Covid and contact tracing
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4:46 pm, November 12th, 2020 - 32 comments
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Tags: community transmission, COVID 19, QR codes
Another period of time of uncertainty with potential community transmission of covid. From RNZ,
One of the community cases has no known link to managed isolation. Officials will provide more information in another briefing later today, expected to be about 5pm.
The other community case is linked to the November quarantine cluster.
The imported case arrived on 9 November from Los Angeles, returned a positive test around day three and is in quarantine.
…
Hipkins says they do not have anything to say about any movement in alert levels at this stage. Any change would require a Cabinet decision and at this point they do not have the information to weigh in such a meeting at this point.
“We will know more about whether we need to have one of those in the next few hours.”
Hipkins urges people to take the standard simple precautions – mask wearing, washing hands, distancing.
I was interested to see this messaging on twitter about contact tracing from tech researcher Andrew Chen,
Latest scan count data from 10 August through to 11 November. Approximately 10-15% of people are scanning QR codes, everyone needs to keep track of your movements in the way that best suits you: take selfies when you go places, take digital notes, keep paper records, use the app.The app is one way to keep track of your records, with the benefit of you being notified quickly if your records overlap with a known COVID-19 case. But any method of keeping records is better than nothing, because it supports a rapid response and a rapid response saves lives.
Bad news about the stats, good to see the app being promoted alongside other methods of keeping track of our movements.
I live in the rural South Island. You still see sign-in forms in shops and hand sanitiser. I don’t notice the QR codes because I don’t have the app. I don’t see people doing much with any of those. I rely on eftpos transactions and my to do lists when I go to town to be able to track where I have been if I need to. Not infallible, but probably not too different from remembering to scan a QR code. What would be great would be a set of options that people can use that are clearly explained and accessible. At the moment it seems a bit Number 8 Wire.
I was disappointed to hear Wallace Chapman on RNZ talking on the Panel about contact tracing and referring solely to the app. Worse, the Covid-19 response minister Chris Hipkins did the same thing on RNZ at the next hourly news.
We should be better than this by now. Not everyone has the app, not everyone has their phone with them, not everyone has a smart phone. We need to learn a new set of behaviours, and make them attractive enough over the long haul (I’m assuming years not months).
The drop off in app usage us understandable, maybe we should be teaching people to use a range of techniques and tech, and finding the ones that work best for them that are sustainable over time. I’m sure the MoH wants everyone using the app because it’s easier for them, and faster when there is an outbreak, but given our low numbers some diversity here would be good.
Other developing news around potential weak spots in New Zealand’s covid management systems are the proximity of the new community case to an isolation hotel (next door).
MSM reporting of vaccine development and timeline was off with Stuff reporting two days ago that a vaccine could be rolled out early next year. RNZ has a more even handed and less sensational report today about the governments preparation. Getting people’s hopes up about an early vaccine is not going to help us with the marathon now required.
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- Green Party stands in support of survivors of abuse in care
Today, the Green Party stands alongside the survivors of abuse in state care and faith-based care as the Government issues an historic apology. ...1 week ago
- Green Party calls for conscience vote on Treaty Principles Bill
The Green Party has written to the Speaker of the House requesting he enable a personal vote on the Treaty Principles Bill. ...2 weeks ago
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The Green Party is alarmed by the Government’s move to exclude a journalist from covering this week’s apology for the survivors of abuse in state and faith-based care. ...2 weeks ago
- Without action, an apology will be empty air
For tomorrow’s apology to survivors of abuse in state and faith-based care to hold any water, the Government must not pursue the same policies that drove the abuse in the first place. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Concerns remain over tobacco interference
Concerns about the tobacco industry’s ability to interfere in government policy making remain, despite the inability of the Office of the Auditor-General to investigate the Government’s decision to halve the excise tax on heated tobacco products. ...2 weeks ago
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- Release: Poroporoaki: Ta Robert (Bom) Gillies
Kua hinga te manawa kairākau o Te Rua Tekau Ma Waru Tiwhatiwha te po! Kakarauru i te po! Ka rapuhia kei hea koe kua riro! Haere e te Ika a Whiro ki o tini hoa kua ngaro atu ki te Pō ...2 weeks ago
- Labour, Greens and Te Pāti Māori call on the Prime Minister to block the Treaty Principles Bill
The opposition parties stand united for an Aotearoa that honours Te Tiriti, rather than seeking to rewrite it. Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori are working together against the Government’s divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour, Greens and Te Pāti Māori call on the Prime Minister to block the Treaty Principle...
