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April 16: Day 22 of living in lock-down…
Fifteen new cases reported today, definitely a downward trend. Best of all, no further deaths. Our government and our Prime Minister are on the right track.
Meanwhile, Barry Soper has joined a small, select group of foolish people (predominantly middle aged, privileged white men) who continue to belittle the government’s efforts – and considerable success – to contain and eliminate covid19. I won’t link to his Herald article. But suffice it to say he has joined a tiny, irrelevant-but-noisy clique of ‘cup-a-soup’ instant-experts who whinge that our success at containing the virus indicates our leaders “went to far”.
It indicates no such thing.
It demonstrates that our leaders did what they were supposed to. Unlike the Orange Moron who squats in the White House’s Oval Office, who rails against others; blaming them for the disaster over-taking the United States, and refusing to accept responsibility for his gross ineptitude.
These armchair experts point to Australia and Sweden as models we should have copied.
Let’s look at Australia and Sweden, and compare to Aotearoa New Zealand;
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Australia’s population is five times ours – but their death rate is seven times higher.
Sweden, which opted for no lock-down (and may now be regretting it) has a population a little over twice ours – but their covid19 death toll is a staggering 134 times ours.
Which underscores the craziness of critics with agendas and armchair “experts” who claim Aotearoa New Zealand “over-reacted”. This graph – whilst not 100% scientific, is still a bloody accurate illustration of wilful human absurdity;
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Acknowledgement: @gdinwiddie
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Whatever garbage Barry Soper, Mike Hosking, Gareth Morgan, Simon Bridges, “Dr” Simon Thornley, et al, are peddling does not gel with the reality that our death rate is inarguably lower than Australia’s or Sweden’s.
In an exercise of bizarre reverse-logic, they have confused our success rate with the notion that we “over reacted”. Without doubt our low death rate is a result of considered measures based on sound science and mathematics.
If our lower death rate is a “failure”, I look forward to celebrating a “failure” rate of zero new infections and zero deaths.
New Zealanders can count themselves fortunate we have the steady leadership of Prime Minister Ardern to guide us through this crisis.
Now imagine if Barry Soper, Mike Hosking, Gareth Morgan, Simon Bridges, and “Dr” Simon Thornley were in charge. No, I don’t want to either.
No details of any travel around the Hutt Valley and Wellington – today was a sick day spent at home.
But I did get the opportunity to watch Prime Minister Ardern’s 1pm public address this afternoon. Then RNZ’s Checkpoint. Unfortunately, what followed next were the usual gormless questions and whining; “Why can’t I go hunting if they can go swimming? Why can’t I leave my bubble to go live in my other home? Can I hug my mum? Why can’t my [insert business here] open?Why can’t I XYZ?”
Up till now I never realised just how childishly whiney some supposed adults can be. Even teenagers would roll their eyes in exasperation. A zombie apocalypse starts to look like a refreshing, welcome change.
Personally, I doubt if we should be faffing around with jumping from Level to Level. For one thing it breeds confusion. The gormless questions read out by Lisa Owen on Checkpoint is plenty of proof of that. Secondly, it is hard to enforce. Level Four was more back and white. Level Three-Plus has a wide-ranging gray area.
We should stick to Level Four and drive this damnable virus to extinction (hey, it’s us or It!); and then come off the Level System entirely. That would provide more certainty. And drive Hosking, Soper, Bridges, Seymour, Thornley, et al, into fits of apoplexy. (Payback for having to hear/listen to their ignorant witterings over the last three weeks.)
Let’s hope our esteemed PM and her team know what they’re doing.
After which we can look at re-building what’s left of the economy; holding a Commission of Inquiry (not for blame-gaming but to see how we can do better next time); and reform welfare and/or implement a UBI. We had to do too much ad hoc tinkering to the welfare system as it groaned under the burden of thousands losing their jobs.
Though on the positive side, a whole bunch of middle class folk suddenly discovered that welfare was not the “luxury lifestyle” many right-wing pundits and polis have lied about.
The other issue for a Commission is to look at how well prepared our health sector was. I believe we got through this not by studious pandemic-planning by Higher-Ups, but by the sheer guts and initiative shown by health workers on the ground. And while we’re about it, let’s look into DHBs. Some of their behaviour needs scrutiny.
All too early, as yet, but after the crisis is over there will remain much work to do.
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Postscript:
Also agitating to open up our economy; this character. I’m guessing a bit of self-interest involved?!
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Current covid19 cases: 1,401
Cases in ICU: 3 (2 critical)
Number of deaths: 9
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References
The Independent: Is Sweden having second thoughts on lockdown?
RNZ: Fifteen new cases of Covid-19 in NZ, no further deaths
Must Read
Democracy Now: Madrid’s Ice Rink Turned to Morgue as Spain Exceeds China in Coronavirus Deaths
The Independent: Is Sweden having second thoughts on lockdown?
The Out And Abouter: Reached For Comment, Coronavirus Says It’s Also Very In Favour Of Reopening The Economy Immediately
Elemental: Hold the Line
Other Blogs
Previous related blogposts
The Warehouse – where everyone gets a virus
Life in Lock Down: Day 7 (sanitised version)
Life in Lock Down: Day 8 (sanitised version)
Life in Lock Down: Day 16 – Bad Friday
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Acknowledgement: Rod Emmerson
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This blogpost will be re-published on “Frankly Speaking“. Reader’s comments may be left here (The Daily Blog) or there (Frankly Speaking).
