News Worldwide impact of the novel coronavirus (covid-19)

[siniang]

Congrats, NZ!

Coronavirus: New Zealand's last known active COVID-19 case recovers, no new cases for 17 days

 

[bellbird]

Congrats, NZ!

Thank you on behalf of my people, lol.

As of midnight tonight, we are moving down to Alert Level 1, which means that our border remains closed, but there will be effectively no restrictions on day to day life within NZ.

Quite a surreal position, to be sitting on a wee archipelago in the South Pacific, just waitin' on the rest of the world to catch up...

 

[lostforgottensoul]

As of midnight tonight, we are moving down to Alert Level 1, which means that our border remains closed, but there will be effectively no restrictions on day to day life within NZ

That's so awesome! I can't wait for some normalcy!

 

[blackemerald1]

the South Pacific, just waitin' on the rest of the world to catch up...

^Australia is following right behind you hopefully @bellbird.

Cannot wait for our countries to open borders with each other. Then all these people here who are itching to go on a holiday can go bother you? lol... Like snow boarding, skiing ...something...anything... please??

Just wanted to ask since we've had restrictions down graded fairly well here too. How do you feel about returning to normal activity? I'm probably a bad example bc I like staying at home anyway and don't really have the resources to get out too far.

But, it's being widely reported that now that the anxiety about being restricted, locked-down, quarantined, social-distanced or whatever has been lifted, that there is now further anxiety about venturing out too. It's obviously related to the virus still being around and the fear of catching it because except for flattening the curve and stocking/staffing our hospitals in preparation, we're fearing a second wave just as much as we feared the first.

How is NZ's coping? Have they been partying all night in celebration of their renewed freedoms or a little bit reserved?

 

[whiteraven]

First week when they started reopening things, people were pretty careful. I stopped by a garden center yesterday and it was packed - nobody social distancing and only one or two wearing masks. Even some of the 6 feet stickers on the floor had been removed.

In some ways I don't blame the people, though. They really aren't talking about it much anymore in the news and the governors are not as adamant about being careful.

Strange world we live in.

 

[bellbird]

Cannot wait for our countries to open borders with each other.

Me neither :)

How do you feel about returning to normal activity?

I must admit, it is pretty surreal.
There's part of you that thinks --have I just woken up from a really weird dream?

I went out for dinner tonight, and at first we were one of only two groups in the restaurant, but pretty soon all the tables were full. Everyone seemed in great spirits.

There were a couple reminders of lockdown, like a QR code printed out on and stuck to the entrance (our government has been encouraging businesses to use these as part of our national contact tracking app), as well as hand sanitiser and a physical check in pad most recently marked two days ago when we were still in Alert Level 2.

Look past those few details, and the most out-of-place thing was probably just how busy the place was on a Tuesday night.

I don't watch/read the news generally (too many stressors) and rarely use social media beyond this forum, so in terms of the bubble that I live in, life feels weirdly normal now.

How is NZ's coping? Have they been partying all night in celebration of their renewed freedoms or a little bit reserved

So I think we're doing okay.
I'm sure there is still anxiety out there in the population, and that is understandable. The last thing we want is a second wave.

But I hope, with time, that anxiety will decrease and life will really return to normal for as much of NZ as possible. Our economy sure does need that now.

And as for partying the night away in celebration of renewed freedoms... my insomnia meant I unintentionally stayed up past midnight to see in the advent of Level 1. I suppose that counts :laugh:

 

[blackemerald1]

. Our economy sure does need that now.

^Yeah yours and mine both. ..ugh.. The Federal government is slowly pulling all of the snouts out of the trough and is copping a lot of backlash for doing so. I mean all of the underpinning of the economy here was done through massive loans. It's all gotta be repaid - by the next few generations. Won't they be grateful for the huge debts we're mounting up?? And people are whining about how they wanna keep the lovely new income stream that got washed through a couple of months ago. They're dreaming. We will quite literally go broke. And anyway, jobs and businesses are happening all over now.

The last cohort of children are returning to schools. Surprisingly there have been only a few schools here and there that have had any new infections and closed down for cleaning for a day or two.

So, we're not far behind you @bellbird. :) I haven't been out into the new, free world lol... yet.... cannot walk much right now but I'm looking forward to making a booking at my local cafe for a look. :)

 

[lostforgottensoul]

There were a couple reminders of lockdown, like a QR code printed out on and stuck to the entrance (our government has been encouraging businesses to use these as part of our national contact tracking app)

Is this supposed to be scanned when you get there?

This tracking stuff would freak me the f*ck out!

ETA: Given I grew up in a cult and was tracked due to that my entire life. If that comes to the US, I have no idea how I will cope.

 

[blackemerald1]

This tracking stuff would freak me the f*ck out!

^If you became infected, or anyone else in the cafe did or was found to be at the time you were there the tracking stuff is there to; contact you,
test you,
tell you the results and that somebody in the same place was infected - which could have big implications about where & what you do, possibly treat you and pending results, require you to self-quarantine.

So, just like a lot of stuff, enduring safeguards for the betterment of the community simply has to happen.

Getting freaked out isn't helpful for you or anyone else in this circumstance.

I don't think the government in NZ or here in Australia is interested in you whereabouts beyond covid19.

 

[bellbird]

Yeah, that's right @blackemerald1 .

It was encouraged that we download the contact tracing app, but it isn't enforced. We can also keep our personal own log of where we have been, should we need it for contact tracing purposes.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

^If you became infected, or anyone else in the cafe did or was found to be at the time you were there the tracking stuff is there to; contact you,
test you,
tell you the results and that somebody in the same place was infected - which could have big implications about where & what you do, possibly treat you and pending results, require you to self-quarantine.

So, just like a lot of stuff, enduring safeguards for the betterment of the community simply has to happen.

Getting freaked out isn't helpful for you or anyone else in this circumstance.

I don't think the government in NZ or here in Australia is interested in you whereabouts beyond covid19.

I understand what it's there to do but its a HUGE trigger of mine connected to one of the bigger trauma happenings. Being tracked by a cult to in short, be able to kill me if I spoke a word of the cult. Knowing what it's for does not help that freak out of being tracked. Because I already know its there to help and what it's there for and just the thought of being tracked again brings on a horrid panic attack.

It doesn't help to tell me not to freak out. I can't exactly help it. Just like telling someone to stop a panic attack doesn't stop it. If I could stop it, I would not have triggers or panic attacks or any of the other PTSD symptoms for that matter. It's a very not fun illness. You know that!

It was encouraged that we download the contact tracing app, but it isn't enforced. We can also keep our personal own log of where we have been, should we need it for contact tracing purposes.

This makes me feel better. Required i couldnt handle and writing down where ive been and who ive been around is easier cause im not there anymore. Its past stuff. Knowing where I am at that moment is the trigger.

 

[blackemerald1]

It doesn't help to tell me not to freak out. I can't exactly help it. Just like telling someone to stop a panic attack doesn't stop it. If I could stop it, I would not have triggers or panic attacks or any of the other PTSD symptoms for that matter. It's a very not fun illness. You know that!

^It's not an ongoing thing though. You scan once, go & eat. It's past stuff too!? End of! What's there to freak about? Don't answer - it won't happen in the US so it'll never be a problem for you. Cos you guys have got 'rights' lol