Open mike 07/03/2020

102 comments on “Open mike 07/03/2020 ”

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1. A 1

   7 March 2020 at 7:48 am

   Chris Martenson has named this the Honey Badger Virus (because nothing can stop the spread of this thing). In another video Dr John Campbell (UK) says he believes he will get this virus at some time and is hoping it is the weaker strain.

   Posting because some of the official information coming through is behind by several weeks and I’m hopeful that if more people get quality information it will get officials in charge of giving advice to check where their sources (WHO/CDC) are getting info before disseminating it.

   This could have been avoided if WHO “let’s not call anything a pandemic” hadn’t prioritised the world economy over public health back in January 23rd.

   I predict that as unbelievable as it is that if NZ doesn’t act more aggressively (more flight bans, better advice) we will see shutdowns/quarantines here.

   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Df6c5w9PlEk
   • Ed 1.1

     7 March 2020 at 8:03 am

     Thank you for sharing A.

     I have been following Chris Martenson since the end of January and have been really impressed by his daily reporting of coronavirus.

     His video on the 22nd February showed Italy to have 4 cases. They have nearly 4000 now. Their schools and universities are closed and the country looks like it is going into lockdown.

     Yesterday we had 4 cases.

     Will we be in lockdown in 2 weeks?

     I wonder what the Ministry of Health is planning.
     • Ross 1.1.1

       7 March 2020 at 8:10 am

       Ed

       We have 300 cases of TB each year, and each year the disease kills 1.5 million people throughout the world. That might surprise you given the lack of media attention about TB. As the song says, don’t believe the hype.
       • Ed 1.1.1.1

         7 March 2020 at 8:11 am

         Have you watched either Chris Martenson or Dr John Campbell ?
         • Ross 1.1.1.1.1

           7 March 2020 at 8:20 am

           Have you read the WHO report on TB?

           “In 2018, an estimated 10 million people fell ill with tuberculosis(TB) worldwide. 5.7 million men, 3.2 million women and 1.1 million children. There were cases in all countries and age groups…TB is spread from person to person through the air.”

           https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/tuberculosis
           • Ed 1.1.1.1.1.1

             7 March 2020 at 8:26 am

             No I have not read the WHO report on TB.

             However, I came to this thread to discuss coronavirus, so for the time being I won't get waylaid by your desire to talk about TB.
             • Ross …

               7 March 2020 at 8:35 am

               There’s been about 100,000 cases of coronavirus which represents 1% of cases of TB. Another way of looking at it is, since January 1, 2020, more people have become millionaires by winning Lotto than have been hit by the virus in NZ. It might help to put you at ease. 🙂

               [Ross, again you’re making more work for Moderators. To you, it may seem an innocent minor typo in the e-mail address. To the system and the readership of TS, you look like another user, which is unnecessarily confusing, hampers the flow, and decreases good faith here. This has been mentioned to you before (https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-17-10-2019/#comment-1661862 and https://thestandard.org.nz/the-herald-creates-a-panic-and-trump-things-coronavirus-is-a-hoax/#comment-1688549).

               You have also been warned before about derailing and you have used TB before to detract (https://thestandard.org.nz/the-herald-creates-a-panic-and-trump-things-coronavirus-is-a-hoax/#comment-1688553), which is another form of your idiosyncratic ‘nay-saying’, which you have also been warned about before (https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-29-02-2020/#comment-1688282).

               We thought we had reached an understanding with you but I cannot see any change or improvement in your commenting behaviour. If you continue down this track, you will be banned for at least this election year.

               The other e-mail address is now in the Blacklist, permanently, which means that each time you’re using it your comment will not appear at all and go straight to Trash from which it cannot be retrieved.

               Consider this your final warning and please don’t attempt to come back with excuses or what have you; just change your behaviour, thanks – Incognito]
               • Sacha …

                 7 March 2020 at 9:05 am

                 (Ross, you have used that other email address spelling again – note different logo next to your name.)
               • Incognito …

                 7 March 2020 at 10:31 am

                 See my Moderation note @ 8:35 AM.
               • Ross …

                 7 March 2020 at 11:30 am

                 We thought we had reached an understanding

                 I have no idea what you are talking about. You said to take my comments to OM which I’ve done. If there is something egregious about the facts I’ve mentioned, you are welcome to say so.

