Coronavirus Update #11
Another week, but potentially a big one as we’ll learn on Monday when/if we’ll move to Level 2 which will mean a lot more open places and return to normalcy.
May 8 - There is one more new case and one probably case that is now confirmed. The government is really pushing how it has ramped up the testing and tracking capabilities to prepare for a move to Level 2. 3.5% of the population has been tested, including asymptomatic random tests in different areas throughout New Zealand.
May 9 - There are 2 more cases today, both connected to a rest home. I am saddened by more new cases after our two days at zero, but I am glad that the number isn’t higher. If there was community spread, surely there would be more cases now, right? I am apprehensive about the weekend. There is so much non-social-distancing going on that there will definitely be more cases reported this weekend if coronavirus is out in the community.
May 10 - 2 more cases on Mother’s Day. Another one connected to the same rest home as yesterday and an imported case. The imported case, as it turned out, was a woman who travelled back from the US, refused medical testing, and was subsequently jailed for 10 days before being bailed out. Then her positive test came back. This sort of behaviour makes me a) especially disgusted with the American way of doing things and b) immensely relieved that New Zealand implemented strict quarantine procedures for all returning people.
In other news, I got to experience first hand what it is like going to a hospital in the middle of the pandemic. The get into the building, a security guard had to buzz me in. Then I went through a quick health screening - basically asking me if I had travelled or been in contact with anyone who was positive - before receiving a sticker confirming that I was clear to enter the hospital. Technically each patient is only allowed to have one person present in their room with them, but we found the healthcare workers to be relatively lax if it was two parents who were in the room with a child. None of the healthcare workers were in full PPE or wearing unnecessary masks. Inside the hospital is was business as usual, just with lots of “feet dots” on the floor to indicate safe social distancing. More on this experience in a another post…
May 11 - Three more cases today. Two from the same rest home, while the third was another imported case. I am so thankful for the quarantine measures! The big coronavirus question is what will the government do this afternoon with the big Level 2 or Level 3 announcement. Personally, I hope we stay on Level 3 longer, but I don’t think there’s anyway the government can NOT move to Level 2 at this point. People are acting like we’re there already. There are people out at all the restaurants waiting for take out. The beach and boardwalk near our house are packed with people. There are no masks, no social distancing.
Late in the afternoon, the government held a press conference announcing our move into Level 2. Most places will open up on Thursday with restrictions in place. Schools will open up next Monday, and bars will be allowed to open up the Thursday after that. I’ll get into more detail about what Level 2 looks like in another post.
May 12 - No new cases today! I don’t know if this is because no one was tested on Mother’s Day, or if there really are no new cases. This makes me feel better about our impending move to Level 2, but I still wonder how much I want to be a guinea pig and go out when we first transition. (And then I remember that we totally popped our bubble with our recent hospital adventure, so we’re already the guineaist of guinea pigs and then I try not to think too much about that.)
May 13 - No new cases again on our last day in Level 3. But lets be honest. People haven’t been social distancing and they are already acting like we’re on Level 2. I am planning on cancelling my click and collect order that I’m currently on day 11 waiting for. I’ve already got a hair cut scheduled for next week, and I’m looking forward to making some other personal maintenance appointments. My toes look scary. With that being said, I am not rushing out. I think I’m going to give things until the 25th before I really start going out. By then, if there are more cases, we should have some evidence of them.
May 14 - Happy Level 2 day! Even better, it is our third day in a row with no new cases. People are - predictably - excited about finally being able to go out and about. There are some definite changes at the stores. First, it is required to check in at any place you’re visiting. Some stores are using scannable QR codes for new tracking apps that have popped up. Everyone also has a simple sign in sheet by their door. Most were on podiums with a bottle of hand sanitizer, but I’d still be wary of using the public pen left on the paper. Supposedly some barbers opened up at 12:01 to start the backlog of people in need of a haircut. Apparently that is the thing Kiwis miss most - perfectly maintained tresses.
We’re not going crazy. My husband went by the hardware store in the morning to pick up some things for home projects, but he said there was plenty of social distancing and he didn’t feel crowded. On his way home, he stopped by my favorite coffee shop and picked up a cappuccino. We didn’t go out to eat and we didn’t try to hit the malls. I’ll let things quiet down a bit before venturing out like that.
