A lot can change in a few months. As of early 2020, pandemic preparedness and public health are the most talked about topic in the world, and the ‘new normal’ will forever change the face of resilience.
I have shared some thoughts on the media site The Spinoff, of my own perspective on the New Zealand response based on my public health emergency experience at Auckland Regional Public Health Service from 2009 to 2017.
You can find all the articles below on my writer’s page on https://thespinoff.co.nz/author/richard-simpson/
Novel Coronavirus: Confessions of a recovering NZ pandemic planner
Published 6th February 2020
An opinion piece giving an overview of public health border control, national strategy and quarantine practices.
Covid-19 is going nowhere: Here’s what every New Zealander can do (sub-editor’s choice, not my own choice of title!)
Published 6th March 2020
An opinion piece in which I step through three challenges for New Zealand to ensure a world class Covid-19 response:
- A bipartisan communication approach from the major political parties, of support for the frontline health workers and the need for fact-based health principles.
- The major media outlets and “influencers” to agree to a voluntary set of reporting standards and a public commitment not to use the coronavirus for clickbait or fear-provoking articles.
- A facilitated public discussion in the early pandemic stages about what an acceptable “new normal” should mean.
Some practical steps for workplaces in a Covid-19 world
Published 16th March 2020
Also published on Newshub – https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/money/2020/03/coronavirus-easy-practical-steps-for-workplaces-in-a-covid-19-world.html
A short business continuity piece promoting the workplace public health ‘Four R’ principles (my own creation) to:
- REMOVE the risk entirely.
- REPLACE steps in a process to minimise the transmission risk.
- REDUCE the risk through distancing, cleaning, hand hygiene, etc.
- RECORD any possible exposure event to establish good habits and a referral record.
This is history
Published 23rd March 2020
An opinion piece about how this is a historical event in which New Zealand can lead by example or be a cautionary tale for future generations.
How do you prepare for a pandemic?
Published 13th April 2020
A professional piece for emergency managers and trainers on using historical scenarios as the basis for preparedness and resilience training.
Simpson Consulting 