3 ms·

An unfortunate headline, considering that we have yet to eliminate Covid-19 in New Zealand, as the article itself discusses.

red369 6y ago
I didn't see the article as disagreeing with the headline. I thought the headline was using "eliminated" in the epidemiological sense: "Elimination to everyone means that it is gone. But in epidemiological terms, it means bringing cases down to zero or near zero in a geographical location."
- brigandish 6y ago
  I see what you're saying but HN is not a community of epidemiologists so I'd also say the headline is misleading and hence, inappropriate.
  - cultus 6y ago
    Although it's generally considered bad form to alter headlines in HN, and the Lancet is a medical journal.
    - brigandish 6y ago
      Again, I see what you're saying. However, isn't it bad form because it may alter the meaning and hence, mislead? Then why would the converse - leaving it alone and hence, mislead - also not be bad form? The link and (HN) title are presented to the HN readership, if it is followed then the article's own title will be presented in the correct context. Regardless, this is a minor point and I'll quibble no further.
- Widdershin 6y ago
  I can appreciate that, there’s just been enough confusion around the meaning of elimination that I feel a lot of people will just assume we’re done with it. I don’t think the headline should be changed unless the article title changes, more just that if their goal is science communication I think they’ve done a poor job of it. “New Zealand on the cusp of Covid-19 Elimination” might be a better term. Also, our government hasn’t specified what threshold would be considered elimination so the latter part of that definition isn’t super helpful.
- pacala 6y ago
  This is highly misleading for a disease that can exponentially explode from a handful of cases to a national emergency within a span of a few weeks.
newacct583 6y ago
New Zealand is as close to "contained" as is possible to get without a vaccine. Pop the cork, for goodness sake. There's not a lot of good news to go around.
- Widdershin 6y ago
  Yes we have cause to celebrate, but as we approach another lowered level of lockdown it’s important to remember that we are still battling this virus. If the numbers ramp up again because people don’t take the precautions seriously then we won’t be celebrating anymore.
gHosts 6y ago
Today's numbers if anyone cares https://www.reddit.com/r/newzealand/comments/gfjby8/coronavirus_2_confirmed_0_probable_0805/ https://www.reddit.com/r/newzealand/comments/gfjby8/coronavi...

red369 6y ago

I didn't see the article as disagreeing with the headline. I thought the headline was using "eliminated" in the epidemiological sense: "Elimination to everyone means that it is gone. But in epidemiological terms, it means bringing cases down to zero or near zero in a geographical location."

brigandish 6y ago
I see what you're saying but HN is not a community of epidemiologists so I'd also say the headline is misleading and hence, inappropriate.
- cultus 6y ago
  Although it's generally considered bad form to alter headlines in HN, and the Lancet is a medical journal.
  - brigandish 6y ago
    Again, I see what you're saying. However, isn't it bad form because it may alter the meaning and hence, mislead? Then why would the converse - leaving it alone and hence, mislead - also not be bad form? The link and (HN) title are presented to the HN readership, if it is followed then the article's own title will be presented in the correct context. Regardless, this is a minor point and I'll quibble no further.
Widdershin 6y ago
I can appreciate that, there’s just been enough confusion around the meaning of elimination that I feel a lot of people will just assume we’re done with it. I don’t think the headline should be changed unless the article title changes, more just that if their goal is science communication I think they’ve done a poor job of it. “New Zealand on the cusp of Covid-19 Elimination” might be a better term. Also, our government hasn’t specified what threshold would be considered elimination so the latter part of that definition isn’t super helpful.
pacala 6y ago
This is highly misleading for a disease that can exponentially explode from a handful of cases to a national emergency within a span of a few weeks.

newacct583 6y ago

New Zealand is as close to "contained" as is possible to get without a vaccine. Pop the cork, for goodness sake. There's not a lot of good news to go around.

Widdershin 6y ago
Yes we have cause to celebrate, but as we approach another lowered level of lockdown it’s important to remember that we are still battling this virus. If the numbers ramp up again because people don’t take the precautions seriously then we won’t be celebrating anymore.

gHosts 6y ago

Today's numbers if anyone cares https://www.reddit.com/r/newzealand/comments/gfjby8/coronavirus_2_confirmed_0_probable_0805/ https://www.reddit.com/r/newzealand/comments/gfjby8/coronavi...