                 And I use the same email address and have only one that I use. If you don’t agree, you can email me privately.

                 [I don’t care if you use one e-mail address only but cannot type it correctly on a consistent basis; they come from the same IP address so unless there are more than one Ross in your household using the same IP address it is you in both cases. As I said, that mistyped e-mail address is now Blacklisted, forever.

                 I do care about you making work for Moderators. You ignore all warnings and plead ignorance (i.e. stupidity; follow the links in my previous Moderation note to you) despite all the work Moderators put into you so that you can keep your commenting privilege here. Again, you dig in and put the onus back on me to e-mail you, despite being warned. Weka and I have already explained to you previously that the onus is on you to change your behaviour.

                 Banned for a month for ignoring Moderation, digging in, and making more work for Moderators. Next ban will be take you out till well after the elections – Incognito]
                 • Sacha …

                   7 March 2020 at 11:54 am

                   It's not a matter of whether someone 'agrees' you have typed your email address wrong – the blog software reads them as different, so it gives them different icons that make it look like more than one of you is commenting. Computers are not very smart.
                 • Incognito …

                   7 March 2020 at 12:15 pm

                   See my Moderation note @ 11:30 AM.
             • mauī …

               7 March 2020 at 8:39 am

               Thank you Ed. Likewise I do not want to hear from the odious neoliberal Who.
               • Ed …

                 7 March 2020 at 8:52 am

                 Great to hear from you maui. You point about WHO nailed it.

                 Have missed the opportunity to discuss world and local issues with such an informed an insightful person.
               • Incognito …

                 7 March 2020 at 11:01 am

                 Right EO, don’t wash your hands then but call in the Army
                 • mauī …

                   7 March 2020 at 4:39 pm

                   Feel free to pack your parachute 5 mins before you go up Incognito. But I think I'll be safer in the RNZAF Hercules.
                   • Incognito …

                     7 March 2020 at 4:43 pm

                     I’d prefer a yellow submarine of the RNZN.
                   • Macro …

                     7 March 2020 at 4:52 pm

                     @ Incognito We (the RNZN) were looking at the option of operating a submarine fleet in the 1980's. I was involved in the working out the operational costs from the perspective of the training of officers and the manpower requirements. In some respects significantly cheaper than the operational expense of 3 new frigates.

                     But no yellow submarines – they are all black.
                   • Incognito []

                     8 March 2020 at 12:51 am

                     I’m ok with black although I’d prefer yellow (once inside you can’t see the outside colour).
           • dv 1.1.1.1.1.2

             7 March 2020 at 8:38 am

             A KEY difference is that TB has a treatment.
             • Pingao …

               7 March 2020 at 9:21 am

               TB is also preventable as well as curable. Also thousands of people won't get it all at once. Also the novel virus doesn't exist outside the human body so if we can stop it's spread we can stop it forever.
               • dv …

                 7 March 2020 at 9:42 am

                 Yes.
               • Incognito …

                 7 March 2020 at 10:52 am

                 TB is also preventable as well as curable.

                 The cure rate is not 100% and resistance to treatment is a growing problem. Treatment is not straightforward. Please educate yourself before commenting on TB, thanks.

                 Also the novel virus doesn't exist outside the human body so if we can stop it's spread we can stop it forever.

                 This is misleading too. The virus can persist and survive outside the body and remain infectious (virulent) for quite some time, depending on environmental factors. However, contaminated surfaces cannot cough or sneeze, which is why hand hygiene is so important, critical, in fact. In addition, stop touching your face. These are simple cheap (!) easy-to-follow and highly effective measures that don’t involve Draconian measures by the State as suggested by a few other commenters here

                 https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/331305/WHO-2019-NcOV-IPC_WASH-2020.1-eng.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y [Section 1.2]
                 • Pingao …

                   7 March 2020 at 6:57 pm

                   Incognito – fair enough regarding TB (but at least there IS a treatment and a vaccine) and true regarding it can exist outside the body on surfaces (but probably no more than a few days at most according to what I have heard – sorry can't recall where – either a RNZ interview or Dr John Campbell probably).

