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Original poster

NZ back into lockdown.

714 replies

Malin52 · 17/08/2021 09:00

1 case in the community. All of NZ back into lockdown Level 4 because no link to border found.

Hard and fast.

OP posts:
Wakeupin2022 · 17/08/2021 09:48

I read somewhere that vaccinations have been suspended for 48 hours.

Is that true? Seems madness if it is.

Sparklingbrook · 17/08/2021 09:51

Yes @FourTeaFallOut I guess that’s the worry?

Kingstonmumof1 · 17/08/2021 09:53

I presume the short lockdown is to give the contact tracers time to figure it out, then it will go on for longer if there is a larger community spread? That's how they do it in Aus.

Turangawaewae · 17/08/2021 10:02

Every case in the community or on our borders is PCR tested so the exact genetic code can be analysed. If this new case matches someone in Managed Isolation then we know where it came from. We also do waste water screening which is a surveillance tool to check for community cases.

Noteshook · 17/08/2021 10:02

@itsgettingwierd

Is there any idea how it got in if there is no evidence of a border connection?

What do they do with regards tracing? Is there mass pcr testing to route out cases?

I think there's some really interesting data that can come out of NZ because it is covid free. So how are random cases popping up, is there community cases being missed?

What variant do you have there? What symptoms are you asked to test for?

Logically there must be a border connection, but likely one that doesn't fit the norms ie transmission timescales/how long you can be contagious for, evaded testing just as they're not 100% accurate etc. In this country it wouldn't be noticeable as we have lots of cases, but anomalies would be really evident when there's zero cases. It will be interesting what they do discover.
3luckystars · 17/08/2021 10:04

It must have been something that was shipped in. It’s fascinating how you have managed to keep it out this long and how much we have yet to learn.

Fiercestcalm · 17/08/2021 10:05

The NZ response was the right response for us and the death rate percentage backs this up. Slow to vaccinate? Hmm.. getting vaccines down here, organising staff and also waiting to check the vaccine was as safe as possible would be other factors… I don’t think NZ could have done it any other way … except for making ridiculous exemptions for millionaires.

7 day lockdown ( I’m in an affected area) if that’s what it takes…. For the death rate not to increase .. so be it.

I think NZ has a fair bit to be proud of re its handling of COVID, support for the vulnerable and swift decisive action…. As someone with the right to live in the Uk or NZ I know where I’d rather be and with which Prime Minister ….

HarveySchlumpfenburger · 17/08/2021 10:08

@Wakeupin2022

I read somewhere that vaccinations have been suspended for 48 hours.

Is that true? Seems madness if it is.

It’s only 48hrs and you don’t want large groups of people gathering together or you get a much bigger outbreak.

Nobody will have protection from that vaccine for 2-3 weeks by which point they’ll hope the community spread will be over since they have hit it early. It’s not as mad as it might look from the U.K. where we never aim to get rid of the community spread so it’s important to vaccinate as many as possible as quickly as possibly because there’ll be much more covid about in 2-3 weeks.

Re: supporting the tourist industry. It’ll end up being a lot cheaper to support the small handful of industries affected by NZ border policy than the U.K. furlough needed to support a wide range of people in industries because of our half arsed measures. With the added bonus of less economic damage and fewer people dying and developing long term health problems.

OnTheBrink1 · 17/08/2021 10:09

If there has been one community case detected, there will be many more undetected.
Makes me laugh- 7day lockdown, we will do what it takes 🤣 Yes we thought that in March 2020

Jackgrealishscurtains · 17/08/2021 10:10

Tbf, as long as the people of NZ are happy with the situation of all borders being closed indefinitely, and 1 case lockdowns, in exchange keeping Covid out completely, it doesn't really matter what the rest of the world thinks does it?

Bitofachinwag · 17/08/2021 10:11

What kind of lockdown is this lockdown?

EileenGC · 17/08/2021 10:12

@Malin52 I know that NZ is wonderful, and never said otherwise.

I’d hate living there now, because to me it seems crazy to lock down a country/city for one case? It’s not March 2020 anymore and we know a lot more about how to diminish transmission (and even prevent it a bit with vaccines), that there shouldn’t be a lockdown every time there’s a case popping up somewhere.

Have you been able to visit your family and friends overseas normally these past 18 months?

