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The second phase of the Covid-19 response inquiry has found the government's response was effective but late and not communicated well enough to people.
The country's transition from its early elimination strategy to suppression and minimisation was "far from smooth", with consequences like the Auckland lockdown going on longer than needed at the end of 2021, the report, released on Tuesday said.
The second phase tested if the government took a balanced approach and found it largely did, but said the public was not brought on board - and must be in the next pandemic, with one of the 24 recommendations made today that there should be more open decision making in future around the impacts on people's isolation, health and incomes.
"The evidence shows these factors were considered when many decisions were made. Ideally, though, decision-makers would have been better supported with clearer, more specific evidence about the effects of public health measures," said the 530-plus-page report by the Royal Commission of Inquiry.
Photo: Pool / NZME
"More comprehensive and robust response strategies should have been in preparation much earlier."
Public divisions and ange
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