Daily review 23/02/2022

Written By: - Date published: 5:30 pm, February 23rd, 2022 - 82 comments
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Daily review is also your post.

This provides Standardistas the opportunity to review events of the day.

The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).

Don’t forget to be kind to each other …

82 comments on “Daily review 23/02/2022 ”

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    • weka 1.1
      23 February 2022 at 6:30 pm

      Ardern cautioned that the traffic light system was likely to remain in place for the winter to combat not just Covid, but the return of the flu, following two winters where the flu has been kept largely at bay thanks to Covid measures.

      "As our border opens, we approach winter, with the potential of more illness, we need to ensure our health system can manage a heavier burden," she said.

      not hard to understand.

      • The Chairman 1.1.1
        23 February 2022 at 6:51 pm

        It seems our health system tends to be overwhelmed most winters.

        Do you think this is going to be the solution in our "new normal" going forward?

      • The Chairman 1.1.2
        23 February 2022 at 10:22 pm

        "As our border opens, we approach winter, with the potential of more illness, we need to ensure our health system can manage a heavier burden," she said.

        not hard to understand.

        Do we have stay in covid restrictions because the added pressure of opening the border?

    • Cricklewood 1.2
      23 February 2022 at 6:46 pm

      Smh… we going to mandate flu vax as well?

      • The Chairman 1.2.1
        23 February 2022 at 6:57 pm

        Apparently, it kills more. So who knows what our "new normal" will look like going forward.

        • weka 1.2.1.1
          23 February 2022 at 7:22 pm

          Apparently, it kills more

          what are you basing that on?

          • The Chairman 1.2.1.1.1
            23 February 2022 at 8:58 pm

            According to the latest WHO data published in 2018 Influenza and Pneumonia Deaths in New Zealand reached 905 or 3.47% of total deaths. The age adjusted Death Rate is 8.30 per 100,000 of population ranks New Zealand #167 in the world.

            https://www.worldlifeexpectancy.com/new-zealand-influenza-pneumonia#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20latest%20WHO,Zealand%20%23167%20in%20the%20world.

            • McFlock 1.2.1.1.1.1
              23 February 2022 at 9:03 pm

              Wait a couple of months. Hopefully you'll be right.

            • weka 1.2.1.1.1.2
              23 February 2022 at 9:34 pm

              This is disingenuous. The reason we have so few covid deaths is because of the government's pandemic response. The one you don't like and want changed. If we had no vax mandates, like the flu, we'd have more covid deaths. If we had had no lockdowns or restrictions on gatherings, we'd have had more covid deaths. Why you would want to compare NZ deaths is beyond me.

              • The Chairman …
                23 February 2022 at 9:46 pm

                This is disingenuous. The reason we have so few covid deaths is because of the government's pandemic response.

                I didn't state a reason. I merely suggested – apparently, it kills more. And provided a link for you.

                A question for you? If we had no vax mandates but testing had to be used instead of passes would we have had more deaths?

                • McFlock …
                  23 February 2022 at 10:13 pm

                  Hangon, so your alternative is a RAT every time someone goes to the cinema or the pub or even Subway? You're suggesting that's more workable than a pass?

                  Because if it's not as workable, fewer people will use it, so the only real answer is "yes".

                  • The Chairman …
                    23 February 2022 at 10:33 pm

                    You're suggesting that's more workable than a pass?

                    I'm asking as it would IMO be more acceptable than on going jabs and of course, the segregation.

                    Additionally, what the actual impact would be on deaths?

                    As for more workable, it will have its flaws just as passes.

                    • McFlock …
                      23 February 2022 at 10:47 pm

                      Dude, seriously?

                      In one day I might get lunch near my work, then after work go on a dinner and movie date.

                      That's a nasal swab for work, for lunch, for dinner, and for a movie, in one day. And for lunch I might be out of there before the test result comes back.

                      That's maybe half an hour or an hour out of the day if we have to wait for test results, compared to an hour and a half over the past year for the vaccine, you really think that would be more acceptable and followed by ~90% of the population?

                      Also, I think the same fools who refuse a vaccine will refuse the RATs anyway.

                      I'm involved with a local thatre, I know we're down to half capacity but that's a shitload of nasal swabs for the front of house staff to document.

