New Zealand government’s pivot from Covid elimination ‘surprised’ top health experts

Michael Baker said lack of discussion with independent experts was a stark contrast' to earlier pandemic decisions

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A number of epidemiologists and public health experts who have been central to helping chart and communicate New Zealand's Covid response thus far say they were taken by surprise by its new direction, and not consulted by the government as it pivoted away from elimination and outlined a controversial set of steps" out of level 3 restrictions last week.

The announcement was a shift in tack for New Zealand's government, which has spent most of the pandemic in close to lock-step with public health professionals.