Happy Valentine's Day (New Zealand, for a third time) 2023

My first post, Happy Valentine's Day New Zealand, https://welcometohighonlifeandtravel.blogspot.com/2021/02/happy-valentines-day-new-zealand-3.html, was published on February 16 2021.

Two years later, on Valentine's Day, I am still posting, albeit I have not kept to my plans in general. 730 days since 2021 and 365 days from 2022, plus two days since that publication date. 732 and 367 days respectively. How do I feel about that? Good.

NZ's covid situation, one could argue, has improved since Valentine's Day 2022. Although the NZ Government did not eliminate covid-19 when the Delta variant came blasting through on 17 August 2021, which is what they seemed to be trying to do, and it's been over a year since the protests at Parliament started in February 2022, there are no more regular briefings, no more covid protection framework, basically no more travel/border restrictions to enter NZ, and one of the most significant news items, on July 30 2022, Dr Ashley Bloomfield was no longer the Director-General of the Ministry of Health. He resigned of his own volition and earlier than intended.

Still most likely one of the best responses in the World in containing covid-19 once it infiltrated the community, the NZ government and everyone living in Aotearoa joined the majority of governments and populations just over 19 months later: if you count 1 January 2020 as the beginning on an international level and 17 August 2021 when NZ really understood and experienced the impact of covid-19.

Now, NZ still has thousands of cases as the weekly updates from RNZ show, and internationally and nationally, most are the omicron variant, which was first identified in November 2021 in South Africa. Correct me if I am wrong about omicron being the most dominant variant internationally and nationally. Which for us Humans is good, the virus has not found a more efficient variant to infect us with without losing its power, it has to maintain longevity to keep influencing our everyday lives.

In early September 2021, a terror attack in New Lynn, Auckland, caused ripples. At the time, the whole country was in lockdown triggered by the Delta variant.

On 24 February 2022, Russia attacked Ukraine and in ten days' time, it will be one year since the invasion started. No one really knows why, and it is not absolutely necessary to know why to stop it. Inflation has increased as a consequence, possibly more so than it increasing as a result of covid, and possibly the impact has been more widespread than covid: food/petrol/power prices are up and they are billions of peoples' necessities. Only Russia can stop the attack and it does not seem to want to at all. NZ is currently around 7. something % inflation.

The Taliban took control of Afghanistan on 15 August 2021 and womens' and girls' rights have been severely restricted or one might say, completely and utterly taken away. The hold the Taliban have on women and girls is mentioned sometimes in the news because it has not stopped, it is on-going.

In late August 2022, Corporal Dominic Abelen who was in the New Zealand Defence Force, was killed in Ukraine on unpaid leave. He is a New Zealand Citizen and his body has not been returned to New Zealand at time of publishing of this post.

In September 2022, Mahsa Amini died in her homeland, Iran, and protests continue there.

Andrew Bagshaw was announced 'missing' in early January 2023 and his body was found in Ukraine some time later. He has UK and NZ citizenship. His body was included in a POW swap between Ukraine and Russia, but I don't think it has been returned to NZ as far as I know from media. 

In late January 2023, Jacinda Ardern resigned and in less than a week, Chris Hipkins, known for being the Minister for Health and also the Minister for the COVID-19 Response, became New Zealand's next PM. In terms of talking to the media, he has experience from the covid-19 briefings. 

Then on 27th January, Auckland's flooding began. Two days later, on 29th January, it was Auckland's anniversary and parts of it could be described as 'underwater'. Elton John's concerts were cancelled due to the flooding.

Waitangi Day was on 6th February.

On 8 February, RNZ announced New Zealand was sending $1.5m to Turkey and Syria for the damage caused by the earthquake.

Ed Sheeran took to the stage on February 10th and 11th at Eden Park in the aftermath of flooding. Eden Park had masses of water on its pitch. 

Valentine's Day of course is today, the 14th.

Cyclone Gabrielle reached Aotearoa on the 10th or 11th of February and today at 8.47 am New Zealand time, the country's third National State of Emergency was declared. The first National State of Emergency was as a consequence of the Christchurch Earthquake on 22nd February 2011, the second on 25 March 2020 as a result of Covid-19. Less than three years later between the second one and this one.

Chris Hipkins has had to run to keep up with his duties and responsibilities as PM. Around three weeks into the job.

The already existing damage from the previous flooding will not help the impact of the flooding from Cyclone Gabrielle. The aftermath she will leave will be more widespread. So far, 3 deaths from flooding since 27th January, but one firefighter is categorized as 'missing'.

I may have missed news that should be mentioned. Mpox comes to mind, but I think its impact on the whole was minor to NZ. Flooding in Pakistan did not affect NZ much.

