2019 Novel Coronavirus Covid-19 Discussion

Forums › Health and fitness › 2019 Novel Coronavirus Covid-19 Discussion

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#2440038 17-Mar-2020 15:23

Oblivian:

All these great ideas are awesome. But you work with what you can control. Not what you can't.

We do have the benefit that we can see what has worked and hasn't worked in other countries, as we seem to be several weeks behind, and those two weeks are essentially the incubation period .

tdgeek

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#2440040 17-Mar-2020 15:24

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/120344713/coronavirus-tourist-to-be-deported-from-nz-for-having-no-plans-to-selfisolate

A pity, but sorry, a softly, softly approach won't cut it any more, not in this country. MoH turned up, asked her the plans then the Police have taken her away

Fred99

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#2440041 17-Mar-2020 15:25

I forgot about GZ emoticons:

📈 Covid cases

📉 Stonks

🛒🛒🛒🛒 Panic buying

💩🍨👄 Fecal oral transmission

💉 The vaccine

Social Isolation 🤺

🙏 The Pence-Tamaki cure

✈️ Obsolete travel method

🚀 Musk's escape plan

🦇 a bat

mattwnz

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#2440042 17-Mar-2020 15:27

geekiegeek:

Many corporates have also moved to work from home already (my wife works for the biggest insurer and that's what they have done along with the likes of EY) - get all those who can out of the building so only those who can't are left = smaller number of people in the office. Government departments from what I've seen seem to be going along business as usual with maybe some limits on travel.

I think once they government starts battening down the hatches, the rest of the private sector will soon follow.

It is interesting to see that business sector being far more cautious. This is probably partly because they see what other business are doing overseas, and most overseas countries are more advanced in what is happening. But also due to health and safety laws and managing and risk. It seems that now most people who normally work in a office, will soon be working from home. Governments tend to be slower moving too, and tend to be more reactive, rather than proactive.

amiga500

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#2440044 17-Mar-2020 15:36

NZ always seems to be slow off the mark. People arriving in China are put in state run quarantine facilities for 14 days. This is far more effective than self-isolation which relies too much on people doing the right thing. Other countries are closing schools, restaurants, & malls.

In things to do with aviation we are not only slow off the mark - we implement changes in a reluctant and half hearted way. For example aviation screening. There is no logical reason to only ban liquids on International flights. There is no logical reason to have no security screening on ATR 72-600 and smaller commercial aircraft. The only reason is cost. Probably the only reason there is any aviation security screening in NZ is to comply with requirements set by other larger countries.

Oblivian

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#2440046 17-Mar-2020 15:44

mattwnz:

We do have the benefit that we can see what has worked and hasn't worked in other countries, as we seem to be several weeks behind, and those two weeks are essentially the incubation period .

But we're in NZ. Not the EU/US. Population density. Etiquette differences. Living differences. So we've learnt - it's still an unknown. And the trick is to start focusing what you can do ourselves.

Italy for instance. We don't do this - What appears to now have one of the greatest transferal and death rates (tip, droplets on breath to eyes/mouth)...

It is common to give air kisses on both cheeks (starting with your left) when greeting those you know well. This is called the ‘il bacetto’. However, in Southern Italy, men generally only kiss family members and prefer to give a pat on a the back to show affection in a greeting.

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frankv

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#2440049 17-Mar-2020 15:46

Fred99:

If you're otherwise well / immunocompetent - then you shouldn't catch the same cold twice within months.

