COVID – second wave

Couple days ago we went to lockdown again, not a surprise, given that couple cases of people flying from New Zealand tested positive COVID-19 on arrival to Korea and Australia. To be honest nobody was really taking much care here about the virus, it was like something from the past or from far away, life was almost like normal, but without tourists and that influx of people and activity.

So couple new cases were detected, not linked to any travel or connection with traveling – I wonder why that was still the criteria to test people anyway?. Currently the origin of the cases is unknown but now we have about 56 active cases, jump from about 0-2 just two weeks ago. So the whole Auckland area went to lockdown level 3 (work from home/stay home, schools closed) and the rest of the country is on level 2 (restricted movements, schools open but gatherings up to 100 people max).

What’s the difference with the first wave?

• We are better prepared. People is not fighting over toiled paper, for instance. Today, after couple days in lockdown, I went to the supermarket and could find almost everything, even hand sanitiser (that was a luxury months ago). Maybe people just don’t care much this time, assuming we are going to be better in few days. Also general mood of things is positive.
• Resistance. During the first wave the lockdown, closure of business etc. went really well, not meaning people super happy about it but at least not complaining much and united. But now it’s weird to see negative reactions for a less demanding lockdown

I found couple weird articles in the news

A church leader inciting people to take the streets if lockdown is extended – that sounds like the nonsense that happens only in the USA.

Another political leader against being kind – because it patronises Kiwis? Should we go around with weapons or protesting on the streets?

Nothing against USA by the way, people in other countries also are acting like that. Recent news in Spain some people protest and argues that “The virus does not exist”, “Masks kill” and “We are not afraid” – or that G5 networks are the cause

Also the news mentioned several negative threads/post on social media against the family, government, a restaurant that was open to say someone with the virus visited them, etc. There are even conspiracy theories floating around!

It seems either some people already got the virus and affected them intellectually or is just unmasking the real feelings about the problem or the ones with the virus.

I guess at some point your place will also face a second or third or who knows how many other waves of the virus. People, your friends, family will get stressed, anxious. So is key to keep calm and be kind, it will not solve the problem, but the whole planet is more or less facing the same.

Things won’t get any better if we react against logic or advise from experts, economy will not really recover quicker opening everything, many jobs already depend on tourism so there is no point on just leave the virus uncontrolled – nobody is flying in, nobody is flying out anywhere in the planet to get here! – we just need to survive this, and it won’t take just couple months either.

With some luck, maybe June next year we could start planning on traveling again and going back on business in general.

#kiakaha #staystrong #staysafe