Already....

So There was a pic circulating within 15mins of the tv portion of the announcement going off air of 11pm/midnight countdowns in AKL being busy+++

They subsequently got a close order and police guards posted outside. Shoppers inside at the time were caught out by a rushed mob. Mentality.

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2020/08/late-night-panic-buying-kiwis-flock-to-supermarkets-after-covid-19-restrictions-announced.html

Air NZ Update:

https://www.airnewzealand.co.nz/travel-alerts#SEYPkm8yeEb26nLb6xun

Govt Recommendation: You can travel to other regions that are at Alert Level 2. You should not travel to regions at a higher Alert Level.

Credit for those wishing to defer at this time.

No doubt that will be fluid and changes may impact the estimated domestic increase that was about due to kick in.

DS248: A bit concerning that people who are in Auckland but not normally resident there can go home. Just perfect for spreading the virus throughout the country? Better to have placed a 3 day hold on that except for emergencies, until there is a better idea of where this came from.

We are in the opposite situation. Arrived in Rotorua literally 15 mins before the initial announcement. Start of a 6 day break away. Now have to decide what to do.

I am amazed that they are not being required to at least self isolate, when going into a level 2 area from a level 3 area. This is potentially how our first wave occurred, where people from some covid infected countries came into NZ, and weren't required to self isolate, because at the time, they were seen as 'low risk'. But as we have seen, you only need one case to sneak through.

dejadeadnz:

 

Selling people the BS dream that Auckland's level 3 status can be reviewed after Friday is a joke. We should be going to level 3 for 2 weeks in Auckland -- what if casual-casual "contacts" beyond those that are being isolated are around? The problem is that people are getting ever more complacent and if there's any uncertainty we are better off taking the most cautious approach.

 

And for god's sake change the law and raise the level of fines for rule breaches and slow all incoming flights right down.

 

 

 

The thing is that I think it would be very different, if they could trace it back to case number zero. I am guessing they are using these 2 days to do that tracing. If they can then maybe they will be able to then ringfence all cases. But I suspect not, because potentially case number zero has been in the community spreading the virus for the last few weeks. If they had actually found case number zero and they were the one that tested positive initially, then it would have been a far better situation.

I think we will look back and wish that we had used the last few months to educate people , and make sure everyone had installed this Covid app, because that may have helped in this case, and may have avoided needing to go into level 3. IMO we we should have used this time wisely to prepare. Instead IMO we were far too complacent, and got back to life as normal. I installed the covid app, but hardly know anyone else who did..

We also have to remember that potentially there may have been a few more cases in the last few weeks that were detected in other countries from people traveling from NZ, who tested positive. That may have indicated some low level CT occurring a few weeks ago.

So Auckland, as expected, has to shut down as a whole. We are too interconnected for CT to be contained. I'm in at my desk for a few hours today, readying other staff and finishing some reporting I really, really do not want to have to do from home. I manage about 20% of the speed I can work at the office so lockdown ends up being more hours to clear the same amount of work. 

By virtue of the timing of this compared to the L4 lockdown (which happened right after 20th creditors and PAYE was due), businesses have a lot more flexibility about how they approach this from a cashflow management perspective. Also, more time to negotiate rent reductions if possible as many will be paid on the 1st of next month, which is two and a half weeks away instead of less than one like it was last time. 

I'm looking forward to being able to fit an episode of DS9 in before starting work each day but other than that, there is little to feel positive about. 

Geektastic:

 

🤬

 

 

 

Was packed and ready to fly to Queenstown with my wife tomorrow!! 

 

 

 

might be your last chance for a while and safest time is now, OTOH, are you planning to quietly potter about or have large gatherings planned?

 

 

 

Because life isn't that easy.

Are you telling me if I quit my job here in the UK and return to NZ and go on the DPB until the economic crisis blows over that's somehow better for NZ? This will be the case for a lot of overseas visa holders.

If you think a close loved one might die within the next year, better come home now. 

 

Personally, I would prefer you did come back and join the DPB. The economic cost to NZ would be far less, vs the billions it costs us each time we have to go into lockdown. 

The fact we had the envious worldwide status of having eliminated it from our community here, and enjoyed somewhat of a normal lifestyle socially and economically, would suggest we can do it again. Why should we be paying the price as hard working Kiwi's living here, of continued lockdown, solely as a result of borders remaining open. 

The only chance the virus returning here is via the border, why put our hard work at risk?

I see your point regarding death of a family member, but what's the risk of thousands of lives being lost to a virus here if it returns and cant be controlled? 

Batman: NZDF rugby team from USA did not isolate

https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/122405455/coronavirus-concerns-nz-defence-force-covid19-cluster-did-not-selfisolate

nzkiwiman: Wow, things got real again and I expect a few days of downward spirals until more information is released to the public.

My morning/afternoon at work just lot significantly busier.

Geektastic:

 

🤬

 

 

 

Was packed and ready to fly to Queenstown with my wife tomorrow!! 

 

 

 

I wouldn't be getting on a flying Petri Tube

From The Spinoff:

 

he health minister Chris Hipkins is doing the media rounds this morning, following the return of Covid-19 to the community. It’s worth nothing that during the level four lockdown earlier in the year, Hipkins was not in the role of health minister. Appearing on the AM Show, Hipkins defended the level of preparedness at our border – but said everyone will now be checked for Covid-19.

 

“Everybody who has been working at the border [or in a managed isolation facility] will be tested,” he said. “We don’t know where this has come from”

 

On Newstalk ZB, Hipkins said that he found out about the new cases just before 3pm yesterday, after Ashley Bloomfield but before the prime minister. He told Mike Hosking that it was his “understanding” that the colleagues of one of the new cases are showing Covid-19 symptoms. However, he wouldn’t be drawn on how many people were symptomatic.

 

Defending the decision to lock down for just three days, Hipkins told RNZ: “it will depend on how quickly we can identify the source” and everyone who has been in contact with them. Pushed on whether it was reasonable to suggest we could come out of lockdown in time for the weekend, Hipkins said that will give the government time to decide “what is the most sensible course of action.”

 

Symptomatic people should call Healthline before getting a test, he said, as the the phone line would be able to direct people to the best place to get a test: “Don’t rush out to get tested,” Hipkins said.