2019 Novel Coronavirus Covid-19 Discussion

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

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Ultimate Geek

#2856666 26-Jan-2022 14:35

Well that's a pretty appalling press conference. The Minister really comes across as not wanting to be there. Oh for a few visual aids as that was just a morass of information merging into a blob.

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Oblivian

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#2856685 26-Jan-2022 15:02

'we choose you as tribute'

It's almost like she knew she was going to get grilled by the press for not having clear lines. So was very off guard but defensive.

clinty

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#2856713 26-Jan-2022 15:36

Also she is a junior minister ( only been in politics for a year or so ), doesn't do a lot of press, and was handling a pretty weighted subject. Not sure it was a good choice.

freitasm

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#2856716 26-Jan-2022 15:44

Press release:

The Government has announced a three phase Omicron plan that aims to slow down and limit the spread of an outbreak, Associate Minister of Health, Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today.

“Through the course of managing Omicron, we will be taking a phased approach. As case numbers grow both testing and isolation approaches will change in response,” Dr Ayesha Verrall said.

“Other countries have had to adapt their response in the middle of widespread outbreaks. We are setting out the changes ahead of large case numbers to give people a clearer idea of what to expect and what they need to do at each phase.

“Almost no country in the world has escaped Omicron and New Zealand is no exception. But where we can be an exception is how well we minimise the impact of the virus and protect our people from it.

“Vaccination remains our most effective weapon against the virus. The Omicron variant is markedly less severe, than prior variants. One US report suggests the hospitalisation rate is 10 times less than the Delta variant. Its transmission and severity is also reduced by vaccination.

“So far, we’ve been focused on keeping Omicron out of the community for as long as possible while we roll out vaccinations to children and boosters for our adult population.

“Now that it is here, we expect case numbers to grow rapidly and put our health system under considerable pressure.

The three phases for Omicron:

Phase One

“Phase one is where we are now and we are doing what we have successfully done with Delta – taking a ‘stamp it out’ approach.

“Broadly speaking, that includes the same contact tracing, isolation, and request that everyone who is symptomatic be tested at a community testing station or at a primary health provider.

“If you are required to isolate, you will receive advice and – if needed – support to do so; at this phase you will need to isolate for 14 days if you are a case, and 10 days if you are contact.

“Our objective is to keep cases as low as possible for as long as possible to allow people to be boosted and children to be vaccinated without Omicron being widespread.

Phase Two

“In Phase Two, our objective is to slow the spread and protect our vulnerable communities.

“The system will be adjusted to focus much more on identifying those who are at greater risk of severe illness from Omicron - which will be a smaller percentage of cases.

“In Phase Two, we will reduce the isolation period for cases to 10 days and contacts to seven days in line with best practice overseas.

“Household contacts will actively be managed by contact tracing services, with close contacts requiring a PCR test on day five.

“A rapid escalation in case numbers and the resulting pressure on our resources will also require us to shift from identifying all infected individuals to being more targeted to those most at risk and those needed to keep the country going.

“Digital technology is used more in this phase. Cases will be notified via text message and be directed to an online self-investigation tool which will focus on high risk exposures. Information will be provided via email and phone based interviews will still take place where it’s required. Other forms of support will be available to those who need it.

“We will also change our current testing requirements for critical workers who are close contacts of cases. The prime focus of testing and tracing will be protecting this workforce and those most vulnerable to becoming severely unwell.

“Phase Two is where we will see more widespread use of the test to return to work policy where asymptomatic contacts in critical workforces can return a negative rapid antigen test in order to go to work.

“We will continue to manage testing of symptomatic people and close contacts with PCR testing but we will be enabling ‘test to return’ for asymptomatic critical workers who are close contacts of cases using Rapid Antigen Tests. These are people like our healthcare workers and those working in food supply and infrastructure who are key to our response to COVID-19 and also in ensuring New Zealanders can continue to access the services they need.

“Rapid antigen tests (RATs) will be integrated into our testing system at this phase and will work alongside PCR tests.

“They will be useful when the laboratories cannot provide PCR results within a useful time frame because of large volumes or because of transport delays.”

Phase Three

“At Phase Three, when cases are in the thousands, we will make further changes to contact tracing. The definition of contacts will change to household and household like contacts only. This will mean the highest risk contacts will need to isolate.

“Supported self-service, rapid antigen testing for diagnosing COVID and a self-service tool to enable identification of high risk contacts will be significant to respond to the high volumes of Omicron cases.

Digital technologies will continue to be utilised at this Phase, and people will be supported to self-notify close contacts. There will be continued support for those members of our community who are not digitally enabled.

The majority of people will be supported and be able to self-manage and isolate at home; and clinical care will focus on anyone with high needs.

Clinical care and welfare support will be targeted based on need.

“Through the course of Phase Two and Three, we have a test to return regime that will apply to our critical workforces, to keep them going through the outbreak.

“Our plan is simple – get boosted, wear a mask, follow basic hygiene rules we’ve become so familiar with and reduce contact as much as is practical.

“We have slowed the virus from entering the community and given households and businesses time to prepare. As always, it’s what each and everyone one of us can do as individuals that will make a difference.

