The Post Covid Blues

Written By: - Date published: 2:01 pm, May 4th, 2020 - 26 comments
Categories: capitalism, class war, covid-19, health and safety, workers' rights - Tags: , ,

There are no new cases of Covid 19 in NZ today.

That’s a significant milestone in our fight against the virus. However, we’re not there yet, despite the ‘lets do level 2 now’ media release Simon Bridges’ staff are writing for him as we speak.

Cabinet are meeting today and are expected to spell out a more responsible and graduated path to the new normal.

As someone who makes part of his living in hospitality, I’m hanging out for the re-opening of cafes and pubs. However, the kind of greedy, self centred idiots we saw crowding an Auckland burger bar last week have probably cost me another week’s income.

I expect cabinet to announce that there will be a controlled and limited re-opening of social spaces, but not for a fortnight.

I reckon we have royally earned the chance to lift a pint again or sip an espresso.

But, please, people, take it easy. Keep your distance, wash your hands, and treat the staff with respect. We want hospitality, not more hospitalised victims, thanks.

And, if we don’t behave as adults, we will be back at Level 3 before we know it. And we do not want that.

UPDATE: The PM has said that there will be no immediate change to the nature of level 3, with a decision to be made next Monday about the next steps. Tomorrow, Jacinda Ardern makes some more history, attending by video a meeting of the Australian cabinet. I’d expect the trans Tasman bubble to be on the agenda.

26 comments on “The Post Covid Blues ”

  1. Ovid 1

    I am really proud of New Zealand today. I do expect to see the occasional new case pop up over coming days, but I think this is the first zero day of many more to come. I just hope we continue to remain vigilant.

  2. mickysavage 2

    Woohoo. Thanks everyone, particularly Jacinda and Ashley, but no reason to slack off…

  3. observer 3

    There will certainly be new cases. Not looking forward to the "Oh noes! Going backwards!" headlines when the DG announces them. Basic grasp of maths and science required.

    As for Level 2/3, it's not the rules, it's the people ignoring the rules. That is likely to happen much more in a casual, social setting than in a regulated environment (library, church, shop). I'd be fine with a carrot/stick combo: move to Level 2 on schedule for businesses etc that have processes to control the flow and proximity of people, but come down hard on those who don't or won't. Close them down, without punishing everyone else.

  4. mary_a 6

    Zero cases todayyes It's a step forward in the right direction.

    With the exception of those selfish ignorant fools breaking the rules to satisfy themselves, well done so far Aotearoa/NZ.

  5. bill 7

    self centred idiots we saw crowding an Auckland burger bar last week

    What? And is the same judgement to be thrown at those whose sense of familiarity and comfort comes from a latte?

    And why are kids looking for a 'burger hit' selfish and greedy? Those labels, if they're going to be handed out, ought surely to be hung on the business owners who opened up looking for a buck and gave not one toss over the fact they were operating in a way that trashed social distancing measures. (If they did, they would have closed their doors).

    On that front, I could also wonder if many fast food businesses are giving a crap about worker safety. I'll wager those burger and nugget orders won't be on any rejigged time schedule that takes the workers' social distancing into account – workers who were getting 80% of an already inadequate wage and who have essentially been arm twisted into the workforce again.

    By way of contrast, the professional middle classes aren't exactly beating down any doors to get back to the workplace – it seems they're happy enough to be esconced at home 'shifting widgets' on full pay, or for some, getting 80% of 'plenty enough' to not bother. (Many are probably ahead of the game given they don't have daily travel and/or parking and lunch expenses to deal with, yes?)

    So paint me surprised that the working class employed in the service sector were the first to be shoved into general contact, and not those professional office dwellers who have very limited exposure to the general public. Nothing odd about that being a way to 'test the waters' all things being equal – because bugger all is equal.

    • Descendant Of Smith 7.1

      "the professional middle classes aren't exactly beating down any doors to get back to the workplace"

      Some of them would have to leave their baches they've made their way to – apparently they have really good night vision some of them.

    • RedBaronCV 7.2

      +100%. I really doubt that too many of the upper level management in any of these burger chains did more than issue some useless pieces of paper and then demand the same or greater level of productivity without ever leaving their lovely little closed bubble. There should have been much stronger enforcement around shutting down the offenders as promptly as parks and other public gatherings were cleared.

      As for the bach dwellers – these are people with the money and other resources to know better and to have other choices. They deserve far more condemnation than some of the young and stupid.

      Personally I'd have been in favour of quite a few more permanent road blocks. Wairarapa wanted one one the rimutaka hill but it was denied.