                   It is true I don't know much about TB and I am grateful to live in a country and a time where it is rare (my dad had it as a young man and my mother's oldest sister was killed by it at age 18).
                   • Incognito …

                     8 March 2020 at 12:07 am

                     
       • A 1.1.1.2

         8 March 2020 at 5:50 am

         You are not understanding the exponential nature of this virus.

         The system will be overwhelmed with frightening speed – heck, I just saw a news item saying NZ's hospital system is already at breaking point WE HAVE 5 CONFIRMED CASES!!!

         To understand just how brutal this will be for our health system check out this thread that focuses on the US but exponential case explosion is the same anywhere. And pray(!)

         https://mobile.twitter.com/LizSpecht/status/1236095180459003909
     • Sacha 1.1.2

       7 March 2020 at 9:11 am

       Ed, you said exactly the same yesterday. I hope you are not planning on daily repeats regardless of what anyone replies.
       • Ed 1.1.2.1

         7 March 2020 at 9:14 am

         I was responding to A’s link.

         I imagine a lot of people are talking about the virus today.

         Next time I’ll look at another country’s data.

         [Ed, please don’t revert to your old bad habits of spamming the site with the same stuff over and over again, thanks. Moderator patience and time are wearing thin in election year so we will be weeding out ‘noise’ and other time-wasters – Incognito]
         • Incognito 1.1.2.1.1

           7 March 2020 at 11:07 am

           See my Moderation note @ 9:14 AM.
           • Ed 1.1.2.1.1.1

             8 March 2020 at 8:03 am

             Point taken.

             Thank you.
   • Ed 1.2

     7 March 2020 at 9:08 am

     Here is Dr John Campbell’s most recent report.

     Friday 6th March

     [Ed, this is another of your bad habits: posting links without any description/commentary from you and any good reason why we should click/watch/read them. You’re taking up bandwidth and attracting Moderator attention, which are not smart actions. If you keep this up, you’ll be put back in the Blacklist without a moment’s hesitation – Incognito]
     • Cinny 1.2.1

       7 March 2020 at 11:07 am

       Ed, thanks for the link, will have a listen later.

       Due to the massive ammount of scaremongering via social media, a friends daughter (in her early 20's), had a misinformation fuelled anxeity attack when her mum had to fly up north yesterday. I'm talking a don't fly or you may die misinformation melt down, her mum was only flying from one regional airport to another. The daughter isn't even a germaphobic, I felt so sorry for them both, ended up in a major argument.
     • Incognito 1.2.2

       7 March 2020 at 11:12 am

       See my Moderation note @ 9:08 AM.
       • Ed 1.2.2.1

         8 March 2020 at 8:02 am

         Thank you for the advice.

         If I link to an article or video, I shall explain its content so people can make an informed decision about it.
         • Incognito 1.2.2.1.1

           8 March 2020 at 11:17 am

           
2. Andre 2

   7 March 2020 at 8:04 am

   Sanders, his toxic online supporters, and how they add up to alienate those not in his cult:

   https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2020/3/6/21167830/elizabeth-warren-bernie-sanders-rachel-maddow-bernie-bros

   That toxicity has real negative effects. It's why it appears unlikely Warren will endorse Sanders, quite apart from the pragmatic consideration that a President Sanders would very unlikely to actually achieve any progressive gains, whereas a President Biden might actually get through a few small stumbling baby steps of progress.
   • mikesh 2.1

     7 March 2020 at 8:56 am

     If any candidate was "toxic" I would have said it was Joe Biden. However it depends on what one means by that word. It is all too easy to apply labels like "toxic" which reflect only one's own particular bias.

     The same considerations apply to the word “cult”.
     • Bearded Git 2.1.1

       7 March 2020 at 11:27 am

       Agreed Mikesh.