New Zealand, especially Auckland, has been through a lot. Right now, it has inflation and flooding as a main, with covid-19 sitting on a side plate. However, it is doing well in general, especially when you think of Afghanistan or Iran or even Turkey and Syria. Christchurch had its earthquake, which was horrible (I was living there and count myself as very lucky): 185 deaths total, a handful or less indirectly caused by the earthquake. Turkey and Syria have a total of over 30 000 deaths combined.

Of course, right now, Mother Nature is causing pain and damage on top of the existing shit. Many of you are at breaking point or broken or already broken prior to the flooding. One life is important, be it covid, flooding, or access to the mpox vaccine (I see you). Religion doesn't matter, race doesn't matter, the country you live in doesn't matter, most if not all of us are connected in some way, on a national and international scale.

I feel for you New Zealand. I hope you will have less to deal with soon. Not having flooding on your plate would be nice.

Russia stopping its attack on Ukraine would be great. But it is only thinking about itself.

Next Valentine's, what will be the relevant issues between 2023 and 2024?

With love, avec amour, abrazos,

-A.M.

Sources:

https://www.unwomen.org/en/news-stories/in-focus/2022/08/in-focus-women-in-afghanistan-one-year-after-the-taliban-takeover

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/473487/corporal-dominic-abelen-confirmed-as-new-zealander-killed-in-ukraine

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/483664/ukraine-and-russia-trade-nearly-200-prisoners-of-war-in-swap

https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018876802/nz-sending-dollar1-5m-of-aid-to-turkey-syria

https://www.civildefence.govt.nz/resources/previous-emergencies/historical-emergencies/christchurch-earthquake/

https://covid19.govt.nz/about-our-covid-19-response/history-of-the-covid-19-alert-system/#timeline-of-key-events

https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/state-national-emergency-declared-fight-covid-19

https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/state-national-emergency-declared

Mpox (formerly named monkeypox) is NOT a Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI)

STD: Sexually Transmitted Disease

STI: Sexually Transmitted Infection

You should be using STI more often than not.

What are the best main methods of preventing a STI? Condoms or, for the purpose of clarity, having sex with one person excluding yourself (monogomous is generally considered the term for this). If you do both at the same time, even safer.

You do not get infected with mpox by having sex. You catch it through very close contact, which is needed for sex. But it is not a direct correlation.

To me, and please correct me if I'm wrong on this comparison, but that is like saying a lady will necessarily get pregnant if she has sex. No she won't. Even if no contraception is used and she is not already pregnant, she will not absolutely definitely get pregnant.

STI is gonorrhea, syphillis, for example.

Another problem I have with the information being put out is mpox is mostly spreading among gay men and men who have sex with men. People don't read and/or because of many reasons they come to believe this: I won't get mpox because I'm not gay and/or I won't get mpox because I'm not a man having sex with men.

That is not what the information is. Most cases, the majority of them are gay men or men who have sex with men. This is not all. Yes, it is also legitimate to believe you won't get it because you are not in those 'categories', but it does not absolutely mean you will never get mpox.

That is like being told you have cancer and that immediately means in your head that you will die. Actually, that is not always the case. Same with HIV. It all depends on your specific context. AIDS, yes, you will die, but you can live ten years with HIV. You can be in remission with cancer. You can 'beat' cancer and never have it again.

Maybe before it was a death sentence, but today it is not a given.

In part, this misconception about mpox is partly driven by the media in my opinion. It seems 'gay men' and 'men who have sex with men' are highlighted and whilst this might be/is true, if you do your job, you will know when you release the news article, many people will believe they won't get mpox because they are not one of the sexualities involved in most cases.

Not that mpox is a human, but if it were, do you really think it would ask before infecting a human being: is this person gay? Is this person a man who has sex with men?

No it fucking does not. It's goal is to infect people.

Anyone can get mpox, you get infected by close contact.

Close contact is required to have sex.

-A.M.

New Zealand at 365

Un an. Un año. One year. One year since NZ, especially Auckland, was put into lockdown because of one case of the Delta variant of covid. I remember hearing it be announced, I think it was the 5 am news on rnz. Shock. Fear.

NZ has never really got 'back to normal' since then, to life pre-covid/pre-Delta. Which it was. You all have Ashley Bloomfield, for the most part, to thank for protecting Aotearoa from the thousands of infections and deaths France, Germany, the US, Italy, Argentina and many others have.

Yet mask use is dropping. Western/White people mindset/culture. It is an unofficial fact mask use is higher or ubiquitous in Asia such as Japan, Hong Kong, China, Singapore, or at the very least when it was most needed. It's not a question for them. And children wear them, including those under 3-4 years old.

This is my question: do you want to get sick? Do you want to die? Do you want to be able to go out to eat like life pre-covid/pre-Delta? Do you want to travel domestically and/or internationally like life pre-covid/pre-Delta to see your loved ones or simply for a holiday? Do you want customers to come back to your business ie have a steady income? Do you want to there not be delays on stock for your business? Do you want your kids to be back at school? Do your kids want to be back at school?