  6. anker 8

    A real milestone!

    Incredible what NZders achieved lead by Jacinda and Ashleigh

  7. bwaghorn 9

    The squeaking from bridges and his parrots is going to be deafening tomorrow.

    Level to will very quickly decend into life as normal with regards to distancing etc .

    But it does appear we've knocked the bugger off .

    To you city people who truly were locked down (unlike us lucky country folk who had farms to roam on)

    I say your fucking o for awesome , I would hate to think how I would have coped .

  8. David Mac 10

    Of course it's early days but if we play our cards right we have the potential to attract all kinds of international Marquee attractions.

    I think it's a master stroke by Cindy and Ash, bring your FA Cup Final down here. Run an F1 event around Pukekohe, we got no 19 here.

    • Andre 10.1

      How long do you reckon we'd keep our USP of "no 'rona" if we have these massive events bringing lots of people here from infected places?

  9. Incognito 11

    Merely differences of opinions?

    The Prime Minister:

    Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says while Kiwis can take heart in recording no new cases of Covid-19 on Monday, she stresses that it was a reflection on the success of efforts at level 4, rather than level 3.

    Ardern told New Zealanders to stay the course as we could not afford to squander the good work when the end goal was so close.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/300004326/coronavirus-jacinda-ardern-says-zero-cases-reflects-success-at-level-4-not-level-3

    The Epidemiologist:

    One epidemiologist says having no new cases strengthens the argument to be in level two.

    https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/simon-thornley-zero-cases-supports-argument-to-enter-level-two/

    The Leader of the Opposition:

    "This has gone on too long," he told Newshub. "We need to get New Zealand working again. Quite simply we've got to end lockdown because it's so much easier to keep someone in a job."

    https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/05/coronavirus-bridges-urges-shift-to-level-2-saying-more-covid-19-cases-possible-at-any-alert-level.html

    The Show Host:

    Until there's a vaccine, people will keep on dying, new cases will pop up, people will recover and life goes on.

    The alert levels worked going into lockdown, but they're now irrelevant and worse, could be making us sicker.

    https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2020/05/duncan-garner-the-covid-19-alert-levels-are-now-irrelevant-and-level-3-is-the-worst.html

    Was going to post this in OM but why not under this Post?

    • I guess the PM has a wide variety of opinions put to her, Incognito, though I reckon the advice of Ashley Bloomfield trumps the rest.

      I was optimistic that we would be given a heads up on the next step yesterday, though I gather the decision about the shape of Level 2 was made in the cabinet meeting. Looking at the nay sayers (or now sayers in National's case), it looks to me that the Government is simply following its own strategy and Staying the Course.

      • Incognito 11.1.1

        Indeed, the PM (and Dr Bloomfield) takes advice from a range of experts and has to weigh many consequences. The Leader of the Opposition is not walking in her shoes. The PM made that very clear today during QT.

        The other two I mentioned have very different agendas and responsibilities.

        AFAIK, the PM will give an outline of Level 2 this Thursday and Cabinet will make a decision on Monday. I’d say it is looking encouraging so fingers crossed.

    • peterh 11.2

      And that is why people a not sticking to the rules, they think the wankers that think we should be in leval 2know more than Bloomfeild

      • peterh 11.2.1

        Could someone tell these fools Ausse infection rate going up every day for last 5 days

  10. David Mac 12

    Anybody that ever studied USP tips their hat to the concept.

    A 'Unique Selling Point', something that makes me want to dismiss others and shop with you.

    If we got no 19 down here we're sitting on a major USP.

  11. Bridges seems to think that we open and the jobs will be there. He completely ignores what is happening elsewhere. In any situation 10% of people think the rules don't matter or that they can bend them "Because". Australia has instant fines of $1000. We could have done that with the money going to Food banks or Refuges

    People not at their usual home going to batches or remote places?…. My husband's brother did this, going to his new pad on Waiheke. We were shocked as this is not where they live. They felt smug to have done this before lock down. Stupid isn't just the young.

    • Tricledrown 13.1

      We have similar fines here to but Australia spends far more on public healthcare 30% to 40% more not to mention private healthcare probably double what we do.

      But even Australia has had trouble with Covid 19 breaking out in the most unlikely places and ways.Their infection rate on the same methodology as ours is 10% higher than us.

  12. Tricledrown 14

    Australia charges those without a medicre card have pay to be tested

  13. Ad 15

    Zero new cases two days in a row!

    C'mon team we're doing good.

  14. "We are doing this!! So let's see it through as a team."

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