Friday, April 3, 2020

Doing the Rounds ...

This status post has been doing the rounds on FB.  I don't know who to attribute it to, but will do a search and see if I can find out.  It seems like a reasonable summary - but I might try and annotate it with some more notes later.

Covid 19 started in Wuhan, China at a seafood market. Hundreds of thousands affected, dead, dying, critically ill although  many any recovered. Most death in the over 70 group or those with underlying health issue.
As of today Friday 3rd April 2020 New Zealand has been in stage 4 lockdown for 10 days.
Government closes the border to every one but returning New Zealand nationals/residents and makes it mandatory to self isolate for 14 days for anyone enters the country. Those without an isolation plan are put into lockdown in hotels.  Panic buying set in during stage 2, 3 and at the start of stage 4 we had no toilet paper, no disinfecting supplies, no paper towel no laundry soap, no hand sanitizer, no flour or yeast.
Self-distancing measures mean we must each stay in our "bubbles" consisting in households/people living together on 23.59 on Wednesday 26th March we were given 48 hrs notice.  Over 70's and those with underlying health issues or weakened immune systems told to self isolate for the duration of the lockdown where possible.  Tape on the floors at food supermarkets to help distance shoppers 2m (6ft) from each other.  Limited number of people inside stores, therefore lineups outside the store doors.
Non-essential stores and businesses, trades closed.  Supermarkets, pharmacies, dairies only shops allowed to open  Drs and Vets open but must phone ahead, many consultations via phone/skype etc
Those who are lucky enough to have a job that is able to be done from home without the need to have physical contact are able to continue to work.  Children's playgrounds, bush trails, water activities, visits to the beach, swimming pools, gyms are off limits.  Entire sports seasons cancelled.  Concerts, tours, festivals, entertainment events - cancelled.  Weddings, family celebrations, holiday gatherings - cancelled.  Funerals limited to only those within the deceased's bubble.  No religious services, churches, mosques, temples are closed.  Schools/daycare/uni's are all closed.  No gatherings permitted.
Not allowed to physically able to socialize with anyone outside of your bubble.  When we are at supermarkets,we are to maintain a distance from each other minimum of 2m.  Allowed outside for walks/cycling but must stay within their neighborhood and observe the 2m rule.
Shortage of masks, gowns, gloves for our front-line workers.
Around the World there is a shortage of respirators, hospitals, nursing staff and Dr's.  Wuhan, Italy, Spain, Iran, UK and USA are the worst hit so far with 1,014,673 infected Worldwide, 52,983 deaths with the youngest victim 6 weeks old. 210,335 recovered. The figures from around the World show a @10% mortality rate. China claimed only 3% mortality rate which is suspected to be incorrect possibly because many died before anyone knew what it was.
In NZ 772 infected and 1 death,103 recovered  Bubbles nominate someone as their design shopper  Supermarkets limit purchase of certain items to 2 per customer., distilleries and other businesses around the World switching their lines to help make visors, masks, hand sanitizer and PPE.
Phone and email addresses are set up for the public to report anyone breaking isolation rules, not paying workers their government subsidized wage or for those price-gauging others.  Press conferences daily from the Prime Minister.  Barely anyone in the street or on the roads.  People wearing masks and gloves outside.  Essential service workers are terrified to go to work.  Medical workers are afraid to go home to their families.
Those unable to work have $580.80 for fulltime/over 20hrs and $350 for those under 20 are paid to businesses by the government with employers paying workers 80% of their wage.
This is the Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) Pandemic, which was declared March 11th, 2020.
Why, you ask, do I write this status? (I have copied this from Facebook)
One day it will show up in my memory feed, and it will be a yearly reminder that life is precious. To not take the things we dearly love for granted.
We have so much!
Be thankful. Be grateful.
Be kind to each other - love one another - support everyone. ❤️
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