New Zealand covid-19 update

The update was interesting today, to say the least: Shaun Hendy's first appearance (who Dr Bloomfield addresses as 'Shaun') and a 'pivot', which has changed my view of Jacinda Ardern.

Both Her and Ashley Bloomfield seem to be saying 'we may never get to zero community cases, but we will not let it affect the daily lives of all in NZ' - this, to me, is different from 'stamping out covid', which I understood as getting it out of the community so no more cases after it had been achieved: in other words, covid, specifically Delta, got in, then the government kicked it out, and became "covid free" like before, a feat not done by any place thus far. Yes, they still really want zero cases, but are signalling and/or preparing the general population this may not happen. Hmmm. Words eh? Or rather, politics? Up until then, I was mostly on board with Jacinda's words.

All I will say is, to all you living in New Zealand, whether cases get to zero or not, prepare to wear masks for the foreseeable future. Have wet wipes, hand sanitizer. Capacity caps. ACCEPT it and fucking do it. Do not complain, it does not help you mentally if you're naturally inclined to not accept in this specific case. Do you value health and life? And to a lesser extent international travel?

I know your psyche, but you are still extremely extremely lucky and fortunate to not be impacted so much by covid. Your country is absolutely beautiful. Masks, hand sanitizer, wet wipes, aren't really an inconvenience. If that is all you need to think about and do on a daily basis at some point in the foreseeable future, be grateful. The government will manage the containment of covid.

If you don't even need masks, wet wipes and hand sanitizer, even better. Just keep enough masks in stock.

You may be at level 1 indefinitely and that's ok.

Please, please realize what you have because you may feel you've had it hard and you've been slammed, but many not in New Zealand find it hard to believe you've been living a life pre-pandemic for the most part.

Love always,

- A.M.