A NZ teacher’s experience of Covid 19

Today is Saturday 2nd May 2020. This is the current situation in NZ:

– We are under a state of National Emergency due to Covid19. We are at Level 3 after being in total lockdown – Level 4 – for 5 weeks.

– There have been 1485 cases of Covid 19 in NZ – 6 new infections have been recorded in the past 24 hours. 20 patients have died in total. 1263 people have recovered so far, leaving approximately 200 currently active cases nationwide.

– One New Zealand Dollar equals US$0.60c.

– Petrol costs 175.9 cents per litre, the lowest price in many years – not that we are allowed to go far. Under level 3, we are only allowed to drive in our local region.

– Schools have been closed since 25 March and teachers are teaching remotely on-line. Teachers were given 48 hours notice before going from face to face instruction to on-line learning. Such a challenge, such resilience!

– From 29 April, the children of essential workers or those who have to go back to work can attend school up to year 10, Older students will continue to be home schooled online.

– LEVEL 3 SCHOOL: children are grouped in bubbles of up to 10 students with one teacher. Desks are separated by at least 2 meters. Each child has their own individual hand sanitizer and a named toilet cubicle to use. Children bring their own food and drinks from home.

– Children remain seated while in class and have to maintain social distancing in the playground during breaks. They are not allowed to use drinking fountains or play on the Adventure Playground or jungle gym. They can kick a ball to each other or play shadow-tag.

– Parents drop their child to school by car but do not get out of the car. Children are met in the carpark by a teacher and escorted to the class. Pick up at the end of the day occurs in the same way.

– If people can work from home, it is encouraged. Trades people and those who don’t come into close contact with others are allowed to go back to work.

– People over 70 years old or those who are immuno- compromised need to stay at home and not go to work (we have a government wage subsidy)

– Banks are only open 1 day a week. The post office is closed . People can arrange for a courier to come to their home to pick up a package and deliver it to another home.

– There are lines/tape on the floor of stores, to ensure people stay 2 meters apart. Stores are limiting the amount of customers at a given time and most have queues being managed by security guards.

– Some restaurants have reopened but only for takeout, home delivery & pick-up.

– Parks, beaches, and hiking trails are only parially accessible to the public. Swimming, surfing and fishing from the beach are now allowed under Level 3.

– All major and minor league sports competitions have been postponed, as well as kids sports.

– All festivals, entertainment events have been banned/ cancelled.

– Weddings, family celebrations and funerals which were postponed under level 4, can now take place with a maximum of 10 guests.

– Young kids can’t understand why they can only see their friends and relations on a computer screen  on facetime or through a window, if someone visits in person.

– Hugs and kisses are not exchanged.

– Churches are closed and services are online.

– We have to stay away from each other more than 2 metres.

– People are wearing masks when the leave the house. Some places even REQUIRE that you wear a mask to enter! People are even sewing their own cloth masks for sale or donation to medical facilities.

– Some antiseptic/cleaning products are short in supply.

– Stores are closing early to restock their shelves. Some 24hour services stations have been also closing early (not many people fueling up/people working from home)

– Store checkouts, pharmacies, doctors, service stations and even fast food drive-through windows have added plexiglass between the employee and the customer. People have to reach around or under to pay!

– You can’t find hand sanitizer, isopropyl alcohol or masks easily. … the supply per person is limited.

– New Zealand has closed her borders to all but NZ citizens or residents.

– The Government has organized emergency flights home from all over the world. It is mandatory for passengers to be isolated for 14 days when returning. They are being quarantined in hotels near the airport.

– There are road blocks to stop people travelling in and out of some districts around the country.

– No one is travelling for leisure. Tourism, a large contributor to our GDP, has the worst crisis in NZ history.

– Many New Zealanders have lost their jobs (close to 10 %) and are suffering from the effects of poverty. Over 150,000 people are availing themselves of food packages being provided by various charities each day..

– The NZ economy is in a downward spiral and we are looking at a period of depression-like economic hardship. The government have organized economic support package to try and prevent small businesses from going bankrupt.

– The government are listening, taking advice and basing decisions on information from the scientific community.

– There have been daily updates about Covid 19 statistics and testing from the prime minister, other ministers and head health officials. Many kiwis are appreciative of the systematic and transparent way of dealing with this crisis.

– Most New Zealanders are following the restrictions of national emergency level 3. Those found flouting the restrictions are being warned, fined and, for repeat offenders, jailed.

– “We went early, we went hard.” In New Zealand, we have approached the Covid 19 pandemic, to quote our prime minister, “as a team of 5 million” and now we are reaping our reward: we almost have it under control.

We have much to be grateful for.