       Biden has been completely useless in the primary debates. His eloquence is diametrically opposed to Obama's. But then this is the nation that elected Reagan (twice) and Trump and…..
     • McFlock 2.1.2

       7 March 2020 at 3:14 pm

       The comment was about certain blocs of supporters, not the candidates themselves.
       • mikesh 2.1.2.1

         7 March 2020 at 4:49 pm

         Calling his supporters "toxic" would seem to be an even worse faux pas. However, Andre has applied the word "cult" to both Sanders and his supporters.
         • McFlock 2.1.2.1.1

           7 March 2020 at 5:19 pm

           the publication of phone numbers and home addresses belonging to two women who worked for the Nevada Culinary Union after it produced a fact sheet critical of Sanders’s health care plan.

           totes not objectively toxic /sarc

           And there are other examples in the vox article that you failed to address when you simply took issue with a description while ignoring the basis behind it. But I guess you don't need to refer to source documents when you have so much faith in your cause. hmmm.
   • Cinny 2.2

     7 March 2020 at 11:11 am

     Agent provocateur's maybe?
     • Andre 2.2.1

       7 March 2020 at 12:21 pm

       Some of them, probably.

       But enough of them are for real to illustrate that it's a genuine phenomenon and it's a problem. I've come across a few in real life.
     • Andre 2.2.2

       7 March 2020 at 12:41 pm

       Fortunately it appears some leaders like AOC and Bernie himself have taken on board lessons from 2016 and are already talking up the importance of unity around whoever becomes the nominee.

       https://www.huffpost.com/entry/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-bernie-biden-trump_n_5e6229fec5b691b525f0f41b

       And the she-devil herself, HRC, puts it in a nutshell: successful politics comes from addition and multiplication, not subtraction and division.

       https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U19Bk1ZsWIQ&feature=emb_logo
   • joe90 2.3

     7 March 2020 at 1:09 pm

     Some real charmers.
   • AB 2.4

     7 March 2020 at 1:41 pm

     Anybody who prioritises their hurt feelings about snake emojis on the internet above trying to prevent people dying from not having healthcare – what shall we say – has a 'problem'.

     Contrast this (frankly) silly whining from Warren with the dignified and respectful words from Sanders when she announced she was pulling out.

     Toxic behaviour on the internet is just a commonplace. Calling Sanders supporters a 'çult' as you just did, is also a minor example of it.
3. Sacha 3

   7 March 2020 at 9:04 am

   Concise profile of Health Ministry boss Ashley Bloomfield, including his role in the current Covid-19 response: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/120071359/coronavirus-ashley-bloomfield-is-the-face-of-nzs-pandemic-response

   As well as sifting facts and trying to counter misinformation, Bloomfield will be negotiating with district health boards, who retain autonomy even in a crisis scenario. Bloomfield has himself said that people often tell him to send letters to DHBs demanding action. He has to explain that's not how the health system is set up.

   "In an emergency situation the public health person's dream is to have complete command and control, because things are a lot easier," [former MoH boss during the SARS outbreak, Colin] Tukuitonga says. "But that's not how it is. So it's a process of negotiation."

   After taking the job – and after attending a leadership programme at Oxford University – Bloomfield said he subscribed to a "convene and collaborate" and "ensuring direction not giving direction" model of leadership, rather than command and control.
   • Anne 3.1

     7 March 2020 at 10:15 am

     Sounds like just the right man for the job. We're lucky to have him. But he's got an uphill task countering the scare-mongerers and those who are ideologically opposed simply because he holds a top government position within the Health portfolio.
     • Sacha 3.1.1

       7 March 2020 at 11:23 am

       Yes, he has the right expertise and temperament. However I can understand people being concerned about whether the whole public health part of our system has enough resources to do its job: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/120063889/coronavirus-ministry-working-to-bolster-workforce-to-contact-and-trace-cases
     • Poission 3.1.2

       7 March 2020 at 1:02 pm

       Hes a hedgehog.

       the MOH stuffed up on measles, with the pacifica,and they failed to understand the risks with coronavirus when it was signaled early ( by experts on complex systems theory,and risk analysis).

       https://twitter.com/normonics/status/1235937967035777025
       • McFlock 3.1.2.1

         7 March 2020 at 3:21 pm

         26 Jan is not "early". And contact tracing gets overwhelmed when you have lots of cases, yes. We do not have lots of cases in NZ.

         Not sure what exactly happened with measles. Are you talking about the Auckland region outbreak, or it getting to the Islands?
         • Anne 3.1.2.1.1

           7 March 2020 at 5:26 pm

           I take it he/she is claiming that the MOH was responsible for the out-break of measles in Samoa. I thought it was the fault of the mad anti-vaxxers who convinced vulnerable people not to vaccinate their children.
           • McFlock 3.1.2.1.1.1

             7 March 2020 at 5:55 pm

             It was a screw up from NZ in general, too. We should have realised the possibility of exporting cases to the Pacific.