Put on a fucking mask so you won't have to keep living with restrictions. This does not include those who cannot because of medical reasons.

It seems covid has already got New Zealand 'popping' off as a consequence and you've only really had it impact your lives for a year: ram raids, gangs fighting, hospitals overwhelmed etc.

The UK, the Netherlands, Brazil and others have gone through that already. And some still are. Your patience is low and took less than 365 days. It's not trivializing at all, but New Zealand has one of the lowest death tolls and community cases in the entire World. This is an achievement. Do you want to keep it that way which means do you want to live life with as few public health measures as possible? The fastest most efficient way is to put on/wear a mask. Buy one if you won't wear the medical grade/blue one. (A fabric/material one will also reduce wastage because the sooner we contain covid the less waste there will be: masks, PPE, plastic for RATs and PCR testing etc.).

Inflation is not just abstract, it's concrete. It's affecting millions of people. The poor are even poorer: these are people, of which there are millions in Africa, who have no house, let alone cold water (forget hot water), electricity and food. They will never have a computer or mobile phone (which is what a smartphone is essentially), they will never have internet.

Inflation for many in NZ means paying more for petrol, food, rent and utilities. The one and only difference you can make is to prioritize because you can't personally stop Russia's war on Ukraine.

Climate change. You can make your difference by being environmentally friendly, but again, you can't do it personally. You cannot stop the flooding, the slips, the droughts, the heat, the fires. You can use re-usable bags, try to reduce plastic (buy more glass, metal), don't have paper statements/receipts. Of course you're just using another resource.

But wouldn't it be nice if you could try to get rid of one of those problems as much as you could? Covid is the easiest and one you can have an impact on the most.

How?

By wearing a mask.

You can't never eliminate the risk, but you can reduce it, significantly even.

So then you would only have inflation and climate change. Two instead of three and all you have to do is put on a mask.

Or put it this way: is it really more important for you not to wear a mask? You are prolonging not going to concerts and the movies, education, employment, festivals.

Yes, I'm playing the emotional card, but covid has highlighted our loved ones, the option to move without restrictions and that rent, utilities and food are necessary. And of course, it is not just about sleep, eat, work, shower: the Arts are important because movies, music, reading, singing, dancing etc at home have all helped us since covid has been controlling our lives.

You can not wear a mask.

Or you can wear one.

Just make sure you are 100% comfortable with your decision and are confident if you ever explain your reasoning.

-A.M.

Au revoir Dr Ashley Bloomfield

The 30th of July is your last day as Director-General of Health, officially.

Apparently you have done 307 covid updates on the podium. But I bet most of your work was done out of the spotlight. So was the toll it took on you, your family, your friends. You must have an extremely supportive, understanding, strong wife. I believe you've said your youngest child is leaving home so they may have been impacted less.

You are extremely competent, and without a doubt your input in the covid-19 response has been colossal. You are one of the main reasons NZ has been, until now (as we can't predict the future), one of the few places with less impact directly from covid and by extension, its consequences.

You are not just facts and figures and knowledge, you have a certain charisma which helps when you need a population to react. You know what can persuade people, hence your presence and behaviour at Super Saturday and publicity when you got vaccinated.

You are confident but humble and thank those that should be thanked, you don't base your thanks on how important and/or relevant one may be. You know names.

You are honest, straightforward but diplomatic at the same time.

You make an effort with the Māori language.

You totally deserve a break and you shouldn't feel any negativity in resigning. You have protected Aotearoa extremely well. It also means you know your limits.

I wonder if you realize that many in the NZ general population will always have you in their mind and so you'll always be followed by a soft spotlight.

You can be super proud of the decisions you've made.

Take care, stay safe and look after yourself.

-A.M.

Covid-19 RATs and PCR tests calls

It kind of feels weird saying this, but I never thought I'd be contributing in a small way to contain the spread of covid-19, if it can be considered that. I am taking calls to place orders to send out one or more RAT(s) and one or more PCR test(s) or DTS test(s) to the relevant address.

I am fully aware it's not frontline work or advising any government or being part of any government decisions whose goal is trying to keep up with and contain covid.

However I am having an effect on a human and/or emotional level and possibly decreasing the workload on all frontline workers who have been going full tilt. It is strange to think what I say could have a real impact on a human life but I suppose in a way you get used to it; even though I just started. It brings covid to me on more of a realistic and tangible level when I'm talking to people and placing orders to send out tests to them.

So far none of the callers have sounded extremely concerned about their health and most if not all are living with others.

I don't know how long I will be receiving these calls but it is definitely a bit surreal and a shock to the system. I never really doubted covid was real, I actually know two people who have been infected with it and they're close to me. But the simple act of speech from someone who is infected is another level and this is the first time I have directly heard it. My close friends didn't speak to me, they messaged me. I feel comfortable saying I have never had covid unless I have without realizing so I have no personal experience (to draw on).

