Dr Ward says we need to "stamp out the virus" - or "allow the horrors like those seen in Italy and the US to happen here".

"All it takes is for one contact to potentially spread the virus widely in a few weeks. Many patients only show minor symptoms but they can transmit this disease to the more vulnerable causing unnecessary harm and death," he told Newshub.

"The question is, do we take strong measures now for about a month and contain the virus or do we do it indefinitely after it's largely too late."

His petition calls for four actions to be urgently implemented:

Quarantine (not self-isolation) of COVID-19 positive patients Extensive testing and contact tracing Self-isolation of all asymptomatic contacts Mandatory social lockdown

"These actions will be painful for New Zealand, but nothing compared to what we would endure if we don't act now to make our collective voice heard," he says on the petition.

"The window of opportunity is rapidly closing to prevent COVID-19's exponential growth, which will overrun of our health care system, causing countless unnecessary deaths. If that happens, our generation will forever regret our inaction."

An anaesthetic technician who signed gave his reason and urged others to follow.

"Will be a part of the frontline when the surge of critical patients inevitably present to our high dependency and intensive care units," he wrote.

"We must act now to prevent our small healthcare system from being massively overwhelmed."