IND vs NZ: On COVID-19

We all know New Zealand has reported zero COVID-19 new cases for more than two weeks. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern did “a little dance” when she heard this news, that’s what she told media. We irrespective of the geographical boundary are very much happy for them. But in social media many people of our country sharing a post comparing India and New Zealand based on its COVID-19 situation. Fair enough, So I decided to write a very simple comparison between these two specific countries from different aspects than directly jumping to the COVID-19 comparison.

First of all, let’s talk about the amount of land both the countries have. India has a land area of 3.287 million square kilometres whereas New Zealand’s amount of land is 268,000 square kilometres. The most important thing is the population density of both countries. The population density of New Zealand is 18 per square kilometre which means 18 persons live in one square kilometre. Whereas India’s population density is 382 persons per square kilometre. Now let us talk about the total population of these countries, New Zealand’s total population is 4,822,233 (2018) and at the same time India’s total population of 135.26 crores (2018). Most importantly in the global healthcare list, New Zealand stands at 41st position and Indian at 145th position. So, these are the basic information we need to understand the exact situation in our country.

So, let’s begin if we look at the population density of our country (India) 382 per square kilometre and it helps up to understand how easy the spreading COVID-19 in India than New Zealand. Now there are other factors most important is our healthcare, we are at the 145th position, even Bangladesh and Srilanka are in the list of top 100 countries in the matter of healthcare. New Zealand’s population is half of any of our state’s population. Now comes the most important thing poor condition of living, where people live their everyday life just like a survival game especially the middle class and lower-middle-class people during this lockdown period. There is no proper food, people lost their jobs, 10 people are living in a 200 sq. ft room and we want them to stay home, even there is no proper ventilation in their room. New Zealand does not have issues like migrant workers, without any proper plan they are sent to their states. Here political parties are spending crores of bucks for their election campaign but don’t have money to feed these migrant workers.

So, it’s my request to people who are comparing New Zealand and India. you can compare because you have democratic rights but before making this kind of comparison please go through these facts about our nation. Again, I am writing this blog totally from my perspective you may agree with it may not. But I hope one day like New Zealand we also can call us a COVID-19 free nation.