It feels a bit like an out-of-body experience but for me I'm not that surprised - I always seem to be connected to 'big' events or places or situations or I myself seem to impress: the Christchurch earthquake, I was in NZ for the Rugby World Cup 2011 and 2015, I was at Heathrow when they had tanks there (I think it was soon after 9/11), I saw Adele live, I've been on an A380, I was in Hong Kong and Viet Nam during SARS, I've been to the Auckland Lantern Festival (Auckland’s largest annual festival and New Zealand’s largest Chinese cultural festival), I've been on the TGV several times and the bullet train from Beijing to Shanghai, I have a connection to France and so the 2015 attacks and when Notre-Dame was on fire in 2019 it hit me, hard; among other 'big' events or places or situations or I myself am interesting.

I'm tired mentally too because you're 'waiting' for the call and when/if it does you spring into action. And my normal routine has been 'scuppered' and I think the word discombobulated, which Chris Hipkins used, applies here.

- A.M.

Happy Valentine's Day New Zealand ... again

One year on from my last post on the same date and in two days, 365 days, one calendar year, my first ever post was published here at highonlifeandtravel.com . Whoop whoop.

New Zealand is trying to contain the covid-19 variant of Omicron, and had pretty much just got through Delta. On an international scale, it has been pretty unscathed compared to the US, France, Italy, Fiji among others. It's also highly vaccinated and immunized and the government wants as many people as possible to get their booster. A very different practical and mental living from most of 2021 (and most definitely 2020).

At the same time, a protest on the Parliament grounds in Wellington will have been there for a week tomorrow.

One media person who is generally present for the post-cabinet update has had a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) return a positive result.

New Zealand will be going into phase two of the omicron covid strategy at 23 hours 59 on Tuesday the 15th, tomorrow. This is not a change in the covid protection framework which remains at red.

I predict the 15th February media covid release will have over 1 000 community cases. Not only is it covid, it is omicron. The only thing the general population can do is protect themselves as much as possible and the governments chase as hard as they can. There is no getting ahead of omicron, you just need to bring out as many big guns as you can to isolate and contain.

Even I have a problem typing "fight" because you're really trying to catch up with covid. 'Contain' is ok, I don't think the definition indicates time at all.

Kia kaha.

- A.M.

The impact of covid-19 and/on you

What has covid directly impacted in your life on a practical level?

Your employment

Your salary

Your spending

I have to say I have not had any employment problems, in fact my salary was increased in 2020 and it looks to have been in 2021 too (I'll believe it when I see it). I have not altered my spending and I save every month, which should amount to a few thousand at the end of a calendar year.

Your planning

Your relationships

Your time outside the house

My planning hasn't been impacted, I'm just waiting to fly so I can check off my travel to-do list. I haven't lost any relationships because of covid and the time I spend outside my house hasn't changed, I still go to the movies, get takeaways, have a massage or two, go swimming. Covid doesn't stop me going out, but it does stop me doing activities if restrictions are in place.

I would say my situation is due to luck, the general population, a competent government and an employer who values and cares about its employees from the top of management to my direct manager.

I also note I have seen new employees come and others go because they have another job. Of course each situation is different but it seems the job market here is not full of unemployed people from jobs that don't depend on movement and disposable income. Jobs that do are airlines, hospitality, hotels, musicians, singers, but that is the case everywhere, not just here. There are millions of people who have desk jobs, work in supermarkets, public transport, banks, healthcare and yes, they might make cuts, but you do need at least enough to function.

- A.M.

Categories of people to enter New Zealand, Aotearoa

Jacinda announced dates and times when certain categories of people would be able to fly into NZ, "reconnecting New Zealand". So technically I can enter my home at some point this year. It remains to be seen if the dates change.

I think the ones I feel for most are the international students: they can in theory be in country for semester 2 and nothing more. I wonder how many will just fuck it and plan to be there for February 2023? It fits better if they're coming straight from school in the Southern Hemisphere to try in February 2023.

Current international students and future international students are and will be paying for many of the costs incurred by their University/Polytechnic/Institute etc. as a result of the covid-19 pandemic.

As for me, I will return, nothing will stop me, not even covid. I'll take my time, spend time with people, buy what I want/need, check off the unfinished business, enjoy everything New Zealand has ever given me.

Will it be 'changed' by covid? Maybe. But it's also late and so much less impacted than, say, Viet Nam, Spain, Argentina. I'll probably find it amusing and 'light' compared to my own experience and that of my contacts in some of the worst affected countries.

- A.M.

Tonga and covid-19

What no one wanted to happen has happened. People asked how help and support could get to Tonga without exposing it to covid-19. Covid-19 has now reached Tongan soil via the relief efforts after the eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai Volcano. It was one of the few places that had never had covid at all on its shores.

