ISSN: 2639-2038
Authors: Haitham Khoj and Alaa Mujallad*
Background: New Zealand has shown the world their successful results of their strict strategies to contain COVID-19. On March 25, New Zealand started the level 4 lock down. On June 8th, the prime minister announced that they had not had new cases in 17 days, and the COVID-19 patients had recovered. It was the only country at that time that has managed to have 0 cases of COVID-19 after a level 4 alert lock down. Although Saudi Arabia applied the same strategies as New Zealand, COVID-19 cases have increased. On March 29th, Saudi Arabia started level 4 lockdown when the COVID-19 cases were around 1453, and then it reopened on May 28th, and the cases were around 80000. Aims of the Study: In this study, we compare the percentage in the drop-down of the visitors spent time in places in Saudi Arabia and New Zealand compared to baseline days which is the median value of the five week period before the lockdown. Methods: Secondary data was taken through google mobility that shows the visitors spent time in places in Saudi Arabia and New Zealand compared to baseline days which is the median value of the five week period before the lockdown 4. A descriptive comparison was used to compare between the two countries. Results: The results showed slight differences in daily activities among New Zealander and Saudi Arabian people. Conclusion: Countries such as Saudi Arabia and New Zealand have done a stage 4 lockdown and have had different results. How did New Zealand manage at that time after the lockdown to have zero cases, and Saudi Arabia did not? It is a question that puzzles not only Saudi Arabia, but all other countries that could not lower the number of COVID-19 cases.
Keywords: COVID-19; Google Mobility
