New Zealand scientist warns about forgotten aspect of pandemic, the emotional fallout

New Zealand has begun moving out of a strict national lockdown to prevent the spread of Covid-19, but the emotional consequences of the shutdown are yet to peak, says one of the country’s veteran scientists.

“We’re not yet at the peak of the distress as a result of the lockdown. It will emerge over the coming weeks,” said Sir Peter Gluckman, who was the chief science advisor to New Zealand’s prime minister from 2009 until 2018.

“With that will emerge some groups of people who will do well, they will find in the change opportunity, but many people who will be very uncertain, very scared, frustrated, angry, and we know from other disasters that about 10% or more even will progress to actual depression and to suicidality.”

However,  Gluckman also said the country possessed unique assets that could see it navigate the coronavirus crisis better than other nations would.

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