‘Traffic Lights System’ comes into effect but ‘Red’ alarms New Zealanders
Venkat Raman
Auckland, December 3, 2021
Auckland’s hospitality sector opened its doors today with bars, restaurants, eateries and others reporting brisk business, people are out enjoying a bright summer’s day but not everyone is smiling.
Gyms and fitness centres are also open but the fear of the Delta Variant and the spread of Omicron, the new variant that has begun to afflict Australia is worrying.
The new ‘Freedom,’ which came to Auckland last night at the stroke of midnight after 107 days of strict lockdown – the largest in the country’s history – has been welcomed largely but much of the restrictions remain.
Face-covering (masks) is a must in all public places and while travelling in public transport, social distancing (one meter) is in place and gatherings at all public and private events cannot exceed 100 people at a time.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has said that Auckland is among the cities with the highest vaccination rates in the world but has warned that any threat to public health will force the City back to lockdown.
Divided Nation
The nation stands divided today on several counts: Those who believe that Covid-19 is a real threat and those who don’t; those who believe in vaccination and those who don’t; those who have been vaccinated and those who haven’t; those who believe that the Labour government has been doing a good job and those who vehemently oppose it.
The unvaccinated sections of the New Zealand society are at risk – not just contracting Covid but also of losing their job with an increasing number of employers beginning to follow, ‘No jab, no job’ policy, with bars and restaurants refusing entry; and similar restrictions.
Such a division is also visible among businesses- those who are happy with the reopening and those who say that it is too little too late and that uncertainty continues to loom.
Christopher Luxon, who was elected as the Leader of the National Party on Wednesday (December 1, 2021) was talking to business owners in Viaduct Auckland today. He was followed by the media.
“Auckland should have gone to the Green Setting. The Red Light is when the health system is overwhelmed and vaccination rates are low- neither of these is relevant to Auckland. The hospitality sector is happy that they are able to open from today but are also worried that their premises could become empty over the summer holidays,” he said.
Along with Auckland, Northland, Taupo, Rotorua Lakes, Kawerau, Whakatane, Opotiki, Gisborne, Wairoa, Rangitikei, Whanganui and Ruapehu Districts are also on Red Alert. All other parts of the country are in the Orange setting.
“We should be in Green Setting”
Mr Luxon said that Auckland has endured more than 100 days of lockdown but the reward has been Red Setting.
“The Traffic Light System is a mess. Three days ago, the government published a 100-page Health Order which is now in effect, and businesses and consumers alike are confused about the rules. The government’s ineptitude and carelessness are partly shutting off some vaccinated New Zealanders from getting on with their lives. The Labour government has had since April to work out how to cope with Delta and develop a backup plan for elimination. Instead, they took their eyes off the ball and stayed in self-congratulation mode.”
Meanwhile, Radio New Zealand has quoted Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins as saying that although Covid-19 cases may spread under the new framework, the summer rollout of the system is optimal timing.
He told Morning Report that when winter arrived and the pressure on the health system ramped up, booster shots and doses for children over five would have been rolled out.
He warned that using the Covid Tracer App would become even more important with the increased movement, with many locations of interest, and people would be notified if they had visited any location.
“Today’s hospital funding boost in preparation for increased Covid-19 cases has come as a welcome relief to Waitemata District Health Board, which has no Intensive Care Unit. The West Auckland hospital will be given $65 million to build space for 30 new ward beds, six ICU beds and two negative pressure rooms. It is the biggest capital injection to the site in 20 years,” RNZ said in its report.
Waitemata District Health Board Chief Executive Dr Dale Bramley said that these investments will enable the DHB to quickly increase capacity to care for Covid-positive patients.
