Foreign Correspondence

[mare]

Golly that was a bit long!   

Erato, I read your update on general thread re your concern for helpful deliverers, pleased to hear the better news, things still rather grim in Ecuador going by numbers.

[a chesters]

Quote//
Australia has had similar numbers to us, taking into account population size, and there is talk of a Trans-Tasman bubble in the not too distant future. We are being encouraged to make use of our travel industry within the country now that we've been able to move around more for a couple of weeks, Queen's birthday weekend coming up and many will be looking forward to catching up with family and friends or recreation away from home. Australian state borders still closed though I believe, heard their PM mention possibility of getting to NZ before another state! ... it'll be a while I expect as we get our own borders virus-tight.

NSW is now fully open for intrastate travel, for "recreation".

Queensland is still closed , with a POSSIBLE opening of the border in September

By that time the "schoolies" will have made arrangements for the end of year 12 "celebrations" to be held in NSW, to the great detriment of the Queensland tourism industry.

PM could well be correct in NSW and Victorian people being able to visit New Zealand before Queensland.

OH and I had the possibility of two (2) tours through Queensland in the next couple of months, a coach load of up to 50 people. All of whom would spend quite well in the outback areas visited, where they are in desperate need of tourists.

Politicians

[Erato]

On tv, I can see that in many parts of Quito and around the country people are not following the rules.  But in my neighborhood - an older, middle class, commercial/residential area near the touristy night club and restaurant zone and a red light district - there is virtually no one out on the streets.  Everyone who is out wears a mask and all of the businesses are closed except the nearby minimart, the corner store and two fruit and vegetable dealers [Rosario/Rodolfo and Margarita].  I have been able to keep supplied with food from those sources.  I've also had a hand from Elmer who is normally the municipal parking attendant in this sector but who is currently out of work because there's not supposed to be anyone parking on the streets.  Elmer has always supplemented his income by functioning as the neighborhood handyman and I have always employed him to do minor chores - he is a wonderfully cheerful, reliable and helpful guy.  He has come by a couple of times to see what needs to be done.  So life goes on.  I won't venturing out for a while, though.

[mare]

I think everywhere has examples of rules flauted, some here now disputing how legal the prosecutions for breaches of covid were.
 
A bit earlier than predicted with restrictions lifted here midnight Monday 8th June, with some caution still and to stay home if unwell, as clear of active cases now but always the risk of a flare again via importation and some do want borders open asap particularly to pacific regions ... not likely though anytime soon.

It does seem a bit strange to be allowed the freedom to be out and about, most we know of our age group at least are taking things fairly quietly but happy to have family come and go and starting to go to meeting groups and usual activities again. Central city is quieter than usual and appears working from home has had some continued appeal.

Masks have been subject of much debate, I had seen many people using them or a substitute and disposable gloves as well ... too many also discarded willy nilly roadside etc! ... however, we were getting from our Director General of Health that apart from PPE for healthcare and essential workers it was a matter of choice but he felt could be problematic if not used correctly, WHO now advises use of masks. Husband was supplied with PPE when he returned to work 3 weeks ago, only had to wear masks a couple of visits, neither of us wore one during restricted period though.


 

[mare]

After 3 weeks of no active cases we now do have the trickle of new confirmed cases via the border this past week and currently nudging double figures with active cases now at 9. It was predicted but a reminder of how important testing is as symptoms have not been obvious or asymptomatic on arrival, tracing contacts of quarantined cases immediately followed and hopefully restricting any community spread.

Following the Worldometer graphs of global figures and aware of record number of new infections in recent days, most incidents of international interest do make the news here too, new spikes in meat processing places, protest gatherings, presidential rallies and the like.

Our borders are still closed to visitors and for the foreseeable future, Australia also now avoiding opening interstate borders particularly with Victoria having an increase in infected numbers.

 Repatriation of NZers has been quite high in recent weeks, as other countries open their borders, going into isolation at hotels for 14 days, some pressure on facilities with numbers but other options available for more to come. Reports of slip-ups in isolation management have of course made the media and attention given to rectify the situation and systems to follow with more testing in place, day 3 and day 12 of isolation. Risk of contact for those at different stages of isolation has been one of the issues, also lack of testing, some relocating during the isolation period to another facility and early compassionate exemption now unavailable.

Have noted some opinion on local social media ( try to keep that in moderation! ) when referring to the borders so many type it as boarder ... I suppose though we do have our own boarders for 14 days as they cross the border, keeping them in board in hotels.



 

[mare]

Erato it appears numbers are on the decrease in Ecuador now, they seemed very consistent daily over past months, a turning point I hope.

