Coronavirus Update #13
May 22 - 1 new case today, a household member connected to one of the rest homes. It was such a disappointment to see a new case after 4 straight days without one. I hope this isn’t the beginning of an upward trend, though clearly there is a link to a known cluster and can be contained.
May 23 - No new cases today. Whew! It’s good to be back on track. Was yesterday a blip, or should we expect more?
May 24 - No new cases today and 27 active cases. There is a lot of confusion as to what type of tracking is required versus recommended. I’ve noticed that tracking is entrusted to the individual, like many things in New Zealand. Fortunately, the government’s trust in the people isn’t abused. People usually follow the rules. Over 300,000 people have downloaded the tracking app, and I haven’t heard stories of people becoming belligerent when asked to sign in at stores, restaurants, etc. People just do it, realising it benefits the community as a whole as well as the individual.
May 25 - No new cases today! We’re holding at 27 active cases in the whole country. Two weeks ago it was announced that we would move to Level 2, and since there hasn’t been any wild and crazy spike in cases, it is assumed that later today there will be an announcement on loosening restrictions more, though not down to Level 1.
May 26 - It is the fourth day in a row of no new cases, and the anticipated loosening of the restrictions was announced yesterday afternoon. On Friday, group gatherings can be up to 100. Life really is returning to “normal” though there are constant reminders that coronavirus is still out there - like checking in at shops and changes to the drop off and pick up process for the kids.
May 27 - The fifth day with no new cases! This is our longest stretch yet. We’re down to 21 active cases in the country, and no one is in the hospital anymore. The big controversy now is shifting to how to safely open up. There is a move to let international students back in the country. The reports I’ve seen say that they will be allowed to self-isolate which is absolutely a terrible idea IMHO. I could understand allowing them back in if they go through the mandatory two week quarantine like every one else entering the country goes through, but would 100% of these kids responsibly self isolate for two weeks? I can’t imagine they are all that responsible. Or perhaps I’m projecting my own college years onto others. That’s entirely possible, but I certainly want more safeguards in place than faith in 18-24 year olds doing the right thing.
May 28 - The sixth day with no new cases, and we’re down to 8 active cases in the country. Single digits! There have been over 271,000 tests done, about 5.4% of the population, and 1,154 confirmed cases, or .4% of those tested. It is interesting to compare the Kiwi numbers to the US ones where the CDC is reporting nearly 16 million tests, about 4.5% of the population, and 12% of which are positive.
It isn’t all good news in New Zealand, however. A Kiwi woman in her 90s who was considered recovered from covid-19 died. Even though the direct cause of death does not seem to be coronavirus, they are including her death in the total count, now at 22.
