In recent days I’ve been thinking it would be good if the government allowed for a certain “stretching” of bubbles so that people could be reasonably social. I’m glad to see that the outline for what Level 3 will be allows for bubbles to be stretched.
So now grandparents can see grandchildren and families can offer better support within an exclusive environment that’s larger than has been the case these past few weeks.
This from The Spinoff –
People must stay within their immediate household bubble, but can expand this to connect with close family/whanau or bring in caregivers, or support isolated people. This extended bubble should remain exclusive.
And schools will be open, but attendance not mandatory. A sensible move that should work out fine if ‘common sense’ is an actual thing.
Schools (years 1 – 10) and Early Childhood Education centres can safely open, but will have limited capacity. Children should learn at home if possible.
And I guess the idea (also good in my book) is for surfing and such like to be subject to “common sense” too –
Low risk local recreation activities are allowed.
Finally, I’m happy to acknowledge that my levels of cynicism over what the changes might have been in terms of businesses opening up again seem to have been misplaced.
Just this morning, I was suggesting to a friend that “the servants” might be expected to get back to their job of serving the better offs. (Yeah – I did say “cynical”). So I’m relieved to see that the service sector – and I mean that in relation to consumerism – is still more or less shuttered.
Businesses can open premises but cannot physically interact with customers.
What that actually winds up looking like is anyone’s guess. I could imagine some fast food places “trying it on”, but then…I can’t really see such outlets having much in the way of customers, bar for people who might phone in an order for delivery.
And for all of you out there who suffer from “bad hair days”, well…you’re going to have to suffer a while longer, though it’s not as though you have to go out and risk encountering “the Jonse’s” down at the mall or whatever.
Might Level 3 be regarded as what was intended all along, with Level 4 a deliberate overstretch intended to help people be more psychologically prepared for quite serious restrictions on their movements and activities?
It’s certainly easier to move to a hard place if the place you’re coming from has been even harder – the imposition feels like a relief.
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