                  • The Chairman …
                    23 February 2022 at 11:24 pm

                    That's a nasal swab for work, for lunch, for dinner, and for a movie

                    Lunch tends to be a takeaway or made at home. Dinner, you can have at home same with watching a movie. And in this current time of widespread covid, coupled with the rate of inflation, I betting that is what most are doing. Some even work from home.

                    So yeah, IMO more acceptable. And of course, more acceptable than on going jabs and segregation.

                    • McFlock …
                      23 February 2022 at 11:38 pm

                      Don't fucking tell me what my lunch tends to be.

                      So 95% of the population should stay at home or have multiple nasal swabs a day because a few % of arseholes refuse 3 vaccinations? Even 6 jabs would be trivial to the tests over a single week.

                      That's your idea of a solution that will be more acceptable to the population than the current system, is it?

                      Or is it just some fantasy that the rest of the country will willingly stick cotton buds up their noses several times a day to placate the [apparently dwindling] morons shitting on parliament grounds?

                  • The Chairman …
                    24 February 2022 at 12:42 am

                    Don't fucking tell me what my lunch tends to be.

                    I was suggesting in general. In this current time of widespread covid, coupled with the rate of inflation.

                    And of course, more acceptable than on going jabs and segregation.

                    By the way, the rest of your dribble failed to sway me

                    • McFlock …
                      24 February 2022 at 12:46 am

                      more acceptable than on going jabs and segregation

                      To whom? You think 90% of the country will prefer to sniff cottonbuds for the crazies at parliament rather than show a pass?

                  • The Chairman …
                    24 February 2022 at 1:20 am

                    To whom?

                    From my experiences and vast conversations, segregation didn't go down well with many.

                    It has split families and friends apart.

                    The protest and the hatred against the protesters is another example of this country starting to tear apart.

                    Jacinda needs to quickly address this before it goes any further.

                    Unfortunately, I don't believe she will.

                    • McFlock …
                      24 February 2022 at 12:33 pm

                      My vax details have been required twice so far today. This is not particularly unusual for city workers. If you want me to sniff cotton buds that often, you'll need to cover them in cocaine. And I doubt many of the millions of people who already have a pass will find multiple tests per day to be more acceptable than using the pass.

                      Also, I wouldn't trust the residents of camp crazy to start huffing the buds, either. They'll just start talking about how it's scratching their brain or something.

                      Call it "segregation" all you want. It's like a "freedom" tattoo on one's forehead: self-labelling whackos are more convenient than the ones who look reasonable at first glance and try to suck one into their bullshit.

                    • joe90 …
                      24 February 2022 at 12:48 pm

                      you'll need to cover them in cocaine.

                      Just a wee toot helps the cotton bud go in.

                      https://twitter.com/DrEricLevi/status/1477057391212449793

                    • McFlock …
                      24 February 2022 at 3:16 pm

                      fark we're not supposed to stick 'em in our ears but that shit looks freaky as hell.

                    • weka …
                      24 February 2022 at 11:06 pm

                      wait, we can do the swab ourselves?

                    • The Chairman …
                      24 February 2022 at 11:18 pm

                      weka

                      I was thinking onsite for oversight. Workplace etc

                    • McFlock …
                      24 February 2022 at 11:32 pm

                      Some countries just throw a RAT at you and say "call us if you get a positive". Dunno about NZ.

                  • The Chairman …
                    24 February 2022 at 9:12 pm

                    And I doubt the millions of people many of who already have a pass will find multiple tests per day to be more acceptable than using the pass.

                    That's the thing. Our pervious discussion was past tense. We have now moved on. And as you say, "millions of people" now have a pass, thus this wouldn't apply to them.

                    I call it segregation because it is what it is.

                    • McFlock …
                      24 February 2022 at 9:21 pm

                      And you think if last year the choice had been "you've got the vaccinations, so do you wave a pass or stick a cotton bud in your nose 2-5 times a day just so you can share a pub or movie with someone who is unvaccinated and might have a false negative", most people would have taken the pass?

                      You're dreaming.

                      And as for "segregation" – lols. Get real.

