Life in the age of Social Distancing - what are you up to?

Down under in NZ we are celebrating being possibly the most successful in the world in fighting COVID (we are competing with Iceland right now, but we are just ahead at the moment). Here is an official release from the NZ Govt. We have had no cases for 8 consecutive days now.

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Tronhard wrote in post #19070985
Down under in NZ we are celebrating being possibly the most successful in the world in fighting COVID (we are competing with Iceland right now, but we are just ahead at the moment). Here is an official release from the NZ Govt.

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https://www.rnz.co.nz …zealand-for-one-full-week

https://www.stuff.co.n​z …-to-put-an-end-to-covid19

The "go hard, go early" philosophy seems to have worked well for us and we are now arguably the most open country (as a whole) with gathering allowed up to 100, stores open along with pubs and bars, and our tourist industry is coming to life again, powered by internal tourists - although we hosted 50,000 foreign tourists throughout the lockdown. The film industry is coming to life again, with the next two installments of AVATAR resuming filming, along with a bunch of other film and TV productions. Microsoft has announced they will have NZ host one of their data centres, based on our stable govt, economy, and health situation. We now have to fully energize the economy and without doubt, like most other countries, there will be major economic and social impacts. International tourism (one of our big earners) is going to take a big hit for a long time, as we are still excluding foreign entries to NZ - although Australia, and Israel are keen to join our 'bubble', and they are not far off our own situation.

Our government still seems to have massive support - 88% approval for how the pandemic has been handled here, so there is not much dissent in the ranks. We have an election in 13 weeks, with the opposition polling at under 30%, it's the current party's election to lose I think.

On a more local scale, in Auckland (NZ's biggest city of 1.5 million), as we enter our winter season, we have been in drought for over 5 months now and are facing water restrictions as Auckland's reservoirs drop towards 40% - they are usually in the mid-70% range at this time.

This is our first long weekend since Easter and the last for the next 5 months. It is also the first holiday weekend since our lockdown restrictions were relaxed, so of course everyone wanted to get out of the city. However, in traditional fashion it is raining all weekend - not enough to ease our water problems (that will take weeks of solid rain) but it all helps. So we stayed home and have kept warm, dry and unstressed by traffic jams from holidaymakers.

I continue to look after my partner who is slowly losing her battle with the cancer, and she is less functional and sleeps a lot right now. It was her birthday on Thursday, with lots of love expressed by those who know her, I hope we get to celebrate at least one more.

Stay safe and well everyone...

Your Prime Minister is amazing. Is she married? If not I would just for the accent alone. Well my wife might object.

I never really have the words for what you are going through. Hope all goes well for you and your partner.

digital paradise wrote in post #19071016
Your Prime Minister is amazing. Is she married? If not I would just for the accent alone. Well my wife might object.

I never really have the words for what you are going through. Hope all goes well for you and your partner.

Thank you for your kind words.

As to our PM. Actually, technically not, but she is engaged! She is a legend over here along with Dr Bloomfield, the Director General of Health. Together they have held daily briefings about the state of the COVID outbreak since the beginning. The DGOH is unflappable, always precise, has numbers in his head and will not be bated into politics or responding negatively to dumb questions. The PM is always positive, patient and prepared. She talks about WE or US not YOU, and always explains the logic and science behind the measures taken. Their briefings have become the highest rated shows in NZ, although as the need decreased the PM is starting to leave the briefings to the DOGH and the Minister of Finance, as we swing into the stage of treating the economy.

Tronhard wrote in post #19071025
Thank you for your kind words.

As to our PM. Actually, technically not, but she is engaged! She is a legend over here along with Dr Bloomfield, the Director General of Health. Together they have held daily briefings about the state of the COVID outbreak since the beginning. The DGOH is unflappable, always precise, has numbers in his head and will not be bated into politics or responding negatively to dumb questions. The PM is always positive, patient and prepared. She talks about US not You and always explains the logic and science behind the measures taken. Their briefings have become the highest rated shows in NZ, although as the need decreased the PM is starting to leave the briefings to the DOGH and the Minister of Finance, as we swing into the stage of treating the economy.

My wife and I read and watch the brief newscasts, etc we get up here in Polar bear county. We are both impressed.

Hoping to make it there one day. I need to find a Hobbit.

digital paradise wrote in post #19071029
.
..... I need to find a Hobbit.
.

.
What awesome fodder for the Title Fairy!

If only you didn't already have a great custom title.


.

Tronhard wrote in post #19070985
Down under in NZ we are celebrating being possibly the most successful in the world in fighting COVID (we are competing with Iceland right now, but we are just ahead at the moment). Here is an official release from the NZ Govt. We have had no cases for 8 consecutive days now.

