What can world learn from New Zealand (by Jimi Wallace)

2019-nCov started in Wuhan, China at a seafood market. Real origin is still mysterious (heaps of conspiracy theories are still flushing globally). Hundreds of thousands affected, dead, dying, critically ill although many recovered. Most death in the over 70 group or those with underlying health issue. Health Researchers noted that people who are infected with the virus may be asymptomatic or develop flu-like symptoms, including fever, cough, fatigue and shortness of breath.

As of today Saturday 8th April 2020, New Zealand has been in stage 4 lockdown for 14 days. Government has closed the border to everyone but returning New Zealand nationals/residents and makes it mandatory to self-isolate for 14 days for anyone enters the country. Those without an isolation plan are put into lockdown in hotels with an arranged payment (win-win).

Panic buying set in during stage 2, 3 and at the start of stage 4 people had no toilet paper, no disinfecting supplies, no paper towel, no laundry soap, no hand sanitizer, no flour or yeast.                            Self-distancing measures mean we must each stay in our “bubbles” consisting in households/people living together on 23.59 on Wednesday 26th March people were given 48 hours’ notice.

Over 70’s and those with underlying health issues or weakened immune systems told to self-isolate for the duration of the lockdown where possible. Till, tape on the floors at food supermarkets to help distance shoppers 2m (6ft) from each other. Limited number of people inside stores, therefore lineups outside the store doors.

Non-essential stores and businesses, trades closed. Supermarkets, pharmacies, dairies only shops allowed to open. Drs and Vets open but must phone ahead, many consultations via phone/skype etc Those who are lucky enough to have a job that is able to be done from home without the need to have physical contact are able to continue to work.

• Children’s playgrounds, bush trails, water activities, visits to the beach, swimming pools, gyms are off limits.
• Entire sports seasons cancelled.
• Concerts, tours, festivals, entertainment events – cancelled.
• Weddings, family celebrations, holiday gatherings – cancelled.
• Funerals limited to only those within the deceased’s bubble. No religious services, churches, mosques, temples are closed. Schools/daycare/uni’s are all closed. No gatherings permitted. Not allowed to physically able to socialize with anyone outside of your bubble.
• When we are at supermarkets, we are to maintain a distance from each other minimum of 2m.
• Allowed outside for walks/cycling but must stay within their neighborhood and observe the 2m rule.

Shortage of masks, gowns, gloves for our front-line workers were somehow obvious. Around the World there is a shortage of respirators, hospitals, nursing staff and Dr’s- chaos!

Wuhan, Italy, Spain, Iran, UK and USA are the worst hit so far with over 1500 000 infected Worldwide, over 83000 deaths with the youngest victim 6 weeks old. The figures from around the World show a @10% mortality rate. China claimed only 3% mortality rate which is suspected to be incorrect possibly because many died before anyone knew what it was Covid-19.

In New Zealand over 1200 infected and a very small numbers of deaths,1 majority recovered. Back to the rule above, bubbles nominate someone as their designated shopper…Supermarkets limit purchase of certain items to 2 per customer. Manufacturers, distilleries and other businesses around the World switching their lines to help make visors, masks, hand sanitizer and PPE.

Phone and email addresses are set up for the public to report anyone breaking isolation rules, not paying workers their government subsidized wage or for those price-gauging others.

Press conferences daily from the Prime Minister, similar like a president or head of state!

• Barely anyone in the street or on the roads.
• People wearing masks and gloves outside.
• Essential service workers are terrified to go to work.
• Medical workers are afraid to go home to their families.

Those unable to work have $580.80 for fulltime/over 20hrs and $350 for those under 20 are paid to businesses by the government with employers paying workers 80% of their wage.

This is the Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) Pandemic, which was declared March 11th, 2020.

Why, you ask, do I write this status?

Answer is very simple:

– New Zealand isn’t just flattening the curve, it’s squashing it. “We are trying to do what is right for New Zealand, for New Zealand’s economy and for New Zealand’s people. if we didn’t shut down quickly enough, the pain was going to go on for a very long time”

-1day it will show up in my memory feed, and it’ll be a yearly reminder that life is precious. To not take the things we dearly love for granted.

We have so much!
Be thankful.

Be grateful.
Be kind to each other