The eruption and tsunami have left physical and emotional scars in its wake, and it might sound awful, but luckily only three people died; but the impact of those who died is not to be dismissed. Now a second problem and potential slew of infections could seep through the population and not only make it harder to recover from the eruption and tsunami, but change the landscape of Tonga forever.

Covid impacts every corner of society, whether stopping parts of it completely or making it go one step at a time, and always at least one step behind its infectious spread: the healthcare system, teaching, supermarkets, supply chains that is to say freight and cargo, the economy, flights, public transport, luxuries like eating out and going to the cinema.

Tonga is not a large place. It is not developed like France, Germany and the Netherlands for example. It has limited resources and a small population. Developed countries and populations in the millions are struggling to contain and stop covid spreading so by logic how does Tonga stand a chance if cases explode? By God, foreign help should be provided. NZ, Australia and maybe Japan and France like they are currently.

Not to forget the damaged underwater cable.

One thing I know about Tonga is it has a rugby team. I don't really know how good it is but if I remember correctly it's passionate and tries.

Tonga, may covid not impact you much and may you recover as soon as possible from the eruption and tsunami.

- A.M.

New Zealand National Public Holidays (and Valentine's for those)

I predict, yes, I predict, New Zealand will be dealing with omicron for a while. Maybe until June is a bit over the top, but April is plausible.

So I say prepare for "covid public holidays".

Waitangi Day: Sunday 6 February or Monday 7 February

(Valentine's: 14 February)

Easter: Friday 15 April, Monday 18 April

Anzac: Monday 25 April

Queen's Birthday: Monday 6 June

Matariki: Friday 24 June

- A.M.

Source:

https://www.govt.nz/browse/work/public-holidays-and-work/public-holidays-and-anniversary-dates/

Jacinda Ardern self-isolation update

The 8 am RNZ news said Ardern will be tested today, 30th January, and isolated until Tuesday.

I wonder if she will go out physically and get tested or have it brought to her?

I will update this post with developments, as opposed to create another post (and as many until the situation ends).

For ... sake, https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/460503/prime-minister-and-governor-general-in-isolation-after-possible-covid-exposure is relevant, but to stay on topic as it contains a lot of useful information, the below is not exactly clear to understand, possibly because of how they ordered it in the article:

"Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is in isolation until Tuesday and has had a Covid-19 test today after being deemed to be a close contact of a positive Covid-19 case."

"Ardern undertook a PCR test this morning. A statement from her office said she remained asymptomatic and continued to feel well. Results for the test are expected later today or tomorrow."

"The prime minister is asymptomatic and is feeling well and will be tested today and isolate until Tuesday, the statement said."

Speculation, wondering, guessing, worrying will not help: let's just wait and see the results of the test.

----------

Monday 31st January

Cindy Kiro's negative covid test was announced on RNZ's 11 am news. The link with Jacinda Ardern is she was also on the same flight as her.

Jacinda's negative covid test was announced at fives minutes past midday.

Whilst the news is good, it doesn't mean they won't get a positive test. So hold on to your hats.

-----------

Jacinda Ardern has not returned a positive covid test so she didn't get infected.

- A.M.

"Jacinda Ardern isolating after becoming close contact of Covid case", RNZ

Daaamn Sister. Taken down, so to speak.

One of the few people who govern a country/SAR/overseas territory etc. to - . Sorry, that is wrong. You/She has not been confirmed as positive.

I wonder if she has taken a covid test? I wouldn't be surprised if she has. Same goes for Dame Cindy Kiro, who recently enough became the Governor-General and not just that, the first Māori Governor-General.

Not that it necessarily matters, but Jacinda Ardern's managing of covid-19 in the New Zealand context has been on point (of course Dr Ashley Bloomfield has a huge contribution and she has stated this herself). She has not denied the existence of covid, she has not put the economy first, she has not continually put the population in and out of restrictions etc. She has been super competent. She is a working mother who is a female Prime Minister: four salient points there.

Maybe I am ignorant, but it sounds like she went on a 'normal' flight, ie not a chartered/private jet - a noteworthy point in terms of covid and a general context.

Another thought, presumably she lives with Clarke Gayford and her daughter Neve, so I wonder how her self-isolation impacts them.

She got her booster on 17 January - 12 days later is today, 29th. You are immunized at 14 days - statement of a fact. 

Also, again I will say: vaccines do not stop you getting infected. If anything, if Jacinda is infected with covid and if the people in the general population who find out/know she is infected and are vaccinated themselves and they believe they are safe, this is a great example close to home proving the vaccine, specifically Pfizer-BioNTech, is not the one and only solution. The one and only piece of knowledge you can takeaway from this piece of information can be the latter. And if Pfizer-BioNTech is the same as Oxford-AstraZeneca in terms of why the vaccine does not protect against infection, then you will not be surprised (go fucking inform yourselves if you are surprised).

