Covid-19 is indiscriminate

So NZ welcomed the New Year with Omicron in their minds and so far, the government seem to have contained omicron, which is in the community by the way.

We did not welcome 2022 with omicron, but now we have started the year with it and the government have reacted. They did make an announcement they would not put in a restriction and 24 hours later they have. Whatever you make of it, it is now the case.

Although we are one of the safest places to be during the covid-19 pandemic and we have the money, infrastructure and manpower to contain covid, we have more omicron cases than NZ, not many more, but silent transmission might be a fact. It's not just the government of course, it's covid, specifically omicron. You're at least one step behind it, regardless of how competent your government is.

I might have to work from home, which I just said I had only done once since January 2020. This time it seems to be because of the transmission speed of omicron, not because we didn't exactly know about covid-19. The continuation of restrictions already in place and new ones, in addition to possibly working from home, has me a little worried and that is saying something.

I know I shouldn't react too negatively about working from home, I actually have no reason to really, especially considering other places like the USA, France, Australia and the like have confirmed cases and deaths far higher than ours. I suppose it's that immediate emotional response without rational thought. Nowhere near the panic I feel for Aotearoa in relation to covid-19 as I've mentioned before. And it's not panic that I feel for Aotearoa and only Aotearoa.

Though I will say here and now:

1. Covid vaccines are not the one and only solution: they help the individual who has the vaccine and they help contain the spread of covid. They do not stop you getting infected.

2. Covid does not take into account:

Race

Sex

Sexuality

Young or old

Health ie if you have a or any medical conditions/diseases/are immunocompromised or a clean bill of health

Vaccinated or unvaccinated

Rich or poor

Fit or unfit

Tall or short

Underweight, a normal/healthy weight, overweight, obese or morbidly obese

Believe in conspiracy theories or don't believe in conspiracy theories

Well-known or not well-known

Pregnant or not pregnant

Good or bad

The only criteria seems to be that you're a human being.

This continually shocks/surprises/worries/outrages etc. you? This is covid-19.

The best you can do is protect yourself (and others) as best you can. Vaccination is better to have than not have, but if you are unvaccinated, you can still protect yourself (and others).

- A.M.