2019 Novel Coronavirus Covid-19 Discussion

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BDFL - Memuneh
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#2457777 8-Apr-2020 20:40

Press release:

Across New Zealand 120 sites are taking samples to be tested for COVID-19.

68 community based assessment centres (CBACs) have been established to take samples from people with COVID-19 symptoms. Alongside this, 52 other centres including designated general practices, swabbing centres, and mobile clinics are now testing people for COVID-19.

The centres are a dedicated location for clinicians to see people with COVID-19 symptoms, assess them, and, if needed, take samples to be tested. The sites are in port-a-coms, tents, GP clinics, and drive thru-style set ups.

“These centres are designed to take the load off GP teams and hospital emergency departments. They also reduce the risk of exposure to COVID-19 for healthcare workers in ‘walk-in’ healthcare locations,” said Health Minister David Clark.

“The clinic set ups vary from region to region, from port-a-coms to drive thrus. It’s incredibly encouraging to see DHBs getting these centres up and running so quickly.

“These centres have been set up in areas of high demand. We will assess the data and more clinics will be opened where the demand is strongest.

"The Ministry of Health has updated the advice on testing criteria. Now, anyone with respiratory symptoms consistent with COVID-19 - regardless of travel history or contact with a confirmed case - will be considered for testing. Because of this, we’re starting to see more testing and that’s a good thing.

“Yesterday 4,098 tests were processed by our labs, and our testing capacity continues to increase. In terms of materials, I’ve been advised that by the end of next week we’ll have up 60,000 complete tests and we have a similar number of swabs with the local manufacture of up to 250,000 more over the next 3 to 4 weeks,” said David Clark.

Some DHBs also offer ‘mobile clinics’ for more vulnerable communities such as rest home residents.

freitasm

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#2457778 8-Apr-2020 20:42

Press release from Wellington City Council:

It’s been a strange time, and one filled with uncertainty.

But one certainty throughout is that many in our community are feeling a lot of pain at the moment.

Businesses are really hurting, and many people are losing jobs or on reduced hours.

Times are tough, and will continue to be tough for a while yet.

Today the Council’s leadership team decided unanimously that we wanted to personally recognise the pain in our community.

That’s why myself, Councillors, our Chief Executive Barbara McKerrow and her Executive Leadership Team, have unanimously agreed to take a voluntary 10% pay reduction for the rest of 2020, and we’ll be redirecting that money to help our community.

There will also be voluntary pay freeze for the Chief Executive and Executive Leadership Team for the first six months of 2021, and earlier I wrote to the Remuneration Authority to ask that there be no increase in Wellington City Council’s elected member remuneration when it is next considered.

The total contribution from elected members and executive team members will be around $340,000.

The money will go to the many community welfare organisations facing increased demand for their services at this time.

It will also go to some of our wonderful community groups, many of which will lose direct revenue and sponsorship. Council itself will also benefit through there being no remuneration increases.

So we’re delighted that our collective support will benefit a range of organisations that are doing fantastic work in our city.

Barbara McKerrow has also signalled she will be conducting a thorough review of all Council costs, something I strongly support.

As I’ve said before, we’re looking at a potential $70m Council shortfall caused by the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

I want to finish today’s update with a heartfelt message, for all our essential workers who are keeping our city moving, providing crucial services, and caring for - and protecting - our people.

And that message is: Thank you.

Thank you to our health workers, to our hospital staff, to our police officers, and our firefighters.

Thank you too to our supermarket and pharmacy staff. You’re doing a great job under really trying circumstances.

Thank you to those in public transport, our train and bus drivers, getting our other essential workers to where they need to be.

Thank you to our volunteers – you guys are doing a brilliant job, and we’re all extremely proud of you.

Thank you to our local businesses who are hanging in there, helping each other out, keeping on staff, and adapting to operating in the lockdown.

Thanks to the couriers who are getting all their goods to us.

And finally, thank you to our central and local Government workers making sure our city and country are safe, and that all our essential services are still working as they should.