                • Patricia Bremner …
                  23 February 2022 at 11:00 pm

                  My son had two negative rat tests, went for the nasal swab and was positive. So you would have him going "Oh I'm fine" after those rat tests? 80% reliability is not good enough really, but when testing gets overwhelmed it's all we will have. So yes we might have Delta Omicron and 'Flu. Influenza.

                  The PM and Cabinet on Health advice will always be cautious and try to learn from overseas experience. We benefit by that. This is patently obvious that all the health mandates were required to avoid deaths in large numbers.

                  2m distancing, masks, vaccination passes to show where we may have come in contact or given it to someone else, plus medical prep and home prep and isolation may be needed for a few months. Good luck to us all.

                  • The Chairman …
                    24 February 2022 at 1:04 am

                    My son had two negative rat tests, went for the nasal swab and was positive.

                    The jab isn't 100% either. And people can be asymptomatic, hence not know they are sick. Furthermore, the pass (so I hear) is easily exploited.

                    When testing gets overwhelmed it's all we will have.

                    Yes, we have moved on. Time to allow the unvaccinated the right to be tested. The risk seems (IMO) largely comparative to passes.

                    Passes to show where we may have come in contact

                    Apparently, contact tracing is also changing. And apparently, so are the border restrictions.

                    • Shanreagh …
                      24 February 2022 at 12:41 pm

                      Are you aware that the protest has now become a location of interest? For visits on Sat/Sun

                      Over 5000 new cases reported today

                      205 in hospitals around NZ.

                      More figures/details at 1.00pm.

                      From Hipkins/Bloomfield Press conference at Noon on Phase 3 Omicron that comes in to force tonight 24/2/22. .

              • The Chairman …
                23 February 2022 at 11:10 pm

                The reason we have so few covid deaths is because of the government's pandemic response.

                As I remember (correct me if I'm wrong) it was the lockdowns and closing of the borders that were largely responsible for keeping the spread down, thus lowering the deaths, We've seemed to have moved on from that.

                • Shanreagh …
                  24 February 2022 at 12:50 pm

                  So you agree but could not bring yourself to say so……shame. Trying to split hairs/count the number of angels dancing on the pinhead.

                  Your reckons are rapidly losing credibility, you seem to have lost your detachment.

                  In the meantime 'people' presumably infiltrators moved concrete blocks so protestors vehicles could be moved from the Stadium to the protest site. As you seem to have contacts at the protest could you let us know when the protest organisers will be publicly condemning the infiltrators/provocateurs

                  I'm going down shortly as one of the key requirements is that you wear a hearing aid* and I do, so I could be an ideal agent provocateur.

                  * from allegations that an infiltrator was active in the protest, turns out the guy was wearing a hearing aid. Doh!

                  • The Chairman …
                    24 February 2022 at 10:03 pm

                    So you agree but could not bring yourself to say so……shame

                    I didn't disagree with that notion to begin with. Your reckons are rapidly losing credibility.

                    In the meantime 'people' presumably infiltrators moved concrete blocks so protestors vehicles could be moved from the Stadium to the protest site.

                    I heard it was the protesters that moved concrete blocks.

                    • Shanreagh …
                      25 February 2022 at 9:38 am

                      Good grief…..

                      You do not understand sarcasm, analogy, or forms of irony and take everything literally don't you?.

                      Are you not aware that the protestors have blamed infiltrators for throwing faeces and a burning liquid. Of course this was the protestors who did this.

                      All I was saying that bearing that in mind that the protestors said it was infiltrators who threw the faeces I was waiting for them to say it was infiltrators who moved the blocks. Of course this was the protestors who did this

                      NB the protestors threw the faeces etc and the protestors moved the blocks.

                      Comprenez vous?

                  • The Chairman …
                    25 February 2022 at 10:07 am

                    Are you not aware that the protestors have blamed infiltrators for throwing faeces and a burning liquid.

                    Apparently, they say the burning liquid was friendly fire (via the police) pepper spray.

                    Last I heard, the police can't rule that accusation out.

                    But yes, there has been talk of infiltrators re the car charging incident (I see the driver has name suppression) human waste, and a number of other acts of misbehaviour.

                    Did you see the photo of the cop supposedly (on the frontline) wearing the Knuckle-duster? It's on Clay Drummond's Facebook page.

