Really?
Is this really happening?
What I am intrigued by is not that the lock-down is actually implemented. I am surprised and somewhat comforted by the way my fellow citizens are acting.
I think (almost) everybody is taking this seriously and it might actually work, at least in Christchurch, where we had a series of earthquakes about ten years ago and we are still licking our wounds after them. But we are prepared. Almost all the people I know, all I interact with, the ones I saw today, be them shoppers or cashiers, authorities or kids, boy racers or joggers, they all got the message that this is SERIOUS and we can help INDIVIDUALLY to ride the wave. I have the feeling that our society is mature and deserves to survive this with as few scars as possible.
It ain’t easy, though. Not a walk in the park. Most of our daily liberties we always took for granted are now restricted or cancelled.
My expectation is that in New Zealand the peak of the first wave of the Covid-19 will be around the 15th of April 2020. The number o confirmed cases by then could be anywhere between 1500 and 5000, depending on the number of tests and patients who see a doctor. It sounds like a lot, but actually it would be quite reasonable. Our health system is small, yet advanced, skilled and well prepared. We can fight this and win.
There might be a regional lag, as communities in the North Island, mainly Auckland, are denser and the South Island is more suitable for proper isolation.
Today I worked from home, it was an influx of positive feedback from people I am normally in touch with. I managed to get out of the house in the afternoon, but virtually all non-grocery shops were closed. later, in the evening, I planted a New Zealand flag in the middle of my front lawn. And my house is covered in Christmas lights, though we are approaching Easter.
Entering this phase in 25 minutes – COMPLETE LOCK DOWN.
My kids are with their mother for the moment. It’s been a relief to find out that children of separated parents can stay alternatively with both mum and dad, in the same town. State of Emergency this time around has some human touch.
Today is still Day Zero. I look forward to Day 1 and to AT LEAST four weeks of house arrest / home detention / self isolation. A lot of gardening to do, shame this virus decided to come before winter, not to mention that many viruses actually like to have it cold.
Over & out, I have to feel the transition to state of emergency, as it happens.
11 minutes left.
Tags: coronavirus, lock down