The opposition parties stand united for an Aotearoa that honours Te Tiriti, rather than seeking to rewrite it. Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori are working together against the Government’s divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...2 weeks ago
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The Green Party says the need is greater than ever for Aotearoa New Zealand to pursue an independent foreign policy. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Winston Peters must apologise
The Deputy Prime Minister should apologise to the public servant he named and blamed for something they did not do, and for misusing the rules of Parliament. ...2 weeks ago
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- Critical milestones for earthquake buildings review
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- State of the art radiology machine for Auckland
People in Northland and Auckland will benefit from a new machine for cancer treatment installed at the Regional Cancer and Blood Service at Auckland City Hospital. The MV5 linear accelerator, or LINAC machine, officially opened today targets cancer tumours with pinpoint accuracy. Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says this new, ...14 hours ago
- Foreign Minister to visit Europe
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- First arrests made under gang patch ban
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- Better support for victims of sexual violence
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- Government moving forward with Regional Deals
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- MSA pilot participant update
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- Attendance rates increase, again
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- Improving the lives of young New Zealanders
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- Government continues work to reinstate livestock exports by sea
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- Speech to the National Quality Forum 2024
Tēnā koutou katoa – it is a pleasure to be here today. I would like to begin by acknowledging the important leadership role you all play in ensuring a quality health system New Zealanders can trust. There is enormous clinical expertise in this room covering a wide range of disciplines. ...2 days ago
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Tēnā koutou katoa. Mr President, Excellencies, Delegates. New Zealand, and all nations represented here today, are already dealing with the impacts of climate change. Our households, businesses, and economies are bearing the costs of its effects. The choices we make now will shape the severity of these impacts for generations ...2 days ago
- Latest Quarterly Investment Report released
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- New Zealand supporting loss and damage fund
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- Gang crackdown begins at stroke of midnight
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- LGFA increases borrowing capacity to support high growth councils
The Government is welcoming the decision by the Local Government Funding Agency to increase access to financing tools for fast growing councils to support greater investment in critical infrastructure, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown says.“Communities across the country are facing an infrastructure deficit and significant population growth is projected in ...2 days ago
- Temporary Traffic Management costs revealed
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- Jurisdiction of Disputes Tribunal to double
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- Protecting New Zealand from foreign interference
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- Significant milestone for Canterbury Road of National Significance
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- Health survey results to help drive change
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- Final push needed to get to Smokefree 2025
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- New diplomatic appointments
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- Next steps for Regulatory Standards Bill
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- Red Tape Tipline goes live
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- Youth Parliament 2025 announced
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- Police stats show promising change
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- Better coordination of anti-scam efforts
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- Minister to consider 7AA select committee report
Minister for Children Karen Chhour will consider the recommendations made by the Social Services and Community Committee in its report back to Parliament on the Oranga Tamariki (Repeal of Section 7AA) Amendment Bill. “I want to thank the people who made submissions and those who appeared before the committee in ...4 days ago
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- Launching the White Ribbon Ride
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- Construction to begin on next stage of Papakura to Drury
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- NZ signs trade deal with Costa Rica, Iceland and Switzerland
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- Government and iwi work together on aquaculture
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- Government launches review to ensure electricity market is fit-for-purpose
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- Speech to Social Investment Hui: Jack and his whānau need our help
Kia ora koutou katoa. Nau mai, haere mai, piki mai. Ki te mihi atu ahau, ki te manwhenua nei, Te Atiawa, Ngāti toa rangatira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa. Thank you, Andy, for your introduction. Let me acknowledge you as the new Chief Executive of the Social Investment ...7 days ago
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Toitū te taiao – Our environment endures The Government is consulting on proposals to modernise New Zealand’s conservation management system, aiming to protect relevant natural areas while supporting sustainable growth in tourism and regional economies, Conservation Minister Tama Potaka says. “Today, the Department of Conservation – Te Papa Atawhai is ...7 days ago
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Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp');Got a good quiz question? Send Newsroom your questions.The post Newsroom daily quiz, Friday 22 November appeared first on Newsroom. ...29 minutes ago - Daily crossword, Friday 22 November
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I have my Google location tracking on, along with keeping a eye on the news I feel this is effective
We're also rural south island and follow the news. We keep a daily log on our mac, have masks ready to use if needed and plenty of soap for hand washing.
I live in Auckland Central. I would say mask use is no more than 20% among pedestrians in the area, including confined spaces indoors. Higher on buses, but not universal, at all. Not much sign of physical distancing either.
Signing in etc. is important, but that is to trace after the fact. Prevention is the first step, and we just don't seem to be taking that seriously.
Hipkins just now has asked people in Auckland CBD to stay home if possible, and all the usual things (masks etc). I fear we'll be going back up through the levels because the government has to do what we won't do for ourselves. Hope I'm wrong.
Time to clamp the boarders shut and await the vaccine, it's not worth the risk of more lockdowns. Special cases only allowed in .
What if we got serious about everybody wearing masks in public places wherever they might get close to anyone outside immediate family?
That is a significant factor in other places that have controlled covid well, like Taiwan.
It would take instant fines to achieve that . Cant see that happening.
Here in Orcland for the last round of level 3 and level 2, mask wearing got to quite high levels without it being compulsory (except on public transport). Just strongly encouraged, with a lot of public figures wearing masks as well.
Chances are pretty good that if the government put a serious push behind wearing masks out in public, the numbers would go back up again. But the messaging on masks has pretty much died off, and public figures like Ardern and Bloomfield aren't modelling mask-wearing anymore, so no surprise the public aren't either.
