The cost of lockdown was missed diagnosis, possibly leading to illnesses going unidentified.
A study of a Dunedin primary care clinic found that during lockdown tests and referrals fell by almost 100%. It was likely not quite this bad across the country, but the MoH won’t report the data.
Referrals 2019: 17 2020: 0.
Lab tests 2019: 61 2020: 1.
https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/gp-contact-referrals-affected-lockdown-study