        • Muttonbird 1.2.1.2
          23 February 2022 at 7:43 pm

          You should back that up with detailed stats.

          Or perhaps it's like one of your other bizarre reckons, that NZ tenants prefer cold damp housing, not warm, dry housing.

          • The Chairman 1.2.1.2.1
            23 February 2022 at 9:06 pm

            Bizarre reckons, that NZ tenants prefer cold damp housing, not warm, dry housing.

            I didn't say that,

            I said isn't allowing people the right to decide what standard and relating price they are willing to pay not better protecting them opposed to forcing them into higher standard, thus potentially higher rent accommodation?

            You failed to reply.

            • Shanreagh 1.2.1.2.1.1
              24 February 2022 at 12:53 pm

              Makes as little sense now as it did then. We don't want people having to price point themselves into unsafe housing ……fullstop.

              • The Chairman …
                24 February 2022 at 7:51 pm

                Makes as little sense now as it did then. We don't want people having to price point themselves into unsafe housing ……fullstop.

                Authoritarian much?

                I believe people would prefer to make their own decision when it comes to the accommodation they rent.

                Moreover, not every home that fails to meet Government standards are unsafe. I live in one and I'm sure there are many other private home owners that do. Isn't dictating to renters (via requirement on their landlords) yet not to private home owners classist?

                Here is something else to ponder. Making rentals comply or forcing them out of the market couldn't have resulted in a benefit to the higher end of the market (via reducing the bottom end of the market) could it? Do you think?

                • McFlock …
                  24 February 2022 at 8:06 pm

                  What about the people who have no choice? Who need to take whatever is offered? Do they deserve safe housing?

                  As for taking housing out of the bottom end of the market, what happens to those houses? How many are left vacant, as opposed to being sold for someone to live in? Because it looks to me like that would free up another house, so who moves into that house? What happened to their house? Eventually the chain of transactions will free up a rental.

                  But there's a basic problem in using "what ifs" with zero evidence to argue against fixing a known problem (in this case, that many poor people live in unhealthy homes because that's all they can afford and there is no incentive for unscrupulous landlords #notallLandlordsHonest to keep their dwellings up to standard): a hypothetical example is not an argument against resolving many real examples of a known problem.

                  • The Chairman …
                    24 February 2022 at 10:55 pm

                    What about the people who have no choice?

                    Those people have a choice too. They may need to take whatever is offered, but they have a choice whether or not to actually take it.

                    As for taking housing out of the bottom end of the market, what happens to those houses? How many are left vacant, as opposed to being sold for someone to live in?

                    That was exactly my point. If you are a renter, you can't live in it but if you own it, you can.

                    Is that not only hypocritical but also classist?

                    How many are left vacant, as opposed to being sold for someone to live in?

                    For someone to live in it they would have to own it or make it compliant. Both would result in it being remove from the bottom end of the rental market.

                    Many poor people live in unhealthy homes because that's all they can afford…

                    Yes, many poor people live in unhealthy homes because that's all they can afford. Why would you support a unscrupulous Government forcing them into a higher standard home, thus a potentially more expensive home, which clearly they can't afford? Shouldn't they be given the choice to decide for themselves?

                    The incentive for unscrupulous landlords to keep their dwellings up to standard is it justifies higher rent. There will, of course, be some that don't but I'm sure (because I know some) that some tenants prefer the trade off – ie lower standard, lower relating rent.

                    • McFlock …
                      24 February 2022 at 11:29 pm

                      What about the people who have no choice?

                      Those people have a choice too. They may need to take whatever is offered, but they have a choice whether or not to actually take it.

                      Well, it's that or homelessness. Love the way the dude who's claimed to be "more left than most" here starts by arguing "take it or leave it" is a choice when the item is a need, then claims that slumlords have an incentive to improve their property.

                      And McDonalds has an incentive to produce foie gras burgers, but for some reason finds more profit in selling millions of standardised burgers a day. 🙄

                  • The Chairman …
                    25 February 2022 at 1:26 am

                    Well, it's that or homelessness

                    Not necessarily. They could and should be looking elsewhere. Who only looks at one home when in need of a home?

                    "Take it or leave" it is a choice when the item is a need

                    It is a choice.

