In New Zealand, shopping, parties and big hugs mark start of 'COVID-free' life

[snoop1130]

In New Zealand, shopping, parties and big hugs mark start of 'COVID-free' life

By Praveen Menon

 

Customers and employees are seen inside a cafe on the first day of all New Zealand domestic regulations being lifted for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Nelson, New Zealand, June 9, 2020. REUTERS/Tatsiana Chypsanava

 

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - New Zealanders hugged and kissed, shopped, and planned parties on Tuesday as the country took off all coronavirus restrictions for the first time in more than three months, while much of the rest of the world is still grappling with the pandemic.

 

The South Pacific nation of 5 million declared on Monday that it was free of the coronavirus, becoming one of the first countries in the world to return to pre-pandemic normality.

 

This meant no more limits on people in cafes, malls, stadiums, night clubs or public and private gatherings. Life, for the most part, is back to normal.

 

"I'm just walking in the city today and I've seen more people than I have seen in months," said Steve Price of the capital, Wellington.

 

"People are shopping, dining and just hanging about holding hands... it's so lovely to see," he said.

 

New Zealanders are emerging from the pandemic while big economies such as Brazil, Britain, India and the United States continue to struggle with the virus.

 

Its largely due months of restrictions, including about seven weeks of a strict lockdown in which most businesses were shut and everyone except essential workers had to stay home.

 

Katy Ellis of Mojo Coffee in Wellington said her business has removed all the social distancing measures.

 

"That's what allows us to have a lot more people in the café, it's really helped generate that absolute buzz and that real feeling of more normality, really," Ellis said.

 

Offices were open again, and public buses and trains were packed with commuters.

 

Many offices and businesses still have hand sanitiser dispensers at the entrance, although it is no longer mandatory to use them.

 

Pubs are opening their dance floors and are expecting many to turn up on Friday.

 

"I just realised....I can hug someone today," said one user on Twitter as #COVIDFreeNZ was trending.

 

New Zealand will also be one of the first countries to allow people to watch professional sports at stadiums with no limits on crowd numbers. Thousands are expected to pack into a stadiums for the opening weekend of the domestic rugby union competition.

 

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who has won praise for her leadership during the pandemic, said on Monday that she did a "little dance" to celebrate zero active cases in the country.

 

Her health chief, Ashley Bloomfield, who spearheaded the strict lockdown, said it was time to live a little.

 

"It's about buying local, getting out and enjoying everything this country has to offer," he told reporters in Wellington.

 

But he ended his comments with a warning.

 

"There is still a pandemic raging beyond our shores and we need to make sure we are doing everything we can to keep the gains we have made," he said.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-06-09

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

[thaibeachlovers]

14 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Its largely due months of restrictions, including about seven weeks of a strict lockdown in which most businesses were shut and everyone except essential workers had to stay home.

Except for supermarkets where people ignored the "social distancing" requirements and most ( where I lived ) did not wear masks.

If we were spared higher death rates IMO it wasn't due to the lockdown. More likely the border shut down which continues.

 

BTW I was in town on the first day of level 1 and saw no one "hugging and kissing". Given level 2 restrictions were pretty much ignored ( in particular by a big protest march in Auckland ) life didn't really change as it had been almost "normal" already for at least a week.

Perhaps things were different in the big cities, but they do things differently there.

 

 

Edited June 10, 2020 by thaibeachlovers

[Srikcir]

New Zealand has achieved 'herd avoidance' but not 'herd immunity.'

It should use this moment to assure sufficient PPE supplies and ICU facility availability to deal with any Covid 19 outbreak. When an appropriate vaccine is available, it should also assure immediate national distribution. In other words prepare for beyond the current absence of Covid 19.

[pegman]

Great job all around. 

[Logosone]

1 hour ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Except for supermarkets where people ignored the "social distancing" requirements and most ( where I lived ) did not wear masks.

If we were spared higher death rates IMO it wasn't due to the lockdown. More likely the border shut down which continues.

 

BTW I was in town on the first day of level 1 and saw no one "hugging and kissing". Given level 2 restrictions were pretty much ignored ( in particular by a big protest march in Auckland ) life didn't really change as it had been almost "normal" already for at least a week.

Perhaps things were different in the big cities, but they do things differently there.

 

 

I agree, rather than lockdown the serious testing in New Zealand, isolating and identifying those infected, probably made the difference.

 

Good to see Michael Levitt was right and the virus will be defeated much earlier than anticipated by some experts. 

[sukhumvitneon]

3 minutes ago, Logosone said:

I agree, rather than lockdown the serious testing in New Zealand, isolating and identifying those infected, probably made the difference.

 

Good to see Michael Levitt was right and the virus will be defeated much earlier than anticipated by some experts. 

Being an island nation that had the political wherewithal to close borders didn't hurt either

[Burma Bill]

I bet all you Kiwis stranded in Amazing Trusted Thailand must be really p....d off!!

[samran]

3 minutes ago, Burma Bill said:

I bet all you Kiwis stranded in Amazing Trusted Thailand must be really p....d off!!

I’ve got family there. It’s the middle of winter. I’d rather be in Thailand, which I am! 

[TheDark]

NZ, a country led by intelligent and humain leader who believes in sciences. Who would have known.

 

[Logosone]

1 hour ago, sukhumvitneon said:

Being an island nation that had the political wherewithal to close borders didn't hurt either

Very true, and of course the fact that New Zealand is very sparsely populated for its size.

 

The relatively low numbers of tourists no doubt helped a lot too.

[Krataiboy]

Well done the Kiwis for giving the finger to the "new normal".
 

[rosst]

Full marks to our Kiwi brothers, well done. 

Let us hope that OZ is not far away.