@samsalmon
Well, the one thing that is clear is that here in the UK we are just further along the process. We’ve been through lots of the psychological and systemic stages of this thing. Currently we are at a place where both vaccines and community spread are jointly building up our immunity - we have come to tolerate a certain level of cases and deaths. Our health system is strained but coping (winter may change that…). I work in a hospital so see it from the inside, the levels of Covid and how they impact non-Covid operations.
I think what fascinates some of us is watching you in NZ at what appears to be the beginning of this process, particularly psychologically. We have been through lockdown fatigue, lord knows the last lockdown at the beginning of this year was HARD. We’ve been through those stages of fear of Covid, anger (at our government and sometimes at those around us who we felt weren’t being responsible enough), the recriminations, the acceptance of a certain level of hospitalisation and death rates.
You can see from what’s happening here that Delta will spread, even with high vaccine take-up. So that means you in NZ will have to go through those some of the same psychological stages. What is being done to prepare the population for the reality of that? And how sure are you that your health system will cope when Covid comes? These are genuine questions.
Finally, tbh for me Australia and NZ are a bit of a side show. The big question is, how will China cope long term with this? Their current strategy also seems unsustainable. That’s another thread though 🙂
PS totally agree with PPs who say we have put in our time here in the UK and ‘leant in’, as it were. Anyone who doesn’t believe that is being rude, frankly.
I think this is definitely something i feel.
We've had a shit time, but for the most part i think the fear part and feeling like its going to go on forever, does feel behind us.
Whether thats true we don't actually know. It could go horribly wrong still.
When i look at NZ im holding my breathe hoping that things don't suddenly go pear shaped. I wouldnt want to repeat the early part of this year. Nor do i want people i care about to go through those feelings in NZ. Especially when they could have learnt from the cock ups here. In some ways failing to learn from our mistakes is all the more unforgivable given the time available to prepare.
I don't feel pride in the vaccine programme. I feel relieved and grateful. And just thankful that we got that bit right when we could have screwed the pouch on that too.
Looking at what has been happening in Australia and China with both unable to keep Delta under control has been sobering. China hasn't been well reported here for the obvious reason to do with the Chinese State, but the fact that even China with all its compulsory and draconian monitoring hasn't been able to stop Delta is incredibly sobering. It has felt for a while that NZ might be on borrowed time for that reason.
I think in that sense, seeing an outbreak in NZ potentially starting is quite a sobering thought. Its one i hope doesn't happen.
I think psychologically that also has resonance outside NZ borders for that reason too. It brings a sense of helplessness back - one that weve started to feel in the uk that we are shaking off.
It does start to make you feel as if the optimism here, is also premature (personally ive always thought that the uk is going to have issues going into winter but im also paradoxically more optimistic about things than a lot of people about being at the back end of things) and it starts to tug away at you and brings this creeping sense of doubt back too.
If things go badly in NZ i think it will impact on people here for that reason. It is likely to create a greater amount of pessimism in the coming months, especially if things do take a turn for the worst.
We are emotionally invested here in various ways, precisely because NZ has done things well. It manifests in a few different ways. I think there are those who quite maliciously have the attitude of wanting to wipe the smugness of Ardens face but equally i also think there are those who want NZ to demonstrate good governance can work. And for whom an outbreak in Nz would be heart breaking and shatter the general mood of growing optimism here.
At this point in the pandemic thats why im glad im in the uk not NZ, having lived through it here. And i only have that sense precisely because we've weathered that and not wishing to deal with prospect of another lockdown.
If i was in NZ i would have a completely different mindset because ive watched the uk and haven't lived through the same experience.
I think in the uk having had the lockdown for so long, some of us feel genuine sympathy and worry for anyone going into it for that reason.
We've had such different experiences... It shows.