New Zealand to go on lockdown in 48 hours

[dontevenblink]

Our PM set out 4 levels of alert in NZ for covid on Saturday. We were level 2 then, which was possible community transmission, so only essential domestic travel, social distancing, but schools still open. This afternoon it was announced we are going to level 3 straightaway and level 4 Wednesday night. This is a total lockdown for at least 4 weeks.

I was booked in for 3 weeks supply teaching and was in my dept eating lunch with the other teachers when the announcement was made. We listened in shock as they said schools would be closing and we would be going into lock down. The schools had no warning. We thought we would have Tuesday to get the kids ready but then they announced they were shutting immediately for everyone but essential workers, and then completely on Wednesday night. I don't know what will happen then. It was total chaos the last period of the day while we tried to hand over what work we had before the kids got on the bus. Many of them are very rural, some have no access to Wi-Fi, and many are vulnerable. I feel so sad for them.

Supermarkets and pharmacies will still be open and some key services, but anything non essential will close. We are allowed to go for a walk or run, but we are meant to stay locally and stay away from others. PM has said there will be more police on street and army will be deployed if people don't follow the rules and they feel there is a need.

After the announcement everyone made a bee line for the supermarket, even though they will stay open...

We have 106 confirmed cases, and no deaths at the moment. Only 2 of the cases are through community transmission, the rest are from people who have just come back from overseas. We are acting now apparently to prevent what has been happening in other countries. Do you think this is what should have happened in the UK? I am really worried about my family in the UK, most of who are in London. There are a lot of UK tourists who are stuck here too.

I think it is the right decision, but I just feel a bit sad and deflated, and it all just feels a bit surreal...

My parents have a garden and my dad was already talking about what he intends to plant.

I just hope they come through this OK and that an early lockdown stops community transmission in its tracks.

Definitely the right course of action, it seems the only way to stop it.

My Mum is in the UK, will be 90 in May and I feel so bad not being able to get 'home' for that, but hopefully we can celebrate her being 90.5 later in the year.

Kia Kaha (Stay strong) everyone.

@dontevenblink - greetings from another in Hawke's Bay. We could do with some rain as well.

Greetings fiveshelties Yes, desperate for some rain - it's been cooler hasn't it, but still dry...

I think Jacinda isn't afraid to act fast and make tough decisions, which is what is needed now. I do wish she had given us at schools more than a couple of hours notice to shutting though.

Definitely cooler but so dry, although as I type we have rain! Not sure how long it will last, but every drop is welcome.

So pleased to move to Level 4 - this would be really bad for us over winter Flu season. Feels so odd though - walking on Ocean Beach today and so difficult to imagine we have a Pandemic.

Stay safe.

I think this is the kind of thing you either do immediately (along with closing your borders and keeping them closed until the rest of the world is clear) or you only do it when you are approaching peak. Be grateful that your government is acting swiftly, otherwise you’d end up with a situation like what we a currently experiencing in the U.K. We’ll be in lockdown for no reason for god only knows how long because the prime minister has capitulated to panic stricken people on the internet.

I think it is easier for NZ to close the borders. Almost everyone comes into two or three airports here and we have no ferry service which links us to another country.

I'm in Australia. I wish we had your pm. She's made tough calls that our government is too afraid to do and should have made weeks ago. We need strong leadership. Maybe she can lead both countries!

Kia Kaha Aotearoa. Aroha nui.

Oh God I wish so much I were home. I'm glad New Zealand has Jacinda at the helm, she's showing she's more than got the guts and the principles. Again.

@mbosnz totally agree, and I'm so thankful I live in NZ

Agree that Jacinda is doing well so far, but I’m not sure what that the restrictions have gone far enough. We already have enough cases for it to multiply rapidly yet we give everyone a further 2.5 days to spread it like crazy at the shops, cafes etc for another two days. Hopefully transmission levels are low enough during this period to not flood the health service at a later point.

My biggest wtf was that the Warehouse can still open! The one near me is massive- hopefully they are planning on restricting entry because it’ll be a Petri dish otherwise.

Wouldn’t it make more sense to channel more funds/efforts into contactless couriers and home delivery?

The Warehouse won't be open during lockdown.

I have to say, today was an emotional day for me. I work for an essential service and had to make a very brief trip out, and it was so surreal. Virtually nobody out. Hardly anyone on the road. The electronic sign on the motorway which usually gives traffic updates instead read "BE KIND. STAY CALM".

Until now, apart from some shortages in the supermarkets, most of what's been happening has just been via news reports & online, it hasn't been a tangible change. Today really hit home for me that this is real and happening.

Hope you are all staying safe.