Pandemic Thoughts

I like our Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern.  She is a wonderful woman with a big heart, but I begin to think she has made a dreadful mistake.

New Zealand had a Pandemic Plan.  It had been carefully and expertly formulated to guide our nation’s response to any pandemic threat we may need to face.  When WHO announced Covid-19 as a ‘pandemic’ every household in the country was sent a pamphlet detailing what The Plan was.

I found this pamphlet yesterday when throwing out some old newspapers and sat down to read it again.  The Plan listed four levels of response.  It stated the criteria needed to enter each level, and the response that would be required at that level.

If we followed the levels that were set out, there would have been no reason for us to enter Level 4 (the heaviest response level) as we did.  That is reserved for rampant community transmission and a disease totally out of control, which we did not have.

We have had zero community transmission, thanks to widespread testing, contact tracing, and the border controls that were put in place.  This is great, and yet all our Cabinet Ministers have now been gagged and are not allowed to give interviews or respond to any Press questions without prime ministerial permission.  Why?

I begin to believe it is because the government responded to Covid-19 with panic and fear, instead of following the Pandemic Plan that existed.  I have heard officials say we will ‘eradicate’ the disease in our country, but that is impossible.

No disease on earth can be totally eradicated.  It can be managed.  Vaccines and Treatment Plans can be used to help control a disease, but it will never go away completely.

We NEED restrictions to control this coronavirus until we have vaccines and treatments that work, but then we will need to learn how to live with it.  And, just like influenza, new strains will appear every year and people will die from it (several different strains already exist).

Green lettuce seaweed washed ashore -
things happen and we have to learn to deal with them

Later this afternoon the government will be announcing if we can reduce our response another level.  It will be interesting to see what they will be saying.

Forgive me for my ranting and raving, but I feel better for having written it down!

Take care and stay safe J

Margaret.

I see the government is now in damage control mode - they have defended their 'transparency' saying the leaked email (about gagging the ministers) was clumsy and incorrect.  Just wanted to make that clear.

5 p.m. UPDATE:

I am so happy.  Our country has been congratulated by the PM on getting control of this virus and over the next ten days everything will be opened up again, with the proviso of social distancing and keeping group numbers below ten (and this will rise gradually as the situation allows).  What will remain in place is the closure of our international borders, and this will be for an indefinite period of time (although it appears we may open up with Australia in the not too distant future).

The onus is now on the people of this country to be vigilant and kind – and to be sensibly careful J