Yup... a friend told me that at Scott Base, 2 weeks after the last plane had left for the winter, no-one got a cold again until the first plane arrived in the spring.

sittingduckz

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#2440050 17-Mar-2020 15:46

Fred99:

I forgot about GZ emoticons:

📈 Covid cases

📉 Stonks

🛒🛒🛒🛒 Panic buying

💩🍨👄 Fecal oral transmission

💉 The vaccine

Social Isolation 🤺

🙏 The Pence-Tamaki cure

✈️ Obsolete travel method

🚀 Musk's escape plan

🦇 a bat

Don't forget @handsomedans 💩🚀 faecal bazooka

I'm not a complete idiot, I still have some parts missing.

mattwnz

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#2440054 17-Mar-2020 15:55

Oblivian:

But we're in NZ. Not the EU/US. Population density. Etiquette differences. Living differences. So we've learnt - it's still an unknown. And the trick is to start focusing what you can do ourselves.

Italy for instance. We don't do this - What appears to now have one of the greatest transferal and death rates (tip, droplets on breath to eyes/mouth)...

Auckland population density is relatively high. If there is a community outbreak IMO it is likely to occur in Auckland first, especially as that is where most people were coming in and it has a bulk of the population.

The problem NZ does have is we are heading into winter, where it is unknown if that will make numbers worse, like it does for colds and flu. This also adds to all the flue an cold cases. Whereas Europe is heading toward Spring and summer, which should help them. Also apparently there are 1.8 million flu vaccines ordered this year (400k more that last year), but I suspect a significant number of people will be getting it this year, which is good, but many may miss out.

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#2440055 17-Mar-2020 15:56

The release:

The Coalition Government has launched the most significant peace-time economic plan in modern New Zealand history to cushion the impact of COVID-19 in the fight to support Kiwis’ jobs and the domestic economy from the virus.

The $12.1 billion package is worth 4% of GDP, a larger plan than that implemented in response to the Global Financial Crisis and comparatively larger than relief packages announced to date in Australia, the UK and the US.

“The Government is pulling out all the stops to protect the health of New Zealanders and the health of our economy,” Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said.

“The best protection for our economy is getting the virus under control, which is why we are investing half a billion dollars in frontline health services to fight COVID-19.

“We will be investing in more health staff, more virus testing, more medicines, facemasks, extra intensive care capacity and equipment at hospitals, and more money for GPs. If we can manage the virus we can mitigate the damage to the economy.

“Today’s announcement is the first tranche of our response. Our immediate goal is to support people and businesses as we weather the impact of COVID-19. We must then ready the economy to recover.

“We’ve gone hard with our health response, and now we’re going hard with our financial assistance.

“The Coalition is united in doing everything we can to support New Zealand workers and businesses,” Jacinda Ardern said.

“The coming months will test the nation. We do not underestimate the challenge ahead, but this Government is determined to do all it can to protect New Zealanders, and to cushion the economic impact that COVID-19 is having on our country,” Winston Peters said.

“This package is about protecting New Zealander’s health, protecting the vulnerable, protecting livelihoods, and ensuring the quickest recovery possible on all fronts.

“Aspects of the package like increasing the Winter Energy Payment will be massively beneficial for those most susceptible – our seniors. Other aspects like the wage subsidies, redeployment funding and building depreciation are designed to minimise the impact on our workers and businesses who are most at risk.

“New Zealanders have proven their resilience time and time again. This will be no different,” Mr Peters said.

“This is comprehensive plan for managing the impacts of COVID-19 that will help New Zealanders and their families to stay healthy and focused on their wellbeing,” James Shaw said.

“The additional support we have announced for our health system will help slow the spread of the virus to keep the number infected at any one time at a manageable level. But we know that if the virus does spread, it will be those on a low income who will be the worst affected.

“Increasing benefits, changes to in-work support, and an extension to the Winter Energy Payment will ensure those who need it have a bit of extra support to pay the bills, stay well and keep warm through the winter.

“We are also supporting business to keep people in work, so that no matter what happens, as many New Zealanders as possible can continue to provide for their families and contribute to their local communities,” James Shaw said.

