If New Zealand was in the same COVID-19 situation as the UK, Dr Ashley Bloomfield says we would've seen between 3000 and 3500 deaths.
The Director-General of Health made the comparison while describing how Aotearoa had managed to "head-off" the disease having a significant impact here.
There are 21 recorded deaths from the virus so far compared with the UK's 36,914, but Dr Bloomfield says this could've been much higher.
"Clearly this is a virus that's having a big impact globally… If we were the UK, we would've had between 3000 and 3500 deaths to date, yesterday we would've reported 250 new cases and we would still be in lockdown. That's proportionate by population."
On Monday, the UK reported 1625 new COVID-19 cases and 121 new deaths, according to official health data.
Dr Bloomfield adds a vaccine or an effective treatment will help to not just control COVID-19, but help open up global borders.
The Government on Tuesday pledged $37 million to secure a vaccine for the virus "at the earliest possible time" and will ensure New Zealand is kept in the loop on international research efforts.
Health Minister Dr David Clark says the development of a vaccine is a "crucial tool in the control of COVID-19 worldwide" and that a "global effort is well underway" to develop and test vaccine candidates.
Of the $37 million for the strategy, $15 million will go towards an international research collaboration, $10 million will be used to support domestic research, $7 million will help distribute vaccines to developing countries and $5 million for potential manufacturing capability.
Dr Clark says the vaccine strategy will ensure "all stops are pulled out in New Zealand to advance discovery, development, testing and supply" of a vaccine for the coronavirus.