If Ardern is infected and it impacts her badly, that will not be positive for her or the trust in the vaccine by the general population (which is a faulty belief in any case), or in general.

Fact: life does not stop

Fact: covid does not stop, it is 24/7

Possible fact: the only criteria to be infected with covid is to be a human being

- A.M.

Sources:

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/460498/jacinda-ardern-isolating-after-becoming-close-contact-of-covid-case

https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/saturday/audio/2018817602/dame-cindy-kiro-the-first-female-maori-governor-general

Takeaway(s) from covid-19?

On an individual level, what is one thing you will take away forever from the covid-19 pandemic? Will it be seeing your loved ones more often? Accepting you can't control everything? Washing your hands after you go to the toilet and before eating? Realizing there are not enough nurses and teachers who have always been underpaid and overworked?

I don't know what I would or will take away on an individual level. I pretty much accepted mask-wearing and the other measures to contain covid; I wash my hands when I should; being thousands of kms away from loved ones is normal for me and the reality of nurses and teaching is not new to me. Not having the possibility to travel internationally like pre-covid is starting to get to me I think. I think it's a direct consequence of covid as opposed to a symptom of something else.

Travelling is part of my fabric and flying, the actual act of flying, feels great. It's so familiar. I don't get homesick, I am not scared of going to places I have never been before. When you live in a place as tiny as this and travelling is in your blood, it would be nice to know you have the possibility to leave and return like before covid. But I don't.

On a global level, covid has just proven by being in your face facts I already knew - inequality is everywhere, incompetency is everywhere, economy seems to be more important than health for some governments (hey, idiot governments, how do you have a domestic and/or global economy with sick or dead people? It takes at least 18 years until you can contribute to society fully) and more.

I think WHO, whilst not perfect should be able to not just advise/recommend on a global scale: it should be able to implement and enforce legally on a global scale; impose fines on a global scale and the like. It is still the global voice on health expertise but it doesn't have the power to practically contain covid via the governments. For example it cannot stop the rich governments from buying all the available vaccines that the poorer or poor governments need.

Of course, I have no knowledge but this is also why I am not in government or am not an employee of WHO or any other powerful authority. No way do I have the knowledge nor skill to make decisions like that.

Then again, as for travel, technically I can, I just need enough time and money, excluding if I end up staying in a place longer than planned. You can save money and time for tickets, quarantine/isolation, accommodation but not for changes with an indefinite time-frame due to covid.

- A.M.

Un, deux, trois people and places

Hong Kong government employees

Clarke Gayford

Boris Johnson

What do they all have in common?

They think they deserve(d) preferential treatment and/or broke covid regulations/advice.

Johnson's was on 20 May 2020, but it's front page news now. I've never forgotten what my secondary school teacher said (and I don't know it if was original): Everyone is equal, but some are more equal than others.

Situations like these have come up before I think, or if they haven't, in any case, this time around the reaction seems fierce.

Hong Kong has omicron in the community, but has basically got delta under control and, more generally, covid. Government employees had a large party and this was after criticism from Carrie Lam about Cathay Pacific, specifically one of the aircrew not abiding by regulations, which is the reason omicron is in the community.

Clarke Gayford, Jacinda Ardern's fiancée, tried to get Rapid Antigen Tests for his musicians friends after DJ Dimension revealed he was positive with omicron, NZ's first case of it ever*. This was when that wasn't the Ministry of Health NZ's advice.

Boris Johnson attended a party at 10 Downing Street which went against covid regulations.

Whatever you think about all the strings involved that form your reaction, it seems the news has broken, and it's been taken hard, from three places at the same time for basically/essentially the same reason. Possibly one explanation for the intensity is because in Hong Kong and New Zealand's cases, omicron is recently present or recently potentially present. As for England, it was in lockdown.

I could say a lot, but possibly one of the issues at the most basic level is: regardless of your status, if you are seen to be hypocritical, you have to work hard from the time your behaviour triggers this.

* correction: first related community exposure

Source:

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/459492/pm-tight-lipped-on-clarke-gayford-s-apology-over-rapid-antigen-tests

- A.M.

WHO: omicron vaccine or ccines

I just read an article about WHO stating a or more specific vaccines are needed for omicron. This seems to be a self-contradiction when they said current vaccines should work, which is understandable given what experts don't know about omicron but their tone was one that was more certain.

I do agree with them wanting prevention against infection as none of the Western-made ones stop infection. They also want ones that last longer, which I'm not against.

Their criteria for this or these new vaccines is demanding, reading them made me think if there was pressure before, fuck there is no doubt about there being pressure now. It seems WHO are trying to solve inequity and strict restrictions in our daily lives via the vaccines with the criteria because governments, specifically rich ones, are taking all the vaccines. Not that they might not for future covid vaccines, but maybe if you create fairness at the source, the vaccine, there are more chances.

331 specific vaccine candidates are in the pipeline with this WHO criteria. Likely, like the current vaccines, only a small amount will be actually used.

