29 new cases today (down from 39 yesterday). 24 in Auckland, 5 in the Waikato; the latter has had its boundary extended further south.

ajobbins:

 

Batman:

 

i thought the party line is they have not given up. we are still on elimination and zero tolerance.

 

aren't we?

 

 

That makes zero sense.

 

How can you have rising case numbers and lowering restrictions? That is categorically tolerance of cases.

 

And once you have tolerance of cases, you are not pursuing elimination. Pretty straightforward.

 

so why are they saying one thing and doing something opposite?

I'm confused. 

the reason i see this as important is, if you tell the public that we are not eliminating, they can prepare and respond,

if you tell the hospitals we are not eliminating, give them resources to prepare and respond.

it seems the hospitals are responding ... https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/126607226/ward-upgrade-at-squalid-christchurch-hospital-wing-to-take-covid19-patients

Glass half full Auckland is holding our own, no significant growth with 24 cases, still potential to keep this under control.
So a chance for stragglers with more important things in their life to get roundtuit re vaccination.

Protests outside vaccination centers, pretty low behavior.

It seems that antivaxers are panicking realizing that with 83% of eligible at least booked or single vaxxed.
Well they are becoming a smaller minority that can't claim to be silent majority.
Or a significant minority, given probably most of remainder are just procrastinating.

This presentation of the testing report is quite extraordinary. It's incredibly damning of our testing strategy, especially the lack of saliva and rapid testing.

Looks from here on in that rapid testing is going to be a fairly important toolbox in our testing strategy.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/covid-19-australia-nsw-to-ease-restrictions-next-week-victoria-records-1638-cases/SQAMYBAAPWE2T76R7JSX4GXJ5M/

"Victoria's roadmap out of lockdown remains "on track"

"workers who are stood down for not complying with the mandate will be eligible to claim Victoria's Covid-19 disaster payment, which is A$750 for those who lose more than 20 hours of work a week and A$450 for those who lose between eight and 20 hours.

"he Federal government payments will be available until 80 per cent of Victorians are fully vaccinated and when then be phased out over a two-week period."

Maybe the delay in approving rapid tests is problem finding companies that can deliver ones with best performance.
I expect not all are equal, and best would be in extremely high demand ?

Rapid COVID-19 tests increasingly scarce, pricey as demand from employers jumps
https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/rapid-covid-19-tests-increasingly-scarce-pricey-demand-employers-jumps-2021-10-05/

I noted a week or two ago BinaxNOW that had a good mention was out of stock, and seems it still is.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/BinaxNOW-COVID-19-Antigen-Self-Test-2-Count/142089281

$14 USD for 2 tests if you can get it.
Problem is that this works best if you are repeatedly testing, to be sure you were not just under threshold the day you tested, so you do need a few.
As far as I understand how this works vs more sensitive lab PCR.

ezbee:

 

Glass half full Auckland is holding our own, no significant growth with 24 cases, still potential to keep this under control.
So a chance for stragglers with more important things in their life to get roundtuit re vaccination.

 

Protests outside vaccination centers, pretty low behavior.

 

It seems that antivaxers are panicking realizing that with 83% of eligible at least booked or single vaxxed.
Well they are becoming a smaller minority that can't claim to be silent majority.
Or a significant minority, given probably most of remainder are just procrastinating.

 

30 yesterday? so a small drop, but it will fluctuate but it seems to be flat. Not enough compliance for zero cases, but not enough to blow it out (hopefully). My fel is many are doing great so holding your own. Buying time

Jab Jab Jab

The less antivaxxers in the world, the better. Fortunately they don't seem to have really gained too much of a foothold here as opposed to the US, for example.

ezbee:

Glass half full Auckland is holding our own, no significant growth with 24 cases, still potential to keep this under control.
So a chance for stragglers with more important things in their life to get roundtuit re vaccination.

Protests outside vaccination centers, pretty low behavior.

It seems that antivaxers are panicking realizing that with 83% of eligible at least booked or single vaxxed.
Well they are becoming a smaller minority that can't claim to be silent majority.
Or a significant minority, given probably most of remainder are just procrastinating.

quickymart:

The less antivaxxers in the world, the better. Fortunately they don't seem to have really gained too much of a foothold here as opposed to the US, for example.

mattwnz:

You maybe surprised at how many people are putting off getting the jab , largely due to it being new and the unknowns. I was at a vax centre yesterday and many of the people were just getting their first jab.

Because there is an actual FOMO (fear of missing out) going on now with the large event announcements and further spreading south.

It's put a rocket up a few who as the media and M.Hipkins put today 'waiting it out to see if it will pass them by'

ezbee:

 

Maybe the delay in approving rapid tests is problem finding companies that can deliver ones with best performance.
I expect not all are equal, and best would be in extremely high demand ?

 

Rapid COVID-19 tests increasingly scarce, pricey as demand from employers jumps
https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/rapid-covid-19-tests-increasingly-scarce-pricey-demand-employers-jumps-2021-10-05/

 

I noted a week or two ago BinaxNOW that had a good mention was out of stock, and seems it still is.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/BinaxNOW-COVID-19-Antigen-Self-Test-2-Count/142089281

 

$14 USD for 2 tests if you can get it.
Problem is that this works best if you are repeatedly testing, to be sure you were not just under threshold the day you tested, so you do need a few.
As far as I understand how this works vs more sensitive lab PCR.

 

NHS seems to be giving them out for free

https://www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests

And they have videos on how to use them

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing/how-to-do-a-test-at-home-or-at-a-test-site/

Oblivian:

 

It was done yesterday. And buried by media in the timeline reports. Naturally, it brings less clicks.

 

I could be wrong, but didnt somebody on here post yesterday they had changed the option to 3 weeks only already, when using the main booking site?

sbiddle:

 

Looks from here on in that rapid testing is going to be a fairly important toolbox in our testing strategy.

 

Didn't want to say it................

----

I feel quietly confident about Auck. Its the people in rural provinces I feel fearful for. Just hope a lot of funding is heading that way.

Had my 2nd op today and was pleasantly surprised. I only noticed 3 people not complying with mask use, or rather incorrect use. I still think a small campaign on microns and masks vs aerosol size etc without getting too technical wouldnt go astray.

The 3 that I saw (at a guess I prob saw 2-300 ppl today), 1 was a poor elderly lady being wheeled out, mask below nose. The 2nd was a guy, without judging, I think was struggling in other ways, he had a buff (another reason for just showing pictures of various materials at lab microscope level) and had the buff pulled below his nose, the 3rd was a worker in the cafe of the 3 she had no exscuse, the mask (surgical) kept dropping below her nose. All seats in the cafes were packed up so nobody could sit inside. Seating in reception areas are 1 in 6 available (rest have do not sit signs on them). 

Im not normally jumpy about this sort of stuff, but it was comforting to see. 

TeaLeaf:

 

I could be wrong, but didn't somebody on here post yesterday they had changed the option to 3 weeks only already, when using the main booking site?

 

You can still try yourself and see. But, there is a min 3 weeks recommendation inline with the changes announced yesterday during press conf. The time of day yesterday that happened, can't be sure. But if I book tomorrow, the last 2nd dose it would offer me was 10 Dec. The statement about gap is no longer on the main page.

If you're booking just a first dose for now, you can book your second appointment once you've had your first dose.

The minimum gap between doses is 21 days (3 weeks).

Please note: If you’re having the Zostavax (shingles) vaccine, a seven day gap before or after a COVID-19 vaccine is recommended.

The spacing prior. Was defaulted wider, but you could still drop it to the min 3 if it didn't suit.