             But a NZ administrator fucked Western Samoa for the 1918/19 influenza pandemic, too. Fucked them badly, killing 20% of the population compared to American Samoa's zero fatality number from effective quarantine efforts. So we're complete shit at not infecting our smaller neighbours, and we really need to improve that.
           • Poission 3.1.2.1.1.2

             7 March 2020 at 6:04 pm

             It was a stuff up (samoa) ,both by the ministry and ministers.The problem (almost obvious) was predictable.

             https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/402251/samoa-measles-epidemic-immunologist-furious-at-nz
           • Rosemary McDonald 3.1.2.1.1.3

             7 March 2020 at 9:17 pm

             "…mad anti-vaxxers…"

             Jesus Christ, Anne! Surely you recall the two babies who were killed by an incompetent nurse?

             An army of anti-vaxxers couldn't have done a better job of dissuading the Samoan mothers from vaccinating their babies.

             For goodness sakes…try looking a little deeper, perhaps check out the facts?

             Google "Samoan nurse kills babies with vaccine error "

             Sighs. Shakes head.
4. Observer Tokoroa 4

   7 March 2020 at 9:07 am

   USA – not worth the Trouble !

   The United States of America has a relatively very small population compared with such great nations as China, India, Europe or even Asia.

   It almost boasts a devastating and Non Democratic Health system. And dabbles around with a confused torturous unveiling of endless ballots and delegates which manipulate Elections. 327 Millions of people.

   I cannot see much point in worrying about Mr and Mrs Dysneyland. They are happy in their Fantasy World ooing and aarring over the great puffy mushroom known as Donald Trump.

   They have just about the lowest wages of any decent OECD country on earth. And they have no intention of ripping the Money Money Money out of the putrid Wealthy Stinky Pot that is called America.
   • Incognito 4.1

     7 March 2020 at 11:16 am

     Over 320 million human beings written off with one fell swoop
     • Observer Tokoroa 4.1.1

       7 March 2020 at 3:17 pm

       Thanks Rob

       Thanks Incognito

       I could have mapped population to the furthest set of human toes – but I feel that the USA is in deep trouble.

       I even doubt that Donald Trump has the Finance to match the Biden Team. Which means that Trump could end in a truly major mud hole.

       Trump has played the Fool. Over and Over.

       Much of the American valuable workers are being paid a pittance. They must be close to enforced hardship by the Trump merrygo round. Pretty Pathetic.

       Ask yourself if you would prefer the American Way.

       Regards BJH
   • Rob 4.2

     7 March 2020 at 11:22 am

     Do you realise you are comparing the popn of a country to regions of many countries. The USA vs Europe or Asia is not equivalent. Maybe the comparison of Nth / Sth America to Europe or Asia would be a better comparison.
5. Ed 5

   7 March 2020 at 10:50 am

   An excellent article by Rob Urie in which he links the plague of neoliberalism with the plague of coronavirus. As he writes, this offers an opportunity to look at the way we treat each other.

   40 years of neoliberalism has reorganised the political economy so that many are economically marginalised. This means workers will have little choice but to spread the virus, as they have no money and little paid time off.

   https://www.counterpunch.org/2020/03/06/the-neoliberal-plague/

   One key quote

   The mortality rate and contagion factor recently reported for Coronavirus (links at top) place it above the modern benchmark of the Spanish Flu of 1918 in terms of potential lethality. What should make people angry is how the reconfiguration of political economy intended to make a few people really rich has put the rest of us at increased risk. These are real people’s lives and they matter.
6. anker 6

   7 March 2020 at 11:06 am

   I dislike Simon Bridges enormously and fear for our country if he becomes PM.

   I have a very low opinion of him, but was utterly disgusted to see how low he would sink when he was criticising the govts response and mentioned hand washing. I fear there are many (possibly more likely men) who will pick up on this message and scoff at the idea of washing your hands properly. Bridges is despicable.
   • Cinny 6.1

     7 March 2020 at 11:29 am

     Exploiting fear in an attempt to gain control….that's what the nat's do, it's not the first time.
   • Observer Tokoroa 6.2

     7 March 2020 at 3:43 pm

     Greetings Anker

     You are very valuable. Your analysis exceeds many others on here by leaps and bounds.

