Covid-19 in the Arstotzkan Union

In 2020, the Arstotzkan Union became one of the many nations across the world that would battle Covid-19. The nation at the time had been coming out of the Second Civil Conflict when New Zealand announced it's first case. On March 18th 2020, the Ministry of Health and National Government began the first set of restrictions across the nation, with the Invercargill Embassy being closed on March 19th 2020, and the President addressed the virus on March 22nd and announced the creation of the Emergancy Health Alert Level (EHAL) on March 5th.

The nation joined New Zealand and locked down the entire Union on March 23rd 2020, which was two days before New Zealand moved to Alert Level 4, and the EHAL was put at 5.

Since then two citizens were tested for the virus, one in 2020 and another in 2021, neither came back positive.

In 2021, the Federal Government created the Covid-19 Response Council, which has now become the Arstotzkan Disease and Infection Direction Administration and since its creation has lead the Federal response to the virus.

In subsequent interviews, the First President has stated that the likelyhood of the Arstotzkan Union seeing its first case before January 2022, is "incredibly high". During sessions with members of the Executive Committee of the Office of the Presidency, both General Secretary's have urged that all citizens report a Covid diagonosis immediately, with plans on sending Covid-19 Relief Packages to those infected being pushed by the First President using personal funding rather than state funding.

## COVID-19 Pandemic in the Arstotzkan Union

### Location

Independent Federal Republic of the Arstotzkan Union

### Index case

Shotlandiya Territory, Independent Federal Republic of the Arstotzkan Union

### March - May 2020 Lockdown

On March 23rd 2020, President Ethan Brinkman, announced that along with New Zealand, that they were moving to Emergancy Health Alert Level 5 on March 24th 2020. During this time all government operations were moved to the Gollandiya Territory (AUDF Base: Maungatapu at the time). Over the lockdown the President continued to help run the election and on May 1st the first democratic election took place between the two main parties, the United Government Alliance and the Arstotzkan Labour Party.

On the evening of May 17th 2020, the President announced that the nation would move to EHAL 3 and allow transit to the Arstotzkan Union and would open the border along the Czechoslovakia Line (former border line). This would effectivley end the Lockdown in the Arstotzkan Union.

### June 2020 - February 2021 Interum Period

During this time the Arstotzkan Union had an period at which the EHAL remained between 2 and 1. On February 15th 2021, just five days after the end of the Arstotzkan - Confederate War, the EHAL was moved to 3. This was the first time since that the EHAL was moved to 3 since the end of the previous lockdown in May 2020.

### February Outbreak

During this time the EHAL remained at 3. The Ministry of Health still remained in control of the Arstotzkan Union with regard to Covid-19 however the Federal Government began to look at using the Arstotzkan Disease and Infection Direction Administration. On February 27th, the AUNNN announced that the nation would remain at EHAL 3. On March 3rd the EHAL was lowered to 2 and 1 on March 5th 2021.

### March - August 2021 Interum Period

Over this time the Arstotzkan Union remained at EHAL 1. During this time the Arstotzkan Union restored Ethan Brinkman as the First President. By August prepartions had begun for Union21, which was advertised as the biggest Commemartion Day celebrations. This would take place on August 22nd and commemarte the day of the founding of the Arstotzkan Union. However on August 17th the New Zealand Government announced a Alert Level 4 lockdown in response to a confirmed case of the Delta Variant (*lineage B.1.617.2*), one hour later, following an emergency meeting of the Federal Congress, the Arstotzkan Union moved to EHAL 5 for the first time in over a year.