#15,127
One by one, nations around the world are doing what was nearly unthinkable 3 months ago, they are shutting down their economies, and ordering all be essential workers to shelter in place, in hopes of slowing what appears to be the worst pandemic in 100 years.
Overnight the Prime Minister raised their alert level to 3 (Restrict) and announced a 48 hour countdown for going to level 4 (Eliminate). Residents are being told to prepare for a 4-week shutdown.
This from the New Zealand Government Facebook page:
Unite Against Covid-19
6 hrs ·
NZ has shifted to Alert Level 3 immediately and will move to Level 4 within 48 hours (by midnight Wednesday).
This means everyone needs to prepare for self-isolation over the next 48 hours.
Schools and all educational facilities close tomorrow, except for the children of essential workers such as health staff. They will be fully closed from midnight Wednesday, along with businesses except essential services such as supermarkets, pharmacies, clinics, and lifeline utilities. Travel is severely restricted and only for essential services.
Alert Level 4 is expected to continue for 4 weeks at this stage.
Visit our website for in-depth information:
https://covid19.govt.nz/government-a…/covid-19-alert-system/
More information is coming and we will update here.
What you must do
We are currently at Level 3, but are preparing to move to Level 4.
What that means for you is that New Zealanders who are outside of essential services must stay at home and stop all interactions with others outside of those in your households.
We know that this is a big ask. Eradicating the disease is vital to protect people’s health and ensure our health system can cope and look after New Zealanders who become sick.
You may go for a walk or exercise and enjoy nature, but keep a 2 metre distance from people at all times. You can take your children outside.
Food will always be available – production will continue, distribution will continue, supermarkets will continue. You will always have access to food.
Medicines will always be available.
Healthcare for those that need it will be available.
Your usual financial support, like benefits, will continue as normal.
Remember whatever you do must be solitary. We are asking that you only spend time with those who you are in self-isolation with, and keep your distance from all others at all times.
We need your support to protect New Zealand and eradicate COVID-19. Enforcement measures may be used to ensure everyone acts together, now.(Continue . . . )
As difficult of a decision as it is to lockdown an entire nation for a month, it will be even more difficult to decide how, and when, to loosen these restrictions. And with the possibility that we could see two or more pandemic `waves' over the next year or two, this may not be a one-and-done solution.