     I personally enjoyed your rebuttal of some silly person writing on here and claiming that the current Government has done Nothing.

     How on earth can the Moderators here allow that crappy nonsense Anker ?

     I do not think it can be bias. So it must be work overload.

     Your earlier Article is spot on Anker. I hope you publish it on here again.

     Bjh
     • Incognito 6.2.1

       7 March 2020 at 3:59 pm

       

       You’ll flip your lid when you read this: https://thestandard.org.nz/the-politics-of-hand-washing/#comment-1689681
     • anker 6.2.2

       7 March 2020 at 6:08 pm

       Thanks so much Observer.

       I haven't done an article as such. But yes I did do a rebuttal of "the govt has done nothing"
   • Peter 6.3

     7 March 2020 at 9:35 pm

     We should do all we can to encourage those we know to wash their hands properly of Bridges and the National Party.
7. Sabine 7

   7 March 2020 at 2:55 pm

   when you wake up in the morning and you realise you and your country are managed by people who don't give a flying fudge if you and yours live or die.

   https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1236053765503016960

   https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1236047190897934337
   • joe90 7.1

     7 March 2020 at 6:57 pm

     Dude's deeply stupid.

     https://twitter.com/NYinLA2121/status/1236093108795764736
     https://twitter.com/ddiamond/status/1236055907102011393
8. Observer Tokoroa 8

   7 March 2020 at 3:53 pm

   Good writing is flowing in …

   To Ed

   A Strong and Thoughtful piece.

   Well done !

   Bjh
9. Whispering Kate 9

   7 March 2020 at 4:43 pm

   I have read today which I now cannot locate for love nor money – the best idea to come out for helping to combat this pesky virus.

   A doctor in Wellington is going to suggest to the Ministry of Health that we set up at various regions around the country drive-in clinics specifically for people presenting with coughs, sniffles etc. To use small vacant car parks and set up pop up containers or similar and staff it with a doctor and nurse of a young age because they are less vulnerable to getting very sick. There they can be treated and advised what to do. That way these sick people have no need to get out of their car and can be advised to go straight home and isolate until they can determine if they are negative etc.

   This way they are freeing up doctors' surgeries where there are lots of people usually in waiting rooms. Apparently after an infected person has left the surgery they then have to sanitize the waiting room etc which is time wasting and leaving healthy people at risk including the doctors, nurses and patients.

   It seems a really sensible idea. Too many people are ignoring advice given frequently to stay away from the doctors and medical centres and presenting there at great concern for everybody. Apparently I read a couple of other countries have already set this kind of drive in clinic up and it has been successful. It remains to be seen if our authorities will follow and set up clinics like this in localities all over NZ so people can do their bit to keep this virus under some sort of control.
   • McFlock 9.1

     7 March 2020 at 5:37 pm

     Check out page numbered 129 (on the page, note the pdf pagination) of the NZ Influenza Pandemic Plan: what you describe sounds like "Community-based assessment centres". Main difference is that they're using community halls and suchlike rather than drive-through (you can't Xray a driver for pneumonia even if you have a portable machine).

     It is a consideration in the "stamp it out" phase (which we are mostly in at the moment), so we might start seeing them if we get a cluster outside of imported cases.

     They'll really kick in if/when it becomes observably established in the community.
     • Graeme 9.1.1

       8 March 2020 at 8:51 am

       Thanks for the link to the NZ Influenza Pandemic Plan.

       That inspires a lot of confidence that our services of state will be on to things and bring the country through this. It should be required reading for everyone.

       Also interesting to see how the early phases of the process are rolling out now, and if my partner's doctor visit on Friday is any indication, we could be past the early stages already.
       • McFlock 9.1.1.1

         8 March 2020 at 2:45 pm

         The situation at the doctor was probably more late summer colds and panic showing through.

         While it's still at the "stamp it out" phase, the rest of the plan is about slowing the course of the disease and lessening its extent. It's like the difference between a tsunami and a high tide with associated flooding. One overwhelms everything at the same time, the other gives services time to respond to events on the ground a bit more effectively.
         • Graeme 9.1.1.1.1

           8 March 2020 at 3:04 pm

           The situation at the doctor was probably more late summer colds and panic showing through.

