Covid -19 is not the first pandemic to attack New Zealanders. The so-called Spanish Flu Epidemic of 1918 killed at least 9000 of us when we were a population then of about 1.1 million, largely because we did not know how to deal with viruses back then and contain the spread.
Polio was another killer – especially of young children who were often maimed for life by this terrible disease. In 1916 for example – there were 1018 new cases; 123 deaths and Schools closed for 3 months that year.
We currently have 1451 reported cases of Covid 19 and 14 deaths to date. So our Public Health professionals have learned from the past, they are doing a great job, they are giving us really good advice and we need to do all we can to support them by heeding what they are advising in order to keep our friends and neighbours alive and well.
The photo shows the family of two little girls being treated for polio-unable to come into the room or touch their children.
So – to those people who want us to get out of lockdown please get a grip.
You can’t have a lifestyle if you don’t have a life.
Please do you bit.
Stay home.
Stay safe.
See you tomorrow.
Bryan Bruce is one of NZs most respected documentary makers and public intellectuals who has tirelessly exposed NZs neoliberal economic settings as the main cause for social issues.
