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Jacinda Ardern No, New Zealand is not ‘COVID19 Free’
- A number of international publications ran prominent headlines that New Zealand was the first country in the world to eradicate the disease, after what were regarded as confusing comments by the government.
- NZ govt has clarified – Community transmission had ceased
Social and Psychological impacts of a lockdown
- Concerns are turning to the loneliness and isolation some people who are alone may be feeling and the impact on their mental health.
- A lot of parents have been expressing their fears that they’re getting to the end of their tether with working from home and providing homeschooling and childcare.
- Lots of people are just missing the friends and family who make their lives complete
Life in a ‘bubble’
- Never before have so many people in the world lived in such tiny bubbles.
- With billions across the globe now under coronavirus-related restrictions, it has been weeks — or even months for some — since we socialized with anyone outside our homes.
- That’s a lot of time alone.
Lockdowns are working but unsustainable
- Drastically limiting people’s contact with others seems to be helping many countries stem the spread of the coronavirus.
- But as economies slump and people become fatigued with rules, governments are weighing up how to ease lockdowns without risking a second wave of infections.
- Big Question – How much and how widely they should advise people they can socialize?
Time to expand the bubbles?
- One option being touted is to allow people to slightly expand the “social bubbles” – meaning they’d be able to see a select few friends and family.
- These small bubbles could soon get a little bigger.
How would bubbles work?
- Creating your own “bubble” of relatives and friends and work colleagues
- People could begin by creating bubbles, or clusters, with others in their neighbourhoods.
- The strategy relies on people already interacting with others from the same area, or on people forming new networks with neighbours.
- In the longer term, other parts of society could be structured to protect these bubbles
What is NZ govt planning?
- New Zealand’s Government website describes the “social bubble” as a person’s householdbut, under alert level-3, the bubble can be expanded to close relatives and local friends.
Other Governments
- According to a memo leaked to local media, authorities in Belgium were considering allowing residents to gather with 10 other people of their choice every weekend.
- Nicola Sturgeon is considering a bubble scheme for
- Canada’s New Brunswick – People can choose one other household to partner with to form a “two-family bubble.”
Travel bubbles
- Australian prime minister Scott Morrison has confirmed that he is in discussions with NZ PM Ardern to create a trans-Tasman bubble.
- ‘’Travel bubbles” may also prove useful as a model for other nations where tourism represents a large portion of GDP, and for airline and tour operators around the world that have seen their businesses collapse.
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