                    Alternatively, what if it were the potential cost barrier in a higher standard/Government standard home preventing this need being fulfilled? Are you comfortable with that?

                    • McFlock …
                      25 February 2022 at 2:09 am

                      Am I comfortable with the possibility of your made up problem compared to the actual situation where rentals are so scarce landlords can demand "CV"s?

                      Totally.

                      If taking a shitty flat that will make you ill otherwise you will be homeless is "a choice" to you, that's fucked up. Capitalism is fucked up.

                  • The Chairman …
                    25 February 2022 at 7:54 am

                    Am I comfortable with the possibility of your made up problem compared to the actual situation…

                    No made up problem. Merely the actual outcome of the Healthy Homes standards in a hot market.

                    The additional compliance costs on landlords, coupled with rental property demand outstripping supply, had resulted in rent rises for many tenants.

                    https://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/127136141/healthy-homes-contributing-to-rent-rises-property-manager

                    Not all substandard homes/flats are necessarily considered "shitty"

                    And would have provided an alternative for those that wanted a cheaper option.

                    I know people that were totally happy with their lower standard but far cheaper home. They could have rented a home of higher standard but preferred to have the extra money in their own pockets as they were saving to buy a home. Others were just as happy to have the extra money to maintain a higher lifestyle.

                    Labour, via their Healthy Homes standards, robbed people of being able to make that choice.

                    • McFlock …
                      25 February 2022 at 12:33 pm

                      It also robbed landlords of their power to be slumlords.

                      The number of people who choose to live in hovels is insignificant if one person is forced to "choose" between a hovel and outright homelessness.

                • Muttonbird …
                  24 February 2022 at 8:23 pm

                  Just because you chose to live in squalor doesn't mean everyone else has to.

                  • The Chairman …
                    25 February 2022 at 1:38 am

                    I live in a lovely home. Elevated with all day sun. New kitchen, bathroom, laundry, with a large stacker door off the lounge leading to the main (I have two) elevated deck overlooking the lovely gully.

                    It just isn't at full Government standard.

                    But I'm very happy with it.

                • Shanreagh …
                  25 February 2022 at 9:47 am

                  Zoom again.

                  The point is and it is not classist, authoritarian or whatever 'in' world you are trying to slip in, is that renters should have a range of rentals to choose from, at all price points, and ALL of them should meet healthy homes standards.

                  It matters not what homeowners live in, our tolerance is borne of being able to choose whether to upgrade or not.

                  Our rental stock should be healthy, we want healthy people and healthy children as healthy children learn more quickly and education is a key to having a set of different choices than their parents may have faced.

                  Setting out in the world as a child or a working person is made easier if our homes are a warm dry refuge for us to come home to.

                  • The Chairman …
                    25 February 2022 at 10:44 am

                    The point is and it is not classist, authoritarian or whatever…

                    If you are a renter, you can't live in it but if you own it, you can. Is that not only hypocritical but also classist?

                    Renters should have a range of rentals to choose from, at all price points, and ALL of them should meet healthy homes standards.

                    See the discussion up above. Labours Healthy Homes standards robbed renters of the lower end choice.

                    So do you now agree renters should have a choice?

                    Our rental stock should be healthy, we want healthy people and healthy children as healthy children learn more quickly…

                    Healthy homes tend to come at a higher rental cost, with the higher rent robbing families of funding for food and bills such as heating costs. No good being in a higher standard home if it's overcrowded, or you can't afford to turn on the lights, heater, and buy decent and sufficient amounts of food. Or worse, left homeless because all the cheaper (before standards) rentals are now gone. Leaving some now living in garages or worse. It's counter productive to being healthy.

                    It's OK if you can afford it but high rents are a big issue for some. Hence, they deserve the right to be able to make their own choice. One sizes fits all solutions seldom works for everyone.

        • Shanreagh 1.2.1.3
          23 February 2022 at 8:47 pm

          Sounds like your mates have been dropping poison in your ear. You seem very unclear about seasonal illnesses, the role of vaccines as a preventative and public health matters generally.

          Why are you "xxxxx" new normal? Is that supposed to be a quote from somewhere? If so you have not linked.