- Dedicated $500 million fund to protect New Zealanders’ health
- Nearly doubling resources for Public Health Units, specifically to increase capacity for contact tracing
- $32 million for extra intensive care capacity and equipment at hospitals
- $50 million in support for GPs and primary care, and $20 million to improve video conferencing and telehealth consultations
- $20 million for more Healthline capacity

The Government’s commitment to protecting New Zealanders’ health is being backed by an initial dedicated $500 million fund to strengthen our health services to fight and contain COVID-19.

“New Zealand’s public health response to the global COVID-19 outbreak has been world-leading. By taking some hard decisions and acting decisively, we’ve ensured we are well placed to combat COVID-19,” Health Minister David Clark said.

“Our strong health response is also our frontline economic response. We know the best way to protect the economy is by containing the virus. That’s why from the very start we set out to go hard, and go early, and do everything we can to protect the public’s health.

“As a Government we’ve made record investments in health in Budgets 2018 and 2019 – but more is now needed in the face of this global pandemic.

“We know we will see more cases of COVID-19 arrive here. So we must plan and prepare for that reality,” David Clark said.

Cabinet has immediately unlocked $235 million of the new fund to strengthen health capacity, with a particular focus on public health measures.

“Staff in our Public Health Units are our first line of defence against infectious diseases, but they don’t have the resources they need to handle a pandemic. So we’re putting more than $40 million immediately into public health, with a strong emphasis on contact tracing.

“That nearly doubles our current annual spending for the current year of $46.7 million on core public health services that are so vital for containing COVID-19.

“Primary care – our general practices, nurse practitioners, iwi and Pacific health providers and others – are also at the forefront of the fight against COVID-19. So we’re investing $50 million more in primary care, including funding for Community Based Assessment Centres, equipment and logistics.

“A further $20 million will be invested in improving the capacity of general practice and community health providers to use technology such as video conferencing and telehealth to conduct consultations.

“More resources will also go into Healthline, which is currently handling more than 5000 calls per day. Healthline has already boosted staffing by more than a hundred – this extra $20 million will mean more doctors and nurses can be hired to provide clinical advice over the phone to deal with the unprecedented level of demand.

“This will help ensure people can get the right advice and information they need when they need it.

“These targeted and immediate investments will significantly strengthen our ability to respond to COVID-19.

“There will be further announcements to come, including what we’re doing to support our older people, who we know are a potentially vulnerable group. Their health and welfare is a priority.

“This package makes sure that health services are there for those who need them the most. We have a duty of care to all New Zealanders, and particularly to vulnerable Kiwis who are most at risk,” Dr Clark said.

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cddt

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#2440056 17-Mar-2020 15:56

I was in the public library earlier today. Heaps of elderly people still visiting, including at least 2-3 who were seriously coughing/sneezing.

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mattwnz

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#2440059 17-Mar-2020 16:05

Our local supermarket had queues to the back of the store today with people stocking up. Most pasta was gone. In the US they appear to be having a problem with supermarket stock, maybe that fear is spreading here.

Geektastic

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#2440060 17-Mar-2020 16:06

cddt:
I was in the public library earlier today. Heaps of elderly people still visiting, including at least 2-3 who were seriously coughing/sneezing.

Based on observation, Kiwis are not the most compliant group of people I’ve ever come across!

Our driving stats show how well rules are followed, for example.

GV27

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#2440061 17-Mar-2020 16:08

I am trying to figure out what this means for our business. If we have a 30% drop in revenue (not margin, revenue) then we have bigger problems than a $150K wage subsidy can fix. I can't think of many businesses who could take a 30% it in revenue.

A lot of the analysis around this package seems to be "It's so big!".

I'm also seriously worried about our power bill given the winter energy allowance just got doubled. We don't qualify.

Geektastic

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#2440063 17-Mar-2020 16:09

frankv:
Fred99:

If you're otherwise well / immunocompetent - then you shouldn't catch the same cold twice within months.

Yup... a friend told me that at Scott Base, 2 weeks after the last plane had left for the winter, no-one got a cold again until the first plane arrived in the spring.

Now that’s what I call self isolation.

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