Disbelief. Anger. Fear. Our country has been experiencing all these emotions the last couple of days with two new cases of Covid-19 being reported.
While I feel sorry for the two ladies involved, the furore over their being able to drive from Auckland to Wellington is not really their fault. It is inevitable that we will have cases as people return to New Zealand from overseas, but the public have trusted the government who have been adamant in stating all new arrivals undergo 14 days of strict quarantine.
Several people have broken their quarantine rules by obtaining “compassionate leave” – nothing wrong with that, it is a very humane thing to do and the cases involved have strict conditions they are meant to follow.
What is truly shocking though, is that those people have been able to leave quarantine facilities without any testing or checking being done to see if they have the virus or not.
Travellers in quarantine are saying that some of them have never been tested, never even had their temperatures taken.
A couple of people got permission and attended a funeral and then absconded, and had to be tracked down to make them return to isolation.
A large group of people were refused entry to a funeral service, as they were under quarantine regulations still, but then they turned up at the burial.
Those staying in the
quarantine hotels are able to mingle freely – there have been birthday parties
and instances of new arrivals meeting up with those about to be released after
their fourteen days.
 |
| It has been a very dreary very wet day today |
Over 300 contacts of the two ladies (who have tested positive) are being traced and “encouraged” to isolate themselves and be tested. It surely should be mandatory if officialdom is serious about keeping the virus contained.
It all makes me wonder if there is a Secret Agenda at play here. Is it possible that community transmission is actually being sought, at the same time promoting the idea that we are actively eradicating the virus from our shores?
Our borders cannot remain closed forever. At some stage the virus is going to have to spread around our country, as it has done in other countries, and that thought fills many people with dread.
The Defence Force has now been sent in to oversee quarantine measures – which seems a little extreme considering all the protocols are in place and the real issue is they are not being followed.
As a funny aside, there is an anecdotal story of a homeless man who joined the end of a queue entering a hotel for quarantine purposes. Fourteen days later, when asked for a forwarding address, he informed them he was homeless and didn’t have one, but he had really enjoyed his two weeks of hot baths and supplied food!
Take care everyone J
Margaret.
Love that last anecdote. We always assert there is opportunity in disruption.
ReplyDeleteOne problem is that almost all such measures rely on people being sensible, and trustworthy. The second a government legislates to take what are seen by many as draconian powers they become the 'Bad Guys'. Until there is a vaccine there will always be odd cases popping up but this one seems to have exposed a lot of potential flaws in the system.
ReplyDeleteGotta admire the initiative of that homeless man!
ReplyDeleteDisbelief and anger are certainly emotions I felt, and yes, a frisson of fear too... I too feel that calling in the military is a bit over the top... one certainly has the feeling that the government are making things up as they go, and do not actually have a coherent plan in place even after all this time!
A dull day here too... but not as picturesque as yours
Stay safe
Blessings
Maxine
I did feel sad when I heard about the two new cases in NZ dear Margaret on our news here. Although I know it's now the patient's faults but that compassionate thing is just so dreadful. Here two months ago, A senator went roaming around a hospital even if he was COVID positive. People were furious but since he is an ally of the president, he was shown "Compassion" while the street vendor who is not covid positive that was seen beyond curfew times on his way home has been jailed. Ohhhh Selective Justice.
ReplyDeletePS that foggy lake view is so magical!
Hello, I wish people would have more sense and thinks of others. The homeless man story is funny, I am sure he enjoyed his stay. Have a great day!
ReplyDeleteThis virus, like many others, will never fully go away. There will eventually be vaccinations, like we have for flu, but that doesn't mean you won't get it. I think, like many viruses, we will have to learn to live with it. All we can do is be as vigilant for our own health and hope others do the same. Best, Jane x
ReplyDeleteThat homeless guy is pretty smart!
ReplyDeleteOh, boy. I understand being in quarantaine must be frightening and frustrating, but to make an escape?! Were they fined at least?
ReplyDeleteSome just don´t understand, it´s sad. But that some gooutof it without being tested,.. is that just the tip of the iceberg?
At least the homeless guy had a good time... Ix
So sorry we sent some people to you with the virus (I heard they came from England) One problem is that people can test negative one day but positive the next. And I've heard of some hospital staff who have tested positve, stayed at home for two weeks, gone back to work all clear and then tested positive again a few days later with a slightly different variation on the virus. It's mutating and changing - like the common cold. No wonder the scientists/politicians etc are finding it all difficult to know what to do.
ReplyDeleteI that homeless man was smart to avail of free room and board like that. I hope NZ has better luck as you go forward.
ReplyDeleteDarn, that is bad news. I hope lessons have been learned from this and the virus doesn't spread any more.
ReplyDeleteLoved the story of the homeless man
I wonder just how many homeless people have did that...it is good to find a bit of humor in life. It makes it livable.
ReplyDeleteTotally agree with Jane.
ReplyDeleteThat homeless man was pretty smart.
Yes, I love the story of the homeless man. I do hope the powers that be get things sorted soon, we do not want another burst of the virus.
ReplyDelete