The only factor stopping me from getting my booster is enough time between the second and booster shot. I wonder if a 'better' vaccine will be available by the time I'm eligible or if I will wait if it's confirmed by the government to be available. Of course, I'll take the local covid, specifically omicron, situation into account.

- A.M.

Wellington, a location of interest

So I said it seemed NZ had contained Omicron. Ah, I correct myself. Covid-19. So maybe this post is completely and utterly irrelevant.

It seems covid may have spread. Wellington is the new potential populated location. And if it's omicron, not only might it spread faster than in a rural location but it's where a lot of the government operates out of. And of course Rotorua, Waikato, Mount Maunganui among others. Auckland: the situation seems to be under control. But of course, the number of people flying in seems to have increased: places of origin that frequently pop up are the USA, UK, Aus and that needs to be carefully monitored.

Delta spread fast in Auckland, omicron likely will too. And being vaccinated does not matter in terms of transmission because you can be asymptomatic or not realize you have covid so spread seems much easier too. For the individual, less negative impact is good but containing covid is also important.

Interesting NZ is considered a developed country, maybe even rich. But it has not copped any flak for rolling out boosters. Yes, they help the Pacific Islands and donate to them too, but they are still boosting. They are also going to vaccinate kids. They've also bought pills to fight covid.

Maybe in this respect NZ is a 'little' country, not much economic nor political clout like the US and the UK and/or a leader who attracts attention like Macron or Bolsonaro.

Yes, NZ has by and large been praised for handling covid well, but that comes at a certain price - Delta introduced itself and NZ made international headlines for going to their level 4 alert level because of 1 case.

...

- A.M.

Source:

https://www.health.govt.nz/news-media/news-items/wellington-cases-linked-tauranga-drum-and-bass-festival

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.

Death by water and on the road

Congratulations New Zealand: a high holiday death toll on the road, deaths and injuries related to water and now I bet a lot of you are talking about the heat.

I'm fairly certain most if not all of the deaths and injuries were preventable but New Zealand has a driving problem in the sense there are too many deaths. And a dangerous drinking culture.

As for the heat, really? That's nice. Too hot? Go stand under a tree for ten minutes or less; and be thankful you don't have 90% humidity. Heat is fine, humidity is not. I actually wrote a post about this, https://welcometohighonlifeandtravel.blogspot.com/2021/06/heat-and-humidity.html.

I remember feeling it once. It was high 20s at the least and I could feel "oh my God it's so hot I'm not going to work or move I'm just going to lie on my bed otherwise I'll die." Really? Then don't ever go to Cambodia or Australia or Africa where they're used to more than 30° Celsius. Also, be thankful NZ basically has no humidity. Hong Kong is 'nice' at 70%, but you have to get used to 80-90%.

Climate change you can control to an extent, but in general there's not much you can do when the mercury hits 30° and you just have to deal with it. However, I am sure you do not have to drive drunk and/or speed and/or have to get to your destination that urgently and/or do it with drugs in your system. That is entirely preventable. You get one life. If your heart stops, you die. You do not get a second chance. If you're brain dead, you cannot look after yourself, literally. Is it really worth the risk?

It's not just about you either. It's about the impact your death will have on others. I know you might not think of that when you get behind the wheel. But it doesn't mean your death won't impact other people.

Yes, the pandemic. Yes, Summer. I don't know if the pandemic is an excuse or reason. In any case, it doesn't matter. You are still taking a risk and you are still dead.

For as long as I lived in Aotearoa and as much as I know about it, drinking and people dying on the road has been a problem. That has more of a social effect than smoking for me: you don't die if you smoke a few cigarettes then drive home; you will likely not hit someone because you've been smoking whereas the risk is higher if you've been drinking. Smoking or not smoking will not cause you to get injured by water-related situations or die by drowning. Not being able to swim can cause drowning, not understanding the water and yourself can cause injuries and death.

Pain and love are some of the strongest emotions humans feel. If you can prevent pain, it's better.

- A.M.

The 'work from home' dynamic and possible future

Fifth Harmony's "Work from home" may have been funny at the beginning of the pandemic and even played purely to dance to, but around two years since China announced the as yet unnamed appearance of covid-19, formerly known as the "Wuhan virus", many, many people are over working from home and lockdowns.

I myself have only worked from home for one calendar month since January 2020 and I think that was because the government, and by extension my employer, weren't completely sure of covid's properties then. After we were back in office there was a large cluster so us working from home definitely wasn't related to case numbers. So I'm lucky.

We also had a strong typhoon while we were working from home but of course we didn't get paid extra because we didn't need to travel.

For the almost negligible amount of time I worked from home, I enjoyed it. Also, everything I needed was in close proximity. My job is one I leave at the office door too, which I think helps in this pandemic where the professional and personal life lines have blurred for many.

