Dr Rawiri Taonui | Covid-19 Update for Māori 17 April 2020

Photo image supplied / Dr Rawiri Taonui

Covid-19 Update for Māori 17 April 2020 | Single figure new cases first time since March 19
Dr Rawiri Taonui

Key Measures

There are 4 key measures indexing control over COVID-19:

•  Steady decline in new cases from peak. Our peak was 89 new cases 13 days ago. Since then new cases have declined to just 8 today.
• Recovered cases exceeding new cases and the gap between the two widening. Recovered cases exceeded new cases 3 days ago. We have a widening gap
• Testing at as high a rate per 1 million of population (tpm) as possible to ensure we are detecting any hidden clusters, reservoirs or individuals who are unaware they are carrying the virus. We are approaching 15,000 tpm. This is high by international standards. The highest are between 20,000tpm and 35,000tpm.
• Isolating clusters and no new clusters appearing is key to preventing community transmission. The higher the percentage of all cases isolated in clusters, the lower the risk of community transmission. Clusters comprise 545 of 1409 cases or 38.7%.

Total Cases

New Zealand has 8 new cases and 1409 in total. Over 13 days new cases have declined from a peak of 89 to 8. This is strong signal that there is emerging control over COVID-19. Sadly, there are 2 more deaths today bringing the total to 11. Thoughts and prayers go to families.

Recovered and Active Cases

816 people have recovered. Active Cases (the total of all cases less recovered) fall again from 930 eight days ago to 582 today. This is a key index signalling control of the virus.

Testing

Total testing is over 14,880tpm (tests per million of population). We need to aim for higher levels.

Clusters

15 existing cases have been linked to the existing 16 clusters. For two days in a row, there are no new clusters. Clusters comprise 38.7% of all cases. Their isolation is a significant factor in preventing community transfer.

Māori Cases

There are 2 new Māori case and 120 in total. Māori remain 8.5% of all cases. In the last 6 days, there have been 10 new cases. In the first six days of April, there were 45.

Pacific Peoples Cases

There is 1 new Pacific case and a total of 64. Pacific remain 4.5% of all cases.

Risk Factor

This graphic presents the number of cases by ethnicity against the ethnic demographics from the 2018 Census, which counts multiple identities, and the Ministry of Health population model that counts a single identity. The two figures establish a Range of Risk. A percentage figure of positive cases approaching the lowest figure in the Range of Risk (shown in blue) is concerning for that community. Anything higher is more serious.

Māori and Pacific testing

Testing of Māori and Pacific is improving. The Northern DHBs reported today that Māori (15.4%) and Pacific (15.2%) make up 30.6% of all tests, which is well above their combined demographic of 25.3%. This is the direct result of pressure by Māori and Pacific leaders and community workers, and, frontline Māori and Pacific community health practitioners setting up testing sites.

Two Men Suing Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern

Two men are suing the Prime Minister claiming that this is not a pandemic but a panicdemic. They claim the PM should have consulted the Secretary-General of the UN before going to lockdown and that the lockdown means they are being illegally detained. The Health Act allows the government to proceed with a State of Emergency.

The two men have name suppression because of they have concerns over their safety. We are in lockdown because the PM has concerns about the safety of all New Zealanders.

Noho haumaru stay safe and self-sovereign, Dr Rawiri Taonui

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