-malaria drug could be a possible treatment for Covid-19, alongside other existing medicines. Here’s what the experts think. Several pre-existing drugs are thought to hold potential in the treatment of virus Covid-19. While research is ongoing into new treatments and vaccines, if anything currently available is found to be effective it could be distributed … Read more
How the process runs, why we’re not testing everyone who feels ill, and something you can do online immediately and easily to help the fight against the virus. The Spinoff’s coverage of Covid-19 is funded by Spinoff Members. To support this work, join Spinoff Members here. With confirmed cases of Covid-19 in New Zealand up to … Read more
Siouxsie Wiles offers some context around a couple of new studies on the coronavirus. Two new studies relating to Covid-19 studies have begun circulating online, with some alarming headlines appearing in the media. Let me put them into context for you. The virus is still spread via droplets As I’ve explained before, all data we … Read more
The debate about methane emissions from farming is both ongoing and polarising, and many are pinning their hopes on scientific advances to avoid both de-stocking and climate breakdown. But how effective can these measures actually be? Alex Braae visited a research lab on the front lines of this fight. At a sprawling campus on the … Read more
While handwashing is a vital weapon in the battle against Covid-19, so is keeping surfaces clean and disinfected. Microbiologist Siouxsie Wiles on what you need to know about destroying coronaviruses around your home and workplace. Read Dr Siouxsie Wiles’ other explainers on the Covid-19 outbreak here. This week several more people in New Zealand have … Read more
If we truly have a robust plan for Covid-19, there are three ways to take it to the next level, writes former pandemic planner Richard Simpson. In the same week the media psyched us up about a Lotto jackpot, how surprised can we be that some people went panic-buying at the supermarket over a looming … Read more
Siouxsie Wiles looks at the places with the largest number of coronavirus cases outside mainland China, and the efforts to understand its spread. The Spinoff’s ongoing coverage of the Covid-19 outbreak is made possible thanks to Spinoff Members. To support our journalism join members here. We are now clearly dealing with a very serious global threat, as the … Read more
The latest confirmed coronavirus case in New Zealand is an important reminder that we should be mindful of our behaviour, but there is no strong evidence of asymptomatic transmission, writes Siouxsie Wiles. The Ministry of Health yesterday announced a second person in Aotearoa New Zealand has tested positive for the coronavirus that causes Covid-19. Just … Read more
A new report on the Covid-19 outbreak has some important insights into the way it has progressed, the severity of cases, and why we should be taking it very seriously. Siouxsie Wiles explains. The Spinoff’s ongoing coverage of the Covid-19 outbreak is made possible thanks to Spinoff Members. To support our journalism join members here. … Read more
Yesterday New Zealand confirmed the first known case of Covid-19 in the country. As the virus approaches global pandemic status, what progress is being made in developing a vaccine? Siouxsie Wiles explains where we’re at, and how the vaccines work. The race to find a vaccine for Covid-19 is under way, and it’s taking place … Read more
New Zealand’s first case of Covid-19 has just been confirmed. Here’s what we know so far. What’s the latest? Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has confirmed New Zealand’s first case of Covid-19 coronavirus. New Zealand is the 48th country to have a confirmed case of the virus. What do we know about the patient? The patient … Read more
There is a surge of cases of the virus outside China. Australia says it expects Covid-19 to turn into a global pandemic. We cannot afford to panic in New Zealand. But we must prepare, writes Dr Siouxsie Wiles. Update: since publication, Coronavirus has been confirmed as having arrived in NZ. The following is a practical … Read more
The amount of methane emissions for which humans are responsible could be as much as 40% higher than thought. What does that mean for the fight against climate change? New international research suggests that the volume of methane emissions humans are producing is dramatically higher than previously thought. The findings, which rely on lab work … Read more
No matter how you measure it, science remains systematically biased against women – and ethnically diverse women even more so, writes Dr Hinemoa Elder. Women and girls in science, this is a public health announcement. You are entering unfriendly territory. Kia mataara, be vigilant. Keep your wits about you. There is irrefutable data that discrimination … Read more
The conversation around how we prepare for coronavirus here needs to be guided by a sense of our common humanity, write Ruth Cunningham, Charlotte Paul, Andrew Moore, Ayesha Verrall of the University of Otago. Borders have been closed, arrivals from Wuhan are in quarantine, and New Zealanders who have travelled from China are being asked … Read more
We know that coronavirus is dangerous, but what does it actually do to your body? Epidemiologist Allen Cheng explains. We usually think of viral respiratory infections, like the common cold, as mild nuisances that pass in a few days. But the Wuhan coronavirus has proven to be different. Of those infected, around 2% are reported … Read more
Increasingly large swathes of the country are getting bone dry, and it’s starting to cause serious problems. In today’s cheat sheet, Alex Braae looks into how bad the North Island drought is getting. What’s all this then? If you live in Auckland or further north, have you noticed how it hasn’t really rained all that … Read more
Laurie Winkless on the campaign to place Angela Saini’s Inferior, a book that disproves many dangerous, incorrect, gender-based stereotypes, into New Zealand secondary schools. Last year, I was tagged in a Twitter post by Dr Jess Wade. She was celebrating the success of a fundraising campaign that had raised more than $46,000 to get a … Read more
The coronavirus outbreak is testing New Zealand’s emergency plans, but public health experts warn there are much bigger threats to prepare for. RNZ’s John Gerritsen investigates. “Super volcanic eruption, asteroid strike, artificial intelligence gone wrong.” Researcher Matt Boyd is listing some of the possible threats to human existence. They sound terrifying, but what is really … Read more
With reports that several people in New Zealand have been tested for suspected coronavirus – they were all negative – and the WHO declaring the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, the New Zealand government yesterday announced entry restrictions for foreign nationals arriving from or transiting through mainland China. Siouxsie Wiles summarises the … Read more
And can you spread it before symptoms start? Epidemiology expert C Raina MacIntyre on what we know so far. Cases of the Wuhan coronavirus have increased dramatically over the past week, prompting concerns about how contagious the virus is and how it spreads. According to the World Health Organisation, 16-21% of people with the virus … Read more
When it comes to emerging infectious diseases and outbreaks, so much can happen in a week. In the case of the coronavirus outbreak in China, I’ve gone from not being too alarmed, to thinking, oh, crap! But that still doesn’t mean we should all panic, writes Siouxsie Wiles. The likelihood of a case of the … Read more