           It was a walkin clinic in Queenstown, triage nurse on reception, normally just reception, partner went in with suspected UTI (has history) and triage just pulled antibiotics out of the drawer, get out of here. Normally consultation and sample test.
           • McFlock 9.1.1.1.1.1

             8 March 2020 at 3:06 pm

             Ah, fair call. I took it to mean the waiting room was full, my bad.

             Probably fair enough in q’town, with its international population.
             • Graeme …

               8 March 2020 at 5:18 pm

               Don't understand how we don't have it here after CNY and all the Americans around from most of the outbreak states. Pretty much all blissfully unaware of what's happening.
   • weka 9.2

     7 March 2020 at 7:57 pm

     the advice I saw circulated early on was telling people if they suspected they had CV to go to a doctor. We're really not very good at this yet, but getting better.
   • swordfish 9.3

     7 March 2020 at 9:48 pm

     I read a couple of other countries have already set this kind of drive in clinic up and it has been successful

     South Korea was the initiator (if memory serves me right).
10. Stunned mullet 10

    7 March 2020 at 5:23 pm

    What a complete turd sandwich of a diagnosis for Michael Cullen, hopefully the chemotherapy puts things in remission for a good while.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/120098115/sir-michael-cullen-may-only-have-months-to-live-after-cancer-diagnosis
    • McFlock 10.1

      7 March 2020 at 5:45 pm

      bugger. Always had a lot of respect for him, even if almost never entirely in agreement lol.
    • SPC 10.2

      7 March 2020 at 10:36 pm

      Totally the wrong time to have lung problems and need chemo. He'll have to take advice on how to avoid coronavirus risk.
      • Incognito 10.2.1

        7 March 2020 at 10:49 pm

        It never is the right time to be diagnosed with lung cancer.
11. Ad 11

    7 March 2020 at 7:49 pm

    A typically facile response.

    Sit beach and read what you've written.

    Your posts' own text mentions "landlords" 14 times and the quote mention "landlords a further 10 times.

    Your text mentions the word "tenant" or "tenants" 6 times

    It mentions the word "responsibility" zero times.

    It also has zero factual evidence of a problem that will be fixed by the law.

    [TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
    
    • weka 11.1

      7 March 2020 at 7:55 pm

      There are general rules here about not having a go at authors or telling them what to write.

      The post was clearly about landlords. If you want a post about tenant responsibilities, perhaps you could write your own?
      • Muttonbird 11.1.1

        7 March 2020 at 9:26 pm

        If you want a post about tenant responsibilities, perhaps you could write your own?

        I'd like to see this post.
        • Sacha 11.1.1.1

          7 March 2020 at 10:57 pm

          'A stiff cross-breeze in winter never did me any harm and it ensured the walls were always mould-free when the guvnor came round to run the white glove along the mantel and inspect the nippers.'
12. Ad 12

    7 March 2020 at 7:59 pm

    Weka, do yourself a favour and think.

    You can start by chucking out the crappy "if you think …" nonsense and actually address the points raised, as I did.

    [TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
    
    • weka 12.1

      7 March 2020 at 8:05 pm

      if you want me to take your comments seriously I suggest don’t start them by having a go at me. I’m not going to read a really long comment from someone who engages like that.

      As already mentioned, there’s a general rule here of not telling authors what to do.
13. joe90 13

    7 March 2020 at 9:15 pm

    Global fuckwittery.

    https://twitter.com/FocusNewsNow/status/1235518317344907266

    https://twitter.com/jackiekcalmes/status/1236051435999109122

    https://twitter.com/TassosMorfis/status/1235996336698396673
    • Peter 13.1

      7 March 2020 at 9:26 pm

      Chuckle chuckle. I won't watch the clip. I don't want to see some religious leader saying something like, "And if you die or get very ill it must be God's will, God's great plan for you."
    • joe90 13.2

      7 March 2020 at 10:08 pm

      Whatever their stripe, fundies are dangerous.

      Days after a legislator in Assam claimed cow-dung could cure coronavirus, another in Uttarakhand has said that ancient Hindu rituals and cow urine can kill the virus in the “air and within the body”.