How have you worked? I don’t mean a job that requires travel = attending a conference every 6 or so months… >50% of my income comes from working abroad - I wouldn’t have been able to do it if I’d lived in NZ. My colleagues there haven’t been able to work normally because they can’t quarantine every time they get back from a project.

Is there hesitancy in taking the vaccine, if things are looking good locally? Are people just as willing to be vaccinated, when they’ve lived normally for 6-7 months? Relatives and friends in Australia/NZ aren’t as eager right now because the incentive doesn’t outweigh the risks of a vaccine they technically don’t need domestically.

50ShadesOfCatholic · 17/08/2021 10:13

Must admit I'm feeling pissed off though of course it was inevitable and we know how to do it. Had so many lovely things planned 😔

50ShadesOfCatholic · 17/08/2021 10:15

@EileenGC

Re your take on it seeming crazy to lockdown over one case. I can follow that thought process but it won't be one case, there will be more, and besides, NZ's strategy has worked brilliantly. We've had so much more freedom than virtually every other country.

Can't wait till our vaccination numbers are up though.

pommedeterre · 17/08/2021 10:17

I would not be happy in a zero covid aim environment at all. Constantly counting covid free days would not suit me. Vaccines will not prevent cases so when does it end?

OnTheBrink1 · 17/08/2021 10:18

[quote 50ShadesOfCatholic]@EileenGC

Re your take on it seeming crazy to lockdown over one case. I can follow that thought process but it won't be one case, there will be more, and besides, NZ's strategy has worked brilliantly. We've had so much more freedom than virtually every other country.

Can't wait till our vaccination numbers are up though.[/quote]
What I’m finding hard to understand though is the longer term plan for when it does come? Even fully vaxxed there will be many deaths and cases. It’s going to be quite a shock.
Would have 100% preferred to have been there than here though for March 2020-May 2021

Athrawes · 17/08/2021 10:19

Where I live - a large University city in the south of the South Island, vaccines are free to all ages in walk in clinics across the city. Anyone over 16 can get the jab.

Lockdown sucks. Being stuck here sucks. Not being able to get to the UK to see family, because there are no quarantine places, sucks. Seeing partner once in 18 months because he had to return to the UK and can't get back, no quarantine places, sucks.

But we can't complain. I still back Jacinda but want us to join the rest of the world in getting on with it.

User135644 · 17/08/2021 10:23

Covid will never go away and vaccines don't stop transmission.

They can't hide away forever and they won't develop any sort of herd immunity by hiding away from the virus.

They may have managed 2020 far better than most but lockdowns were ultimately buying time for vaccines and they've cocked that up.

Planesandflying · 17/08/2021 10:25

What is the uptake on vaccines? Nothing like staring death in the face like we were, for the UK to be desperate to get vaccinated has to be said

Jackgrealishscurtains · 17/08/2021 10:25

Where I live - a large University city in the south of the South Island, vaccines are free to all ages in walk in clinics across the city. Anyone over 16 can get the jab.

So why are only 20% of the population vaccinated? I can't believe how slow the programme has been to be honest - they have had the perfect opportunity to get everyone done really quickly, and the population is relatively small as well? What has been happening?!

Athrawes · 17/08/2021 10:25

To answer various questions above.
Vaccine hesitancy seems low in the general population. There are a few nutters - there are parts of the country who are low on the uptake of any vaccines - but generally uptake is positive. We are all having Pfizer so less concern.

What kind of lockdown is it. Total. When Jacinda says stay home, see means it. Only supermarket and pharmacy will be open. Only local exercise - do not drive to exercise, do not swim in the ocean. No schools AT ALL. Schools only open for keyworkers children and vulnerable at the next level down.
It is basically a "shelter in place" order.

Athrawes · 17/08/2021 10:26

40% have had one shot. The roll out was slow.

TheKeatingFive · 17/08/2021 10:26

Nothing like staring death in the face like we were, for the UK to be desperate to get vaccinated has to be said

It wasn’t death that motivated me, it was getting out of lockdown.

MaxNormal · 17/08/2021 10:28

I don't understand the NZ long-term strategy at all, it seems like you guys have two options - quarantine on entry forever or accept a highish case numbers level, as the vaccines don't stop transmission.

However if you're all happy with it then it's not for me to say.

FourTeaFallOut · 17/08/2021 10:28

My pil are both mid sixties and fil has had a heart attack - not recently, and they haven't had a single vaccine yet. It makes no sense that they are dishing the limited supply out to students.