Donald Trump says New Zealand is having a "big surge" in #Covid19 cases in order to attempt to make the point that no one can contain the virus. But we have! As Aaron points out below, nine NZers tested positive for Covid-19 yesterday, compared to 42,000 Americans. (Thread) https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1295440487277633536

Adjusted for population, the US still has 73 times as many new cases on a daily basis. And our nine cases came from 26,000 tests. For every 26,000 tests the United States conducts, they find 1,742 cases.

The same applies to deaths as well. In New Zealand, we have lost 22 people to #Covid19. Our last death was 82 days ago. In the United States, 169,350 people have been killed by the disease. Yesterday alone, 650 people died.

Adjusted for population, the United States has lost 120 people to #Covid19 for every one New Zealander killed by the disease. The two simply aren't comparable.

Trump wants Americans to think that no one can control the virus, so he's not to blame for failing to do so there. But New Zealand has. Since May 14, we've been living freer lives in a more open economy and society than Americans have, per the Oxford Policy Stringency Index.

Even now, with Auckland under Level 3 lockdown, two thirds of New Zealanders are still living freer and more open lives than the average American. Wednesday was the first day I wore a mask in months. Rugby matches have regularly had crowds in the tens of thousands.

The failure to contain #Covid19 in the United States is just that - a failure of policy and leadership. This isn't a magic virus that resists basic epidemiological controls that apply to all others. It's just a challenge that requires a science-based response - as happened in NZ.