Clarifying some fake knowledge shared by USA president recently, yes NZ has indeed had a community outbreak, worrying but not the massive one he suggested or anything like his own country but it did put us into a stricter lockdown temporarily in Auckland on August 12 – 30. Politics had become foremost in NZ news with election date 22 September and over 100 days without community cases, however the date has been postponed a month and now will be 17 October. Yet another new leader for main opposition party after the recent coup and change of leadership and reshuffling, with health intervening for him, also resignations from some of the team and others retiring and desperately rebuilding. Have our share of dirty politics and media frenzy along with party tactics as well of course.

The defence on the handling of C19 by Government has been high with intense scrutiny and opinion, particularly with perceived issues in border management but being stepped up all the time and backed up by advice of health officials and scientists. For the businesses and the economic recovery another lockdown wasn't welcome but we were aware community cases could occur and would be acted on quickly, still unclear origin in relation to initial infection in this cluster.  With contact tracing, epidemiology has the spread  of cases linked to each other via workplaces, families, church and school etc but genome sequencing has it unrelated to the earlier confirmed cases, quite a mystery for the moment but plenty of research being done.
The QR code uptake has been higher this time, as has the testing and also masks have been made mandatory on most public transport and strongly advised for general public use. Restrictions have eased again a little for Auckland, still new cases appearing within the cluster but the earlier ones recovering, a few have been hospitalised on wards and a handful in ICU and currently 2. Rest homes are still out of bounds for visitors, group gatherings to remain low but schools and shops in Auckland area back and roadblocks lifted on regional borders.

 A few isolated cases outside of our sprawling city, border cases go to managed isolation or quarantine mainly in Auckland but also facilities other cities. This past week a number of border cases of residents on Air India via Fiji ... still low numbers Fiji and a couple of deaths but India unfortunately the hotspot at the moment!
Flight Auckland to Tonga week of  2nd lockdown cancelled, caution with residents returning and Pacific population in Auckland affected greatly this cluster, first flight home for residents and essential workers now arranged to leave this week if undergone strict isolation and testing. 

Victoria in Australia have also been dealing with their worrying influx of C19 and border closures to other states.

[mare]

Our TVNZ US correspondent has settled into her new role following a delay on her departure to New York back in February to replace the correspondent finishing her 2 year stint with some big stories in her placement and returning early in year with her cameraman partner and young daughter. Travel and setting up apartment in Manhattan became possible late in August and it has been pretty full on with presidential campaign reporting over C19, until infection infiltrated the White House with the associated daily news headline dramatics of the incumbent living day by day with his presentation and statements!

European correspondent for TVNZ is based in London and took appointment just over a year ago, so had a few months to explore UK and beyond with his family of 3 school aged boys before having to worry about C19 restrictions. Interviews with some passers by in this morning report showing mixed views and confusion on introduction of more restrictions for England.

Here at home our restrictions are again at the lower level with Aucklanders able to join the rest of NZ once the August cluster showed signs of containment and no further community cases. Unfortunately a respected senior doctor and one family losing 2 brothers in their 50s were the casualties of that cluster, increasing death total to 25 but thankfully few hospital admissions of others. Testing of entrants across the border during 14 day managed isolation accounts for other additions to infection rate with a few some days and others none, occasionally several off one flight and connected by contact or family. Currently 1 new one today, 7 more recovered and total of 39 active cases.

Talk has been of opening borders again, particularly in the Pacific region but with some caution and  as circumstances change with some areas. Travel will permitted in a partial bubble  between NZ to NSW and NT in Australia from Friday 16 October providing passengers have not been in any Covid hotspots, on return to NZ they will have to stay in a self funded quarantine facility for 14 days.

NZ elections just a few days away now, billboards will come down on Friday 16 October but about a third of elible voters have cast their vote early, significantly higher percentage than usual. Campaign has been a bit messy in places and with some mudslinging but quite bearable! Roll on the weekend though please!

[mckha489]

You left out the hand sanitiser Mare.   

The lurking threat of Covid-19 has also prompted the prominent display of QR codes for the government’s contract-tracing app – as well as large bottles of hand sanitiser – at polling places.

The the hand sanitiser, in a particularly New Zealand turn of events, has gone viral by local standards on social media, with many viewing it as a metaphor for the country’s comparatively pleasant electoral campaign. One Twitter user described it as “awesomely fragrant”; another deemed it “absolutely delightful”, and a third called it “delicious.”

Riordan, the Electoral Commission spokesman, said the sanitiser was selected for its price and the fact that it was made in New Zealand.

“The pleasant fragrance was an unexpected bonus,” he said.

[a chesters]

Showing just how inflexible some politicians and bureaucrats can be, a man had serious brain surgery about 10 days ago in Sydney, from Charlie Teo, the best in Oz. When they went back to Queensland, despite the ***%$# knowing he had brain surgery, with the stitches obvious, he was forced into hotel quarantine. After serious media intervention, they were finally "allowed" to quarantine at home.

As though they would be gallivanting around the state