          Hospitals generally like people to be vaccinated against preventable illnesses and influenza vaccines have been around for many years. Many of those eligible by age or where it is desirable because of their health status do not get vaccinated for some reason (possibly cost?). Many workplaces either offer reimbursement if someone goes privately or have vaccination days en masse where the Drs come to the workplace.

          https://www.influenza.org.nz/

          It would be the very worst of situations to be unvaccinated for Covid and for influenza and get both together or close together.

      • weka 1.2.2
        23 February 2022 at 7:22 pm

        Smh… we going to mandate flu vax as well?

        Where are you getting that from? This is highly unlikely for the general population.

        • Cricklewood 1.2.2.1
          23 February 2022 at 9:31 pm

          Just because the traffic light system functions very much on a vaxxed unvaxxed basis regarding people you can put in a venue for example.

    • Treetop 1.3
      23 February 2022 at 7:02 pm

      I need to look up the flu stats in the UK to see what the trend is. Whether to be more guarded against the flu or Covid.

    • Shanreagh 1.4
      23 February 2022 at 8:31 pm

      Yes well I guess once bitten twice shy, if you recall, with the respiratory syncytial virus when the cases shot up when people were able to go to Aus last year. I think one of the Akl hospitals was very crowded with sick babies. I know Wellington also had its share.

      It had been kept at bay with the lockdowns and closed borders.

      I guess the same would apply to influenza as well. The injections that ae usually available in March/April are usually based on what is raging around in the last Northern hemisphere winter. So I guess they may be forecasting a the influenza virus coming in once the borders are opened up a bit more.

      I wish people (incl PM!) would not call influenza the flu, especially when people with heavy colds also call their cold 'the flu'.

      • Cricklewood 1.4.1
        23 February 2022 at 9:33 pm

        RSV is severe for children especially it overflowed Starship in short order. Worse than Covid for the young by a long shot. Not great when you're older I had a run in with it… took a while to get clear of it partially my own fault.

  2. Treetop 2
    23 February 2022 at 7:03 pm

    I need to look up the flu stats in the UK to see what the trend is. Whether to be more guarded against the flu or Covid.

  3. Muttonbird 3
    23 February 2022 at 7:21 pm

    One thing I have observed for a long time since Labour won the 2017 election, and which has crystallised over the last two weeks of the anti-vax protest, it the propensity of the rabid right to support and endorse literally any behaviour as long as it might damage a left wing government.

    All values are thrown out the door and they will cosy up to any and all lunatics if they think it might score a point against the majority Labour government and Jacinda Ardern.

    Knowing no shame, they will hop into bed with violent offenders, racists, p-addicts, anti-vaxxers, Winston Peters, conspiracy theorists, white supremacists, and gang members.

    Previously all these people would have been the target of their relentless attacks, but if it is politically advantageous, they will court all comers without batting an eyelid.

    • Shanreagh 3.1
      23 February 2022 at 9:04 pm

      Knowing no shame, they will hop into bed with violent offenders, racists, p-addicts, anti-vaxxers, Winston Peters, conspiracy theorists, white supremacists, and gang members.

      Yes funny how people have found new 'buds' at the protest!

      Searching for the elusive voters (the faded out politicians) and ways to beat the Government up with their reckons (everyone else) .

      • Scott 3.1.1
        23 February 2022 at 9:35 pm

        This is a government that encourages diversity. And who knows- maybe getting off the internet and discussing different views will increase tolerance

  4. Adrian 4
    23 February 2022 at 7:41 pm

    Flu season may or may not be as bad as feared, the Australians, about time they got something right ) have surmised that Influenza B Yamagata, on of the four strains targeted may have died out thanks to Covid and mostly mask wearing. Take that Winston, on the wrong side again.

  6. Belladonna 6
    23 February 2022 at 8:10 pm

    Reporting that labs have already reached practical capacity (long before the 58,000 with surge to 70,000 threshold). Apparently this theoretical total was based on a misunderstanding (because so many tests are now positive, the 'batch' capacity they had when most results were negative – no longer works & therefore each sample must be processed separately)

    Looks as though they'll only be processing tests for essential workers and people presenting to hospital.