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= fs =
not a bad round off for the day , Frank .
yes good to see infections down and no one more happier with that im sure aswell as the lock down , are those that are in the health sector in NZ . other wise there’s new york , over 10,000 people icluding nurses and doctors dead .
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/apr/15/new-york-nurses-deaths-coronavirus-vigil-ppe
you’ve also spoken about UBI here
https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2020/04/12/did-winz-scum-just-screw-over-the-very-beneficiaries-jacinda-grant-tried-to-help/#comment-500209
it sounds like something even business owners in receivership for assitance could have went to , without having to go through so many hoops ..
Frank great read there; Its always great reading your excellent depictions of current affairs Frank you are a gem mate.
One issure not to aviod here is for us to be ‘for-warned’ that this vius – Covid 19 is a changing again coming alive, as this silent beast that replicates inself again after we thought we had killed it and appeares to be like a snake; it grows another limp and comes back to life again.
Here is our offering to the NZ ‘Ministry of Health’ today for your review.
Take care my friend.
“CEAC – Ministry of Health must test everyone on Covid 19”
Wednesday, 17th April 2020, 9:20 am
Public health – Press Release: Citizens Environmental Advocacy Centre
CEAC Supports WHO and many scientists claims that widespread public testing for Covid 19 is the only way we can plan to fight Covid 19 virus.
We say more and more people are becoming concerned;
• about not knowing if they are already exposed,
• or if they are carrying the virus.
• As most of the public have not been tested for Covid 19.
World health Organisation (WHO) firstly came out late February 2020, finally confirming the Corona virus called Covid 19 is an emergency; and a serious pandemic.
WHO strongly then warned the global community that “test, test, test” for Covid 19 – was the only way all countries can plan their government’s strategies to fight this emergency pandemic.
Since then, almost two months has elapsed, and our NZ Ministry of Health has not yet increased rapidly the testing of all NZ citizens, foreign workers and visitors to the standards required to fight this virus we believe and this is sparking concerns and caution about our future.
Scientists are now claiming that several repeated tests need to be done after weeks later from infection time to recovery to establish that true recovery has been made, so we really are slipping behind the curveball on understanding how successful we are doing to eradicate this insidious pandemic.
South Korea who are the model for where we should be following have now stated the a second wave of Covd 19 infections are now occurring in their country, sparking deep concerns that the virus is adapting to the environment and re-establishing themselves again in the host patient; https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/south-korea-reports-91-recovered-21847011
Quote; “Jeong Eun-kyeong, director of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC), told a briefing that the virus may have been “reactivated” rather than the patients being re-infected.”
• Perhaps this was why WHO was warning that repeat testing during the recovery stage was now needed?
Now our NZ Ministry of Health should be being considering testing far more wider testing protocols to establish the pattern of the Covid 19 virus, to accurately understand how to deal with this serious silent enemy. https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/south-korea-reports-91-recovered-21847011
Quote; WORLD NEWS APRIL 10, 2020 / 11:25 PM / 6 DAYS AGO
South Korea reports recovered coronavirus patients testing positive again
“SEOUL (Reuters) – South Korean officials on Friday reported 91 patients thought cleared of the new coronavirus had tested positive again.
Jeong Eun-kyeong, director of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC), told a briefing that the virus may have been “reactivated” rather than the patients being re-infected.
South Korean health officials said it remains unclear what is behind the trend, with epidemiological investigations still under way.
The prospect of people being re-infected with the virus is of international concern, as many countries are hoping that infected populations will develop sufficient immunity to prevent a resurgence of the pandemic.
The South Korean figure had risen from 51 such cases on Monday.
Nearly 7,000 South Koreans have been reported as recovered from COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus.”
Un-quote.
Fact;
• NZ has been very fortunate at present, to avoid the massive spike in cases of Covid 19 virus.
• Most overseas counties have been experiencing large increases of the virus.
• But only widespread NZ public testing protocols by the Ministry of Health will give us the tools and understanding where and how this virus is changing or adapting.
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Thanks, CG.
“• NZ has been very fortunate at present, to avoid the massive spike in cases of Covid 19 virus.
• Most overseas counties have been experiencing large increases of the virus.
• But only widespread NZ public testing protocols by the Ministry of Health will give us the tools and understanding where and how this virus is changing or adapting.”
100% agree.
Asymptomatic carriers of the virus are a considerable threat. The more testing we can do, the better. It should be done at every opportunity, at every place people can safely meet.
We’ve been very lucky with this virus thus far. When (not if) it starts to mutate, we will see a crisis that eclipses anything up to now.
So the senior lecturer at Auckland university has a different opinion to you and you seem to question the Dr in his title . He earned that title and is entitled to his opinion . The lockdown was valid but they seem to have missed an oppetunity to get ahead with testing and tracking.
The hard part now is how they come out of the stage 4 lockdown and already they seem to be at odds with teachers . They need to bring their A game to lessen the pain
Dr Mengele had his doctorate.
What weight should I give his vile opinions, Mr Sennitt?
Comments are closed.