So on behalf of all Wellingtonians, I want to say to all of you who are doing those essential jobs, whether on the frontline or behind the scenes - thank you.

And finally a big thank you to you all for keeping on doing the right things, staying safe, staying home, exercising local, keeping separate.

Looking at what is happening globally we are so fortunate to live in this beautiful country.

As the Prime Minister has reminded us, we are doing really well, now is the time to keep it up, and finish the job, and eradicate this virus.

Keep up the good work Wellington.

dejadeadnz

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#2457785 8-Apr-2020 20:50

Well, there are idiots who think 5G causes COVID-19. I've been wondering whether some pea-brained dickhead would believe that it's caused by some people's favourite bogey, i.e. homosexuality. This moron takes the latter cake.

Edit: In fairness, it now appears that the alleged view attributed to him is in dispute - see here. So let's grant the man a presumption of innocence but observe what happens when people act like the disease is nothing.

Health Minister Yaakov Litzman, who tested positive for the coronavirus late Wednesday, allegedly broke his own ministry’s guidelines on social distancing by attending group prayer services in the days before he was diagnosed, a TV report said Thursday.

Litzman’s positive test has forced almost all the Israeli politicians, officials, and health chiefs who are leading the country’s struggle against the pandemic, from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on down, to enter precautionary quarantine.

What a nice chap.

Batman

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#2457798 8-Apr-2020 21:10

can someone explain if foxnews is serious or not?

Involuntary autocorrect in operation on mobile device. Apologies in advance.

dejadeadnz

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#2457800 8-Apr-2020 21:12

This is perfectly consistent with how Faux News viewers and their favourite politicians view the world. Facts are inconvenient? Just deny it.

neb

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#2457802 8-Apr-2020 21:15

Batman:
can someone explain if foxnews is serious or not?

Don't really know how to answer that one... they make up any "facts" they need to support what they're selling (which distinguishes them from other US news channels who will sometimes get things wrong but tend not to invent whatever they need to make a story, see for example what they reported on the Green New Deal vs what's actually in there), I'm pretty sure they take themselves seriously but I don't think anyone else does.

Sideface

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#2457804 8-Apr-2020 21:18

Batman:

can someone explain if foxnews is serious or not?

[ Fox News Claims It Never Called COVID-19 a Hoax ]

Fox News often rewrites history - very Orwell / 1984.

'Who controls the past,' ran the Party slogan, 'controls the future: who controls the present controls the past.' ... The Party understands that by rewriting the events of the past and controlling the narrative of history, they can maintain their position of authority.

Sideface

mattwnz

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#2457806 8-Apr-2020 21:20

I remember reading this story back in February, along with other similar stories. It is interesting to read based on what has happened around the world https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/doctor-urges-kiwis-keep-calm-amid-coronavirus-outbreak-theres-nothing-panic-in-new-zealand

Batman

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#2457810 8-Apr-2020 21:28

mattwnz:

I remember reading this story back in February, along with other similar stories. It is interesting to read based on what has happened around the world https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/doctor-urges-kiwis-keep-calm-amid-coronavirus-outbreak-theres-nothing-panic-in-new-zealand

wow, "we" were no different

Involuntary autocorrect in operation on mobile device. Apologies in advance.

neb

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#2457811 8-Apr-2020 21:39

Batman:
wow, "we" were no different

Firstly it's just a guy on a breakfast TV show (even if he is a doctor), not official advice, and given that it was several months ago what he said was accurate at the time:

"There's nothing to panic about in New Zealand at the moment with regard to this illness," he said.

When Campbell asked what the risk to ordinary Kiwis was, Mr Thomas said, "I think the risk of them contracting coronavirus in New Zealand as it currently stands is essentially zero."

which was true in early Feb when the comments were made. The difference is that as new data came to light we adapted, while Fox just claimed they'd never said or always said whatever was most expedient at the current moment.

freitasm

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#2457829 8-Apr-2020 21:44

Batman:

mattwnz:

I remember reading this story back in February, along with other similar stories. It is interesting to read based on what has happened around the world https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/doctor-urges-kiwis-keep-calm-amid-coronavirus-outbreak-theres-nothing-panic-in-new-zealand

wow, "we" were no different

I think you're comparing a single guy's opinion on a breakfast program with a TV channel that repeatedly repeats the same message - a channel well know for distrbuting lies that support one specific political party.

