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When I signed up for this account, I wasn’t sure if I was going to talk about covid-19. But the events of today kind of mean that I have to.
If you aren’t in a place where you want to (or feel able to) discuss covid-19, please feel free to mute this thread, and the #covid19 tag.
If you aren’t in a place where you want to (or feel able to) discuss covid-19, please feel free to mute this thread, and the #covid19 tag.
Living in New Zealand, this pandemic has seemed both scarily close, and yet also very far away.
It was the 28th of Feb last year when we got our first case of #covid19, and by March 19th we had implemented a border lockdown, only allowing returning citizens entry...
It was the 28th of Feb last year when we got our first case of #covid19, and by March 19th we had implemented a border lockdown, only allowing returning citizens entry...
...and requiring everyone to quarantine for 14 days.
On March 21st we had the announcement of our #covid19 alert system, telling us that we were in Level 2 of a possible four.
By March 23rd, we were at Level 3, with the notification that we’d be at Level 4 within 48 hours.
On March 21st we had the announcement of our #covid19 alert system, telling us that we were in Level 2 of a possible four.
By March 23rd, we were at Level 3, with the notification that we’d be at Level 4 within 48 hours.
This gave us time to grab our office files, go grocery shopping, and get ready to bunker down.
Level 4 is the highest level of #covid19 restriction.
It basically means that no shops are open, and that everyone must stay home.
Schools, churches, shopping malls - all closed.
Level 4 is the highest level of #covid19 restriction.
It basically means that no shops are open, and that everyone must stay home.
Schools, churches, shopping malls - all closed.
Supermarkets were open, but entry was limited to a certain number of people to enable social distancing.
Restaurants were closed, and there were no takeaways.
Only emergency medical services were available, as well as essential services such as petrol stations.
#covid19
Restaurants were closed, and there were no takeaways.
Only emergency medical services were available, as well as essential services such as petrol stations.
#covid19
Travel was limited - you were meant to stay within 5kms of your house.
We were at level 4 for four weeks.
This is two cycles of the #covid-19 virus transmission lifecycle, and it was designed to be a firebreak, to stop all of our community transmission in its tracks.
We were at level 4 for four weeks.
This is two cycles of the #covid-19 virus transmission lifecycle, and it was designed to be a firebreak, to stop all of our community transmission in its tracks.
It also allowed us time to build our track and trace system, and develop the border controls and quarantine measures needed to keep #covid19 out of the community.
The government provided a wage subsidy to businesses, which allowed people to be paid while this lockdown progressed. Rental agreements & rent levels were frozen.
While far from perfect, these measures meant that most people were financially supported during lockdown.
#covid19
While far from perfect, these measures meant that most people were financially supported during lockdown.
#covid19
On April 27th we moved down the #covid19 alert system, to Level 3. This is basically Level 4, but with takeaways.
Never have I been so happy to see an Uber Eats driver! https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/prosper/121397425/kiwis-went-crazy-for-takeaways-in-first-week-of-level-3
Never have I been so happy to see an Uber Eats driver! https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/prosper/121397425/kiwis-went-crazy-for-takeaways-in-first-week-of-level-3
By May 4th we had no new community transmission cases of #covid19 in New Zealand.
Two weeks later we moved down to Level 2, which allowed crowds of up to 100 people.
This meant that schools, churches, museums and shopping malls could re-open.
Two weeks later we moved down to Level 2, which allowed crowds of up to 100 people.
This meant that schools, churches, museums and shopping malls could re-open.
On June 8th we officially had no cases of #covid19 within the community in New Zealand.
We moved to Level 1, which is basically normal life, but with more hand washing, and scanning in with the covid-19 app everywhere you go.
We moved to Level 1, which is basically normal life, but with more hand washing, and scanning in with the covid-19 app everywhere you go.
In mid August there was another community outbreak, this time 4 new cases of #covid19 In Auckland.
In response, Auckland moved to Level 3, and the rest of the country went to Level 2.
In response, Auckland moved to Level 3, and the rest of the country went to Level 2.
This gave our #covid19 contact tracing team the time needed to find all the close contacts of these four cases, and get everyone tested.
