Covid 19 coronavirus: ‘zero day streak’ needed for Auckland alert level change

By RNZ

Today is the day that the country, once again, will find out if it is moving up, down or if it remains at the same Covid-19 alert level.

Auckland, the epicenter of the second outbreak, has been at level 2.5 for two weeks, while the rest of the country is at level 2.

What began as a subgroup in an Auckland church was expanded when it was revealed that a member of the congregation had visited a grieving family.

Then things got complicated when it became clear that not all of the contacts in this subgroup had met public health requirements.

Yesterday, the Ministry of Health reported a case in controlled isolation and another of a health worker at the Jet Park quarantine facility in Auckland.

University of Otago public health professor Nick Wilson said Auckland is not ready to scale down the alert level given the new cases.

“I think it would be very important to see a zero day streak and I think we are not making proper use of the masks in Auckland.”

Wilson said the masks were the key to long-term containment of the novel coronavirus in Auckland and beyond.

He said the government should consider extending the requirement to use them in public transportation to all indoor spaces, including supermarkets, workplaces and schools.

“I think that’s the way to get very high levels of mask use and that would help accelerate progress. We are seeing progress with the slow decline in the number of cases, but to really accelerate that progress we need to make the best use of the masks. “

Wilson said the high compliance for masks in public transportation across the country showed that if people were to wear masks, they would.

Police have yet to impose fines on people who do not wear masks on public transport and have confirmed that they continue to take an “education and encouragement” approach.

Law enforcement leader David Seymour said the government’s messages on the masks have been confusing and need to be clarified.

“I think the lack of compliance comes down to the mixed messages about masking. The government must be clear: if masking is a way to avoid further restrictions, the public will be on their side, but they have not had that clear message.”

While Seymour said government messages need to be clearer, there are others who want health messages to stop altogether.

Several thousand people demonstrated in Auckland’s Aotea Square on Saturday in a protest against the government’s use of Covid-19 restrictions. It was hosted by Advance Party co-leaders Jami Lee Ross and Billy Te Kahika.

Rally criticized

It’s one of several protests to date, Auckland Mayor Phil Goff said that goes against the city’s overall response to Covid-19.

“They are disappointing others. They are putting the rest of us at risk. It is a slap in the face for those of us who are doing the right thing to have a small minority of people who think that somehow the rules do not apply to them. They are bulletproof and have no role to play in stopping the spread of the virus. “

Goff said the city will lower the scale of the alert level if Auckland residents can stay the course.

Wilson said he is hopeful that the entire country can achieve elimination again.

“We are in a good position as an island nation; we can have good border control and go back to elimination. So all of these things are temporary measures to accelerate control of the Auckland outbreak and eliminate the spread in Auckland.”

The government is due to announce its decision on the alert level this afternoon.

– RNZ