      Sanjay Gupta, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator from Laksar area in Haridwar, made the comments on Friday while speaking to reporters in Gairsain of Chamoli district where the budget session is underway.

      He was talking about the steps that should be taken to curb the spread of the deadly virus, which has killed thousands of people and infected more across the world.

      https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/yagna-cow-urine-can-kill-coronavirus-uttarakhand-bjp-legislator/story-q8dsFDD1Qj6mIy1plytPuM.html
14. Cinny 14

    7 March 2020 at 10:07 pm

    Ajaa aja it's Modi and the Don….. 🤣

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7hFnFRypCs
15. joe90 15

    7 March 2020 at 11:51 pm

    A bed time story to scare the beyehua out of everybody.

    https://twitter.com/LizSpecht/status/1236095180459003909

    https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1236095180459003909.html
    • McFlock 15.1

      8 March 2020 at 12:07 am

      US is fucked. Was reading today NYNY has 2000 people in quarantine because of suspected covid-19, but they've only tested 100 people.

      And something like half a dozen states announced their first cases in one day. And dolt45 is still in denial.
      • Anne 15.1.1

        8 March 2020 at 9:57 am

        Yeah, and you can imagine how he's going to respond to the big numbers when they come in:

        It's good news folks. I can tell you that. It's good news. We have 330 million people and only 500,000 have caught this bug thing called coronary virus or whatever its called. We have some wonderful experts, perfect experts, who say it might go up to one million by the end of the week and 5 million after that but we're prepared. Nowhere else in the world is as well prepared as the United States. We're the best. 🙄
      • weka 15.1.2

        8 March 2020 at 7:26 pm

        "And dolt45 is still in denial."

        If we're lucky. If we're not, it's deliberate.
16. Fireblade 16

    8 March 2020 at 12:44 am

    Hail The Apocalypse
    by Avatar (Music Video)

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKe8jze56Vg
17. Robert Guyton 17

    8 March 2020 at 6:11 pm

    "DairyNZ grossly overstated the potential negative impacts of the reforms on the sector and on the wider New Zealand economy, when its own modelling shows the opposite. In our opinion DairyNZ is trying to avoid having to meet mandatory freshwater limits and is instead seeking to substitute what it euphemistically calls “good management practice” which is not going to cut the mustard."

    https://m.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU1912/S00370/eds-report-shoots-down-dairynz-conclusions-re-freshwater.htm
18. Eco Maori 18

    9 March 2020 at 8:36 am

    Kia Ora The Am Show.

    All wrong the person who guided the World through the global financial crisis was Barack.

    Wide ball.????.

    Australia needs to invest more time and money into protecting their wildlife.

    In Aotearoa we have to preserve our wildlife environment waste of time trying to kill the vermin next minute our wildlife is losing their whare to human developments.

    I'm not taking that bait.

    Ka kite Ano
19. Eco Maori 19

    9 March 2020 at 6:26 pm

    Kia Ora Newshub.

    The price of oil has been down a couple of weeks I have been waiting for the price of fuel in Aotearoa to come down to??????.

    I think that it is low using the virus to get employment leverage.

    Of course tamariki should be allowed to ride bikes on footpaths those changes sound good.

    I still say a bounty should be paid for vermin that are praying on our natives.

    Kia Kaha to all the Wahine protesting for their equality.

    Ka kite Ano
20. Eco Maori 20

    9 March 2020 at 6:53 pm

    Kia Ora Te Ao Maori News.

    Iwi lost heaps of whenua in Aotearoa

    The droughts will be hitting dry stock farms hard especially if they don't recirculation water and troughs system in place there stock will die of dehydration as they can not sell them because of the virus.

    Ka kite Ano
21. Eco Maori 21

    10 March 2020 at 8:29 am

    Kia Ora The Am Show.

    If all or half of the computer based mahi is based at home there carbon footprint will be lower drastically and the world’s carbon footprint will be lowered.

    It has been great that new roads have been planted in native trees. But we need to plant more native trees were ever they can be planted to feed our native wildlife.

    There you go our government is handling this situation quite well.

    Some people like a Bull market more money to be made the big players that is.

    Ka kite Ano

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