Within two weeks we started moving back down the alert levels, as we were confident that we’d identified the extent of the cluster.
Within two weeks we started moving back down the alert levels, as we were confident that we’d identified the extent of the cluster.
Each community case - and every case found in MIQ (Managed Isolation & Quarantine) at the border - has been genomically tested.
We know which strain of the #covid19 virus people have, and with community cases we even know where they got the virus from. https://thespinoff.co.nz/science/05-02-2021/siouxsie-wiles-toby-morris-covid-19-transmission-101/
We know which strain of the #covid19 virus people have, and with community cases we even know where they got the virus from. https://thespinoff.co.nz/science/05-02-2021/siouxsie-wiles-toby-morris-covid-19-transmission-101/
When I hear people talking about why New Zealand is in the situation it is in - relatively covid-free - I often hear the argument that we’ve only got this far because we’re a tiny isolated island, with a very low population density.
But we're not *that* tiny!
#covid19
But we're not *that* tiny!
#covid19
And while I think our geography helped us to begin with, [getting that first case a few weeks later than other countries gave us a short head-start] we’re not exactly isolated.
New Zealand is known for its international tourism!
#covid19
![And while I think our geography helped us to begin with, [getting that first case a few weeks later than other countries gave us a short head-start] we’re not exactly isolated. New Zealand is known for its international tourism! #covid19](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EuLKsKNVgAUn6YJ.jpg "And while I think our geography helped us to begin with, [getting that first case a few weeks later than other countries gave us a short head-start] we’re not exactly isolated. New Zealand is known for its international tourism! #covid19")
New Zealand is known for its international tourism!
#covid19
And as for population density, I’m pretty sure that Sweden has a density not much higher than NZ, and they have a vastly higher number of #covid19 cases. https://g.co/kgs/zoyFnK
It is only because our government locked the borders & put us all into Level 4 for that circuit-breaker that we were able to live for most of the past 12 months at Level 1, relatively covid-free.
The phrase we hear often is that to beat #covid19 you have to go hard, and go early
The phrase we hear often is that to beat #covid19 you have to go hard, and go early
And that is why I’ve written this thread.
Today at 1:30pm, a press conference announced that there were three new cases of #covid19 in the Auckland community.
Today at 1:30pm, a press conference announced that there were three new cases of #covid19 in the Auckland community.
While all three cases are from one household, and one of the cases works on the border, the source of the infection is not yet clear.
Neither are we sure if the #covid19 virus has spread further within the community.
Neither are we sure if the #covid19 virus has spread further within the community.
So from tonight at 11:59pm, Auckland is going back into Level 3 - and the rest of NZ to Level 2 - for three days.
We’re pushing the pause button, to give our scientists and contact tracers time to get ahead of this #covid19 outbreak. https://twitter.com/covid19nz/status/1360847726284402688?s=20
We’re pushing the pause button, to give our scientists and contact tracers time to get ahead of this #covid19 outbreak. https://twitter.com/covid19nz/status/1360847726284402688?s=20
While my plans for this week have gone kind of sideways, I still want to chat with you all about bikes, museums and nerdish stuff - my usual Twitter content.
So that’s it for the #covid19 content for now.
Stay safe everyone.
So that’s it for the #covid19 content for now.
Stay safe everyone.
For those interested, we've had our 1pm #covid19 update.
10 close contacts identifed for the original 3 cases from yesterday - 6 of whom have tested negative, 4 are waiting on results. https://twitter.com/covid19nz/status/1361105883422289920?s=20
10 close contacts identifed for the original 3 cases from yesterday - 6 of whom have tested negative, 4 are waiting on results. https://twitter.com/covid19nz/status/1361105883422289920?s=20
The 1pm Press Conference was such a mainstay of our first lockdown that it has its own IMDB page.
It has now gone into its third 'season', and today's episode had some great news.
Of the ~5000 tests processed yesterday, no +ve #covid19 cases were found. https://twitter.com/TheSpinoffTV/status/1361467295248252928?s=20
It has now gone into its third 'season', and today's episode had some great news.
Of the ~5000 tests processed yesterday, no +ve #covid19 cases were found. https://twitter.com/TheSpinoffTV/status/1361467295248252928?s=20
