Australia is currently on its second wave of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) infection. The first COVID-19 case in Australia was reported on January 25, 2020. The number of cases in the country sharply rose in March, then declined significantly in April due to lockdowns and strict health protocols. In July, Australia saw another increase in COVID-19 cases in Melbourne, the capital of the state of Victoria. Victoria is under lockdown as of writing. However, other states like New South Wales whose capital is Sydney, are under milder restrictions. Australia is the fifth country in the world with the largest number of overseas Filipino workers. Let us take a look at the day-to-day experiences of a Filipina living in Sydney on Buhay Pandemya.
New Zealand has recently created buzz for its response to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Its management of COVID-19 has been considered by experts as one of the best and most effective, leading to low numbers of positive cases and fatalities.
On February 3, 2020, the New Zealand Government placed entry restrictions on foreign nationals traveling from Mainland China, weeks before the World Health Organization (WHO) had a name for the disease.
The first case of COVID-19 in New Zealand was reported on February 20, 2020.
On March 21, 2020, the New Zealand government introduced a four-level system to help fight COVID-19. The country was then placed under Alert Level 2.
On March 23, New Zealand was placed under Alert Level 3, following reports of community transmission of the virus.
On March 25, a state of emergency was declared, and Alert Level 4 was raised, placing the country under lockdown.
On March 29, New Zealand reported its first COVID-19 related death.
The alert levels were gradually lowered as the number of new COVID-19 cases began to lessen. On June 8, New Zealand reported that there are zero active cases in the country, moving to Alert Level 1. As the alert level was lowered, a few positive cases were reported, some with a history of foreign travel.
There are currently some 80,000 Filipinos in New Zealand. Let us take a look at one Pinoy’s experience as restrictions there are lifted: https://youtu.be/cK0L1gyqPQU
Kathy San Gabriel / Panahon TV Reporter