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/covid-19-omicron-outbreak-what-phase-3-of-response-plan-will-look-like/NP5Z4VAN2N2RCJRWX3ZF7YUXSI/?fbclid=IwAR26fimJX63nhsC54UV4sEUxk5JRrUkxqj_IodTHZp1k2hKgoaYWeWuFOdc.

    Government needs to either change the testing requirements (currently at 5 days for close contacts, regardless of symptoms) or roll out RATs to a much greater extent (and to places other than the overwhelmed testing centres).

    As one mum said on FB today, "No, I'm not going to put my kid who is already miserable with a temp and a sore throat into a hot car and wait 4 hours in a queue at a testing centre"

    • weka 6.1
      23 February 2022 at 8:24 pm

      yikes, that's not good.

      Do you know how this relates to publishing locations of interest. The ones in Otago seem a long time ago. The last one in Queenstown was 13/2/22, and Dunedin 16/2/22. Has this system broken down?

      • Shanreagh 6.1.1
        23 February 2022 at 8:59 pm

        The publishing is only as good as the info given to the contact tracers by the Covid patients.

        These dates have always had a bit of a lag. If covid sufferers are not scanning or keeping their own diary then it becomes a matter of tracking back, somehow. I understood that they are only tracking/contact tracing where outside places with a potential to spread outside the immediate environs so flights, bars, restaurants, schools not inter or intra families.

        I don't think the system is broken, just adapted to the realities of this very infectious virus

        • weka 6.1.1.1
          23 February 2022 at 9:38 pm

          I don't really get that. If Otago has continually rising cases (they doubled today compared to yesterday, today's new cases were 455 in SDHB), then why is the last location of interest in Dunedin nearly ten days old?

          SDHB's last update on their website was from a similar time. So I have no idea where the outbreaks are other than the ones they started reporting a few weeks ago (Dndn, Queenstown).

          • Pingao 6.1.1.1.1
            23 February 2022 at 9:56 pm

            Reply to Weka … as cases increase the MOH have said they will move away from identifying locations of interest. I can't remember where I read this but it was in the last few days – possibly RNZ or when i was googling "Phase 3 covid NZ". There was a piece on TV1 news too I think. Can't link sorry but will try and find a phrase.

            • weka 6.1.1.1.1.1
              23 February 2022 at 10:43 pm

              thanks. I didn't think we were there yet.

              • Patricia Bremner …
                24 February 2022 at 1:23 am

                Hi Weka, yes we are near where QLD was 2 weeks ago. They now have 6000 plus cases and 29 deaths. Their testing also got overwhelmed and at first they did not have enough rat tests and prices skyrocketed. Scomo famously said he wouldn't stop businesses making a profit. At least the worried well off can't corner the rat tests here. They will be used for essential workers.

      • Cricklewood 6.1.2
        23 February 2022 at 9:35 pm

        It's been broken since Omicron arrived it moves to fast, even flights were getting notified 6-7 days after the fact.

  7. Robert Guyton 7
    23 February 2022 at 8:17 pm

    A disabled person's view of the Wellington occupation.

    "Never though have I and other New Zealanders seen or witnessed anything like the right-wing inspired, influenced and led occupation that has paralysed our nation's capital for almost a fortnight now. They have been supported by a range of people from alt right and far right causes whom, in their wake, have drawn a considerable number of otherwise previously apathetic or even some otherwise progressive people in with their nonsensical and dangerous anti-vaccination theories.

    Despite the range of causes that have brought this otherwise disparate group of people together – leading to some perturbing and confusing messaging along the way – the one thing they seemingly want is freedom from the government's Covid-19 rules.

    For disabled people like myself, this freedom would mean the end of reasonable restrictions which have saved potentially not only my life but the lives of thousands of disabled people and people with health conditions nationwide who would otherwise have succumbed to Covid-19."

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/on-the-inside/462126/a-disabled-person-s-view-of-the-wellington-occupation

    • Anne 7.1
      23 February 2022 at 9:29 pm

      Thankyou for that link Robert. As someone who has been disabled for a long time due to arthritic conditions, I can relate to the writer. It has got to the stage when I no longer watch the 6pm news due to the incandescent rage I feel every time I see the so-called protesters.

    • McFlock 7.2
      23 February 2022 at 11:51 pm

      Cheers. Good link.