Hosted photo: posted by Tronhard in
./showthread.php?p=190​70985&i=i210758043
forum: The Lounge

https://www.rnz.co.nz …and-still-one-active-case

https://www.stuff.co.n​z …-to-put-an-end-to-covid19

The "go hard, go early" philosophy seems to have worked well for us and we are now arguably the most open country (as a whole) with gathering allowed up to 100, stores open along with pubs and bars, and our tourist industry is coming to life again, powered by internal tourists - although we hosted 50,000 foreign tourists throughout the lockdown. The film industry is coming to life again, with the next two installments of AVATAR resuming filming, along with a bunch of other film and TV productions. Microsoft has announced they will have NZ host one of their data centres, based on our stable govt, economy, and health situation. We now have to fully energize the economy and without doubt, like most other countries, there will be major economic and social impacts. International tourism (one of our big earners) is going to take a big hit for a long time, as we are still excluding foreign entries to NZ - although Australia, and Israel are keen to join our 'bubble', and they are not far off our own situation.

Our government still seems to have massive support - 88% approval for how the pandemic has been handled here, so there is not much dissent in the ranks. We have an election in 13 weeks, with the opposition polling at under 30%, it's the current party's election to lose I think.

On a more local scale, in Auckland (NZ's biggest city of 1.5 million), as we enter our winter season, we have been in drought for over 5 months now and are facing water restrictions as Auckland's reservoirs drop towards 40% - they are usually in the mid-70% range at this time.

This is our first long weekend since Easter and the last for the next 5 months. It is also the first holiday weekend since our lockdown restrictions were relaxed, so of course everyone wanted to get out of the city. However, in traditional fashion it is raining all weekend - not enough to ease our water problems (that will take weeks of solid rain) but it all helps. So we stayed home and have kept warm, dry and unstressed by traffic jams from holidaymakers.

I continue to look after my partner who is slowly losing her battle with the cancer, and she is less functional and sleeps a lot right now. It was her birthday on Thursday, with lots of love expressed by those who know her, I hope we get to celebrate at least one more.

Stay safe and well everyone...

So sorry to hear about the situation with your partner Trevor. I can only imagine what that must be like and I hope she is comfortable. That is wonderful news about your country though - kudos to your government and leadership. It's impressive what can be accomplished when caring people work together for a common good.

Back to loading more ammo in our neighborhood. Seems like there is a lot of target practice going on all over this way. Lots of AR and 45 ACP rounds getting expended daily. Crazy world anymore.ߘ

My brother sent me this made me laugh !
Don

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Today was my first day back working at the casinos. We opened to the public at 10am with strict screening. Once they were in it was a free for all. Social distancing requirements were ignored. Required masks were removed or pulled down. We policed it as best we could but we don't have the manpower or authority to do much.

Two of my staff anticipated it and bailed out before we opened. The county and state set strict limits about how many cases could happen in the county before we close down again. After today I'm not really hopeful.

gonzogolf wrote in post #19079086
Today was my first day back working at the casinos. We opened to the public at 10am with strict screening. Once they were in it was a free for all. Social distancing requirements were ignored. Required masks were removed or pulled down. We policed it as best we could but we don't have the manpower or authority to do much.

Two of my staff anticipated it and bailed out before we opened. The county and state set strict limits about how many cases could happen in the county before we close down again. After today I'm not really hopeful.

That is too bad.

gonzogolf wrote in post #19079086
Today was my first day back working at the casinos. We opened to the public at 10am with strict screening. Once they were in it was a free for all. Social distancing requirements were ignored. Required masks were removed or pulled down. We policed it as best we could but we don't have the manpower or authority to do much.

Two of my staff anticipated it and bailed out before we opened. The county and state set strict limits about how many cases could happen in the county before we close down again. After today I'm not really hopeful.

Really sorry to hear that Gonzo. May I ask what city that is?

My wife participated in this. A choir can’t sing as a group online because of latency. She had to sing by herself to a virtual conductor, sent it in and they put it all together.

Over 17,000 singers and 129 countries

https://www.youtube.co​m/watch?v=InULYfJHKI0

digital paradise wrote in post #19095924
My wife participated in this. A choir can’t sing as a group online because of latency. She had to sing by herself to a virtual conductor, sent it in and they put it all together.

Over 17,000 singers and 129 countries

https://www.youtube.co​m/watch?v=InULYfJHKI0

I saw that earlier today. It was amazing!

Timphoto wrote in post #19095958
I saw that earlier today. It was amazing!

Thanks. It is. She is in two choirs locally and is really missing singing.