After waiting almost a week for our 6th case, 7th and 8th cases rolled in today. Both of them were recent arrivals back to NZ almost immediately adding an exclamation mark to the new policy that was released yesterday.
Yesterday I spoke positively about being in this 16 day experiment. It might be the case that this new mode will persist for some time. With a bit of luck there will be small outbreaks that will be controlled. In the event of a larger spread in one area, there might be some regional quarantines, where healthcare staff and resources from other areas could be diverted until the crisis has abated. It would be a slow but sure flattening of the curve.
One experiment that I'm happy not to be a part of is that adopted by the United Kingdom, or at least the experimental approach they released at the end of last week. (There is some sign they have already waivered.) The initial approach was that they were not going to mandate restrictions on gatherings. The philosophy was to let the virus in and get the population to gain the immunity by allowing the majority of the population to get it. There is a perverse logic to it but the standard understanding of this virus is that that would be a very bad idea. That would be to heighten the curve, or keep the curve where it is. That is essentially what happened in Italy and Wuhan, although deliberately.
But already there might have been some hesitation. Perhaps it was the death toll shoot 11 to 21 in a 24 hour period.
I've never really been a Twitter user, probably because I preferred long-hand blogs, and anything short went on Facebook. But the SkyCity Convention Centre fire showed me that it was a quick way to get important official information. The pandemic again is showing it as a place I can go to for much needed information or commentary. I probably will never be a regular Tweeter but I think it now has its own unique place in my social media.
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