{"id":595059,"date":"2022-04-08T02:56:59","date_gmt":"2022-04-08T02:56:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/asiapacificreport.nz\/?p=72569"},"modified":"2022-04-08T02:56:59","modified_gmt":"2022-04-08T02:56:59","slug":"it-was-clear-sharing-information-was-key-says-resigned-nz-public-health-chief","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/2022\/04\/08\/it-was-clear-sharing-information-was-key-says-resigned-nz-public-health-chief\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018It was clear sharing information was key,\u2019 says resigned NZ public health chief"},"content":{"rendered":"
RNZ News<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n Aotearoa New Zealand’s outgoing Director of Public Health says the quick sharing of scientific information and the widespread use of masks have both been critical parts of the country’s public health response.<\/p>\n Dr Caroline McElnay, who is leaving the role shortly, presented the regular covid-19 update with Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield for the final time yesterday and gave her view on the pandemic response over the past couple of years.<\/p>\n She is stepping down from the role in the same week Dr Bloomfield announced he would also soon be leaving his role.<\/p>\n Dr McElnay had been in the job for five years and is travelling to Europe, but plans to come back to New Zealand. She said she is looking forward to going hiking — on long walks without cell phone coverage.<\/p>\n Dr McElnay said the country had learned a lot since New Zealand first went into lockdown more than two years ago.<\/p>\n Masks had become part of daily lives and would continue to remain an important tool, she said.<\/p>\n “They are a critical aspect of our public health response.”<\/p>\n Pandemic sped up science<\/strong> “Scientists effectively show progress through publishing scientific papers, which makes the information then available to the science and health communities,” she said.<\/p>\n “Pre-covid that process often took months, but during covid it was clear sharing information was key. Information that could help understand the science behind the pandemic and assist in tackling it needed to be fast, so it could be used equally quickly.<\/p>\n “Applying that knowledge, which has improved as time has gone on, has held New Zealand in good stead.<\/p>\n “Vaccines and treatments that are effective at keeping people out of hospital were developed fast and advances in tracking and testing were equally quick.”<\/p>\n Watch the covid-19 update <\/b><\/p>\n\n
\nThe pandemic had changed the way many people worked, and also sped up science, she said.<\/p>\n