I don't think working from home purely as something that has come about from the pandemic will pick up for some jobs. Why? In-person is tangible and builds better relationships and overall health for all parties. In any case, the employer will want regular in-person check-ins. Humans by and large are traditional and in this case that means they have been working mostly in-person for years, it's familiar.

Technology can fail. It can fail in-office too but then you're less likely to get distracted in-office while you wait for it to be fixed than at home.

Ideally, I think many people who have sufficient experience working from home due to the pandemic would agree a separate room for work is preferable. And one per employed person. Which then means you might need to rent/buy a place with one or two rooms specifically to work. And one spare room for isolation purposes. Which not everyone can afford and indicates possibly what needs to be done on a general population level and for the general population going forward. Do we need living spaces with home offices for each person and a room for isolation purposes? If yes, that is new buildings governments have to build for people to live in.

An interesting note: being single and/or alone often seems to be something to be sad about if you're the subject and/or the subject should be pitied. Not being romantically involved and/or living alone seems to be the safest way to live right now to avoid catching covid-19 at home if you don't live with family/flatmates/a friend(s). I mean if you happen to not be romantically involved and/or happen to live alone. And if you feel safe being around strangers and do meet someone from a romantic point of view, it may be easier to go out to eat, the movies etc. as less people is preferable.

Covid-19 has had negative and positive impacts on all relationships.

One 'positive' I see is because it is a pandemic, millions of people have a general collective experience they can understand; and hopefully learn about cleanliness, the importance of the healthcare sector, the importance of teaching etc. SARS impacted Hong Kong the most; Ebola in 2014 Sierra Leone, mad cow disease in the UK (I think). Covid-19 is a connection millions have to varying degrees, but many from different places will be able to talk about mask-wearing, travel restrictions, vaccines etc.

Bisous.

- A.M.

5, 4, 3, 2, 1... 2022.

2022 has started.

Did anyone else notice the New Year was over the weekend, like Christmas was?

First of all, I want to say THANK YOU to the frontline workers for fighting covid-19, you deserve a well-earned break and for those who worked and are still working over this holiday period, I thought of you. Your lives have been impacted and there is not much you can do about it. Many people forget you have husbands/wives/partners/girlfriends/boyfriends/significant others, children, brothers/sisters, parents, friends. You need to cook and eat and do the dishes, sleep, shower/bath, do the laundry, clean your house etc. Then maybe, maybe you have time to 'relax', but I doubt you can fully turn off.

I bet if you were given a paid month off, you could sleep for a week. You have no respite: every day you are mentally in overdrive, depending on your job, seeing death, sick people, scared people, and you can't reassure them, you can't even pat them on the shoulder if you wanted to. "We'll do our best" is all you can really say. You're at risk of catching covid and passing it on to your colleagues and loved ones. Those in health, especially nurses, midwives, orderlies etc. are overworked and underpaid and there are never enough of them, without covid. Doctors are in with you this time, but are probably still paid more.

You are some of the strongest people throughout this pandemic. Parents are some of the strongest people in non-pandemic times but frontline workers who are parents, I salute you. And if you're a frontline worker who is a single parent, you are amazing. You may not fully realize how strong you are but I assure you you are.

Has anyone made any resolutions? What kind? Why? Why not?

I didn't get my shit together in time for the 1st of January 2022 so I don't have as many resolutions as last year but maybe if I do get my shit together, they'll just be goals I work towards otherwise you defeat the point. I failed my 2020 New Year's Resolutions.

I suppose one big question is: will we be able to move more freely for a consistent amount of time? And will we be able to travel to another state and/or country more freely without wondering if we'll get infected with covid and/or stuck?

For me, we have just had scanning in become mandatory in certain locations, but no proof of vaccination needs to be presented as far as I know. We cannot travel overseas, but otherwise we can pretty much go about our lives without restrictions domestically. So that I think will probably stay the same. Flying I think will still be impacted, at least until the end of June 2022 if not longer. No place has opened up fully to all other places successfully and stayed as such. Small islands also rely on others such as the Cook Islands relying on New Zealand and/or Australia to open.

Another note to those who do not want to accept/believe it: vaccination reduces the effects of covid-19 but you can still be infected, regardless of the variant. Why? I can only speak for Oxford-AstraZeneca, but it could be the case for Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna too: it was designed to reduce illness and death not protect you from covid-19 like a typical vaccine. Don't like it? Don't like the uncertainty? Not much you can do about it. Accepting you cannot always control every aspect of your life might actually be better for your mental health. Yes, covid is on a totally different level, but the concept is the same. Welcome to life: it is unfair, it is sexist, it is racist, you can't always have what you want, corruption is everywhere. You find a way, you achieve what you want your way, you get your happiness your way.

I don't see the point in saying Happy New Year. Instead I will say: Stay safe and healthy. Or if I'm pushed: have a healthy and safe New Year.

- A.M.