More than a million confirmed deaths globally, and horror stories from countless healthcare workers fighting on the front line, but still, conspiracy theories abound.

Misinformation and wilful ignorance both play a huge role in why so many countries around the world have failed dismally with their COVID-19 responses, but amongst the rubble New Zealand stands tall.

With Jacinda Ardern at the helm, and the added benefit of being a remote island country, they have managed to contain the outbreak, with 1 876 confirmed and probable cases in total, and just 25 confirmed deaths in a population of around 4,8 million.

At present, there are 42 active cases, all of which are being monitored.

In short, the country doesn’t tolerate COVID-19 nonsense, and deputy prime minister Winston Peters was very quick to shut down an American COVID-19 denier who popped up at a public meeting in Tauranga yesterday.

Sorry sunshine, wrong place:

Ouch – dismissed with the level of disdain it deserves.

Newsweek with more on what came before the clip above commences:

Footage recorded before the viral moment shows the U.S. man claiming to have multiple degrees in science before mentioning the Peters’ New Zealand First party’s vote for the COVID-19 Public Health Response Act.

But Peters interrupted and told him: “Sir, if you’re that bright with all those degrees, you’ll know what a question is. Start asking it.”

So he was also owned before he had asked his ridiculous question.

Get yourself a one-way ticket back to the US, buddy.

[source:newsweek]