“Omicron is now in more than 80 countries around the world. By delaying its arrival here we’ve had the time to kick off boosters, vaccinations for children, and prepare. I encourage everyone to use the coming days to take steps at home and with your family, neighbours and community to make a plan. Resources to help you do this are on the Unite Against Covid-19 website,” Dr Ayesha Verrall said.

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#2856722 26-Jan-2022 15:55

clinty:

Also she is a junior minister ( only been in politics for a year or so ), doesn't do a lot of press, and was handling a pretty weighted subject. Not sure it was a good choice.

Agree with this. I had the impression she was just nervous in front of the camera. Some people are, especially those without media training or experience. It doesn't have to mean she was trying to be evasive. She may not have been the best choice for the role but maybe no-one else with the right expertise was available at that moment, or maybe it was an attempt to give her some public speaking experience for future endeavours. I have some sympathy for her as I also had to front cameras and microphones in a past life and I know how nerve-racking that can be for someone who hasn't done it much.

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

James Bond

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#2856765 26-Jan-2022 17:37

Canterbury Police not mucking around

https://www.police.govt.nz/news/release/public-encouraged-hand-fake-vaccine-passes

vexxxboy

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#2856766 26-Jan-2022 17:39

James Bond:

Canterbury Police not mucking around

https://www.police.govt.nz/news/release/public-encouraged-hand-fake-vaccine-passes

sounds like they have his mailing list

Common sense is not as common as you think.

Sup

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Ultimate Geek

#2856774 26-Jan-2022 18:32

Ayesha Verrall is the most qualified person in her portfolio and is actually better trained for that job than any minister in any portfolio.

I don't give a stuff she is not a spin merchant.

She seems to have an anxiety disorder, that's fine, people need to be more accepting.

Just keep swimming...

ezbee

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#2856775 26-Jan-2022 18:41

A pictorial breakdown of children's vaccinations 1/2 way down the page.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/explained/300503538/covid19-the-people-and-places-where-boosters-and-child-vaccinations-are-lagging

Top of the list Auckland with 35% first doses so far. Then Capital and Coast 32% , and Waitemata 31%
Bottom Northland and West coast with 10%

Fake certificates, would you like to come into the station and fess up, ROTFL.

tdgeek

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#2856777 26-Jan-2022 18:45

Sup: Ayesha Verrall is the most qualified person in her portfolio and is actually better trained for that job than any minister in any portfolio.

I don't give a stuff she is not a spin merchant.

She seems to have an anxiety disorder, that's fine, people need to be more accepting.

Anxiety Disorder???

More like fronting the nation on the issue that dominates everything. Its not handing out trophies at the local bowling club

What Id like to see is less emphasis on the 20 minutes of the campaign speech. Get to the point, election year is later

tdgeek

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#2856778 26-Jan-2022 18:46

ezbee:

A pictorial breakdown of children's vaccinations 1/2 way down the page.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/explained/300503538/covid19-the-people-and-places-where-boosters-and-child-vaccinations-are-lagging

Top of the list Auckland with 35% first doses so far. Then Capital and Coast 32% , and Waitemata 31%
Bottom Northland and West coast with 10%

Fake certificates, would you like to come into the station and fess up, ROTFL.

I hope they cease to dominate headlines

Sup

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Ultimate Geek

#2856871 26-Jan-2022 19:02

tdgeek:
Sup: Ayesha Verrall is the most qualified person in her portfolio and is actually better trained for that job than any minister in any portfolio.

I don't give a stuff she is not a spin merchant.

She seems to have an anxiety disorder, that's fine, people need to be more accepting.

Anxiety Disorder???

More like fronting the nation on the issue that dominates everything. Its not handing out trophies at the local bowling club

What Id like to see is less emphasis on the 20 minutes of the campaign speech. Get to the point, election year is later

I have listened to her a lot...especially before politics, she always sounds like someone on the verge of an anxiety attack.
Very common issue for a lot of people including those brave enough to take on speaking roles.

Just keep swimming...

SJB

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#2856880 26-Jan-2022 19:40

Sup: I have listened to her a lot...especially before politics, she always sounds like someone on the verge of an anxiety attack.
Very common issue for a lot of people including those brave enough to take on speaking roles.

She's in the wrong job then if she is a government minister who has problems with public speaking.

Jase2985

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#2856882 26-Jan-2022 20:02

ezbee:

Fake certificates, would you like to come into the station and fess up, ROTFL.

Given they know who most/all of them are, a please come in and surrender it and that's that or a you didn't hand it in we'll stop by and heres a fine.

Jase2985

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#2856883 26-Jan-2022 20:03

SJB:

Sup: I have listened to her a lot...especially before politics, she always sounds like someone on the verge of an anxiety attack.
Very common issue for a lot of people including those brave enough to take on speaking roles.

She's in the wrong job then if she is a government minister who has problems with public speaking.

stop being so judgemental, there is more to their job than public speaking.

she had a little stumble today but previous press conferences for other issues shes been ok. was probably sent out last minute and wasn't prepared

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