The doctor in that article clearly said ""There's nothing to panic about in New Zealand at the moment with regard to this illness," he said."

That's one person's opinion, for that specific date.

There's no "we" in the link you posted.

Don't try to create drama where there is none.

Handle9

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#2457830 8-Apr-2020 21:49

Batman:

mattwnz:

I remember reading this story back in February, along with other similar stories. It is interesting to read based on what has happened around the world https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/doctor-urges-kiwis-keep-calm-amid-coronavirus-outbreak-theres-nothing-panic-in-new-zealand

wow, "we" were no different

What exactly is inaccurate in the article?

ezbee

118 posts

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#2457837 8-Apr-2020 22:19

Yes Dr Mark Thomas did narrow his comments for the most part to the present on Feb10 or a few weeks later

Plus a prediction of it all being under control in weeks to months.

There was an air at the end that maybe there would be another burst in China.

While the R values estimate of 2 to 4 was mentioned , and death rate of 2 to 5%.
As infectious disease expert he made no move to expand on how serious that might be if at all.
Apart from it being very difficult for China.

This was after the Diamond Princess evacuations from Japan, but no attempt to draw lesson from that .

It was popping up elsewhere by then too.

His final comment re risk being essentially zero to NZ .
Well previous comments were in context of now to a few weeks so maybe he meant zero today FEB10 only.

I was left with a warm feeling like being wrapped in my old swandri on a cold winters day.
Winter is coming , but I have you covered.
Take that winter ....

kingdragonfly

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#2457838 8-Apr-2020 22:19

dejadeadnz:
Well, there are idiots who think 5G causes COVID-19. I've been wondering whether some pea-brained dickhead would believe that it's caused by some people's favourite bogey, i.e. homosexuality. This moron takes the latter cake.

You may have noticed I hold a low opinion of evangelicals. But my low opinion of religion does also stretch ultra-Orthodox Judaism. Many hold strongly to the belief of “religious fatalism”: health is beyond one's control and instead dependent on God

Even when polio was a thing, there were long rabbinical letters discussing whether having polio was worse than the vaccinations.

You'll remember the measles outbreak that ravaged New York. A good number of ultra-Orthodox Rabbis told anyone who'd listen that vaccines were a conspiracy orchestrated by drug companies and the Centers for Disease Control to make money.

Un-vaccinated children were told they could no longer go to school. So of course the ultra-Orthodox parents went to court claiming their right were being trampled.

You'd hope their attitudes have changed, but probably not.

markhodgeNZ

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#2457851 8-Apr-2020 22:50

freitasm:

Press release from Wellington City Council:

Today the Council’s leadership team decided unanimously that we wanted to personally recognise the pain in our community.

That’s why myself, Councillors, our Chief Executive Barbara McKerrow and her Executive Leadership Team, have unanimously agreed to take a voluntary 10% pay reduction for the rest of 2020, and we’ll be redirecting that money to help our community.

There will also be voluntary pay freeze for the Chief Executive and Executive Leadership Team for the first six months of 2021, and earlier I wrote to the Remuneration Authority to ask that there be no increase in Wellington City Council’s elected member remuneration when it is next considered.

The total contribution from elected members and executive team members will be around $340,000.

The money will go to the many community welfare organisations facing increased demand for their services at this time.

It will also go to some of our wonderful community groups, many of which will lose direct revenue and sponsorship. Council itself will also benefit through there being no remuneration increases.

So we’re delighted that our collective support will benefit a range of organisations that are doing fantastic work in our city.

Barbara McKerrow has also signalled she will be conducting a thorough review of all Council costs, something I strongly support.

As I’ve said before, we’re looking at a potential $70m Council shortfall caused by the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Wow, what a light and day difference between Dunedin's useless council and Wellington's. Congratulations Wellington, wish we had leadership like yours.

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