It's a different situation though. Under higher levels the risk is higher (of more lockdowns, or catching covid). Now it's like people will judge the risk as being very low. This is certainly what it looks like from down south. Why should we be wearing masks when the chances of contact are very small (this is a rhetorical question, I know what the actual answer is). Also, Taiwan compared to Gore or Balclutha, just doesn't work on so many levels.
If we've got another few years of this, getting everyone to wear masks when the risk is low of perceived as low will create problems of compliance as we go along.
Reply to bwaghorn … What about imports and exports? They cross the border too along with the people that transport them.
Its a lot less likely to come in through the cool stores than walk in on a expat or duel citizenship person running for cover.
None of which helps much if your boss makes you go to work:
Hipkins said it was a "disappointing situation" the manager told the worker, who is in a customer-facing role, to go to work and wear a mask.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/300157275/covid19-aucklands-new-community-case-went-to-work-following-test-wore-a-mask
This worker should be prosecuted.
… or their employer.
Yes, now that the whole story has come out.
Is this what you mean by the real story?
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/covid-19-coronavirus-infected-student-says-health-officials-made-mistakes-with-her-movements/NAX4JHP2OPBR2WQBGRSTSFGPPI/
Perhaps Chippie and the Department might owe the woman, and her employer, an apology.
The woman has admitted malfeasance (in her lawyers statement) and should be prosecuted.
But the statement, purporting to be from the employee, who is also a student at AUT, disputes that version of events.On Monday evening she had a sore throat, but did not think much of it, the statement said.She contacted her doctor the following day and was told to get a test.
By Wednesday, her sore throat had gone, and she did not feel any discomfort, so she went to work, the statement said.
“I wore a mask just to be safe. My employer has instructed us to wear a mask whenever possible.
“I did not think there was any chance that I had coronavirus.
“I did not tell my boss or manager of the above and did not request leave at any time. I did not think it was a big deal.
“On the morning of the 12th, I learned I tested positive and was very shocked and upset.”
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/300158205/covid19-shop-employee-diagnosed-with-coronavirus-says-she-never-called-in-sick
Is that really "malfeasance"? I had thought that that word applied to actions by someone in authority and generally to an action by a Public Official.
Still, I am not a lawyer and it isn't a word I have ever considered using.
Just what "law" did she break by the way?
when you get a test stay at home until you get the test results, that is the common sense learning from this case. the turn around in this case for the results was 2 days maximum
Employee makes statement … through her employer's lawyer.
Hmmm.
This is what happens I guess where workplace rules are left to be sparsely enforced by employees if they feel up to it. Employers start to think there are no rules or they are not applied to them. I really do not understand why labour won't have at least opt out unionism for larger employers. Any increase in unions gives better coverage and enforcement rather than the few overworked government inspectors that we have now.
Germany is touting a 5% work-at-home surtax because those workers do not pay "their share" of tax due to less travel and buying while at work.
https://www.economist.com/europe/2012/05/05/pay-to-stay-at-home
People don't want to use the app. People don't want to use masks. People don't want to wash hands.
What bets many of those same ones are bitching this morning about 'the Government' stuffing up in Auckland or about themselves being inconvenienced?
My last few outings from home saw very few people scanning the QR codes at outlets.
Some even sneered at me scanning them having to brush past not bothering and got shirty if social distancing was requested in a checkout queue.
IMO the scene is set for an outbreak that will be hard to trace thanks to many fellow kiwis not giving a F.
People do it whenever there is known community transmission.
And they have every reason to expect government border management to keep it out, so they do not have to.
N95 masks not being provided is absolutely ridiculous.
People working in the isolation units should isolate to and from work and at home.
They should receive a higher payment for the risks involved for them and their families and have regular breaks.
The QR codes should be compulsorily used every where no entry until you have signed in or scanned.Not much to ask to make it easy to contact trace.
Every body has to up our game no more burying heads in the sand
Yes to everything but the QR codes. 20% of the population would need a new cell phone to do that.
Compared to the amount of money spent so far, dishing out free/subsidized cellphones wouldnt be overly expensive.
Agree on the N 95 level masks for MI guests and staff.
Agree again – MI staff should have a month on month off regime – and socially isolate while working (delivery of food etc, and use masks if on PT during the workign month).
QR codes, when not at Level 1.
And I would add – the MI guests should be confined for their room for the first week – we need to prevent any mixing of first and second week guests (Oz does this for the entire two weeks barring chaperoned weekly walks).
I saw someone in Raglan today wearing a mask
Good on them, they could be in a risk category or simply being cautious.
With the cavalier attitude I'm seeing it’s a smart move.
While there was some reason for confidence that we could track and trace this – because its related to the MI cases already known. Until the chain to the student is known, and her contacts and their contacts are tested, there is a high risk this will go runaway – and lead to a merry chase.
Bar owners, night club owners and churches may not be operating this weekend in Auckland.
Then again, they will be. The government has determined given they know the source they can play detective.
The risk is there is a person (someone like a cafe worker) between the known source and this student and its their contacts who will be out and about this weekend.