But many urge caution to avoid the second wave
Venkat Raman
Auckland, April 14, 2020
The number of new Coronavirus cases fell to 17 (of which only eight were confirmed) as per reports at 1 pm on April 14, 2020 prompting calls from several quarters to pull out of Alert 4 but Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said that the lockdown will run its full course until April 22, 2020.
“We are working with various officials and experts and I hope to make an announcement as to where we stand on Monday, April 20, 2020. Now is not the time to squander the good work that every one has put over the last 20 days,” she said speaking to reporters at the Beehive Theatre following the remotely held weekly Cabinet meeting.
Media performance questioned
However, the lengths to which freedom of speech can extend is being heard on talkback shows across the country.
“Denmark is moving out of lockdown, why can’t we?” one talkback host asked Ms Ardern.
But the facts are otherwise. The Danish government has announced that children up to 12 years of age can return to school two days after Easter and that some employees can return to work but under strict conditions. The country’s borders are however closed.
Parents are already resisting, saying that they do not want children to become experiments.
Another expert said, “Since doctors and nurses can wear masks and other gear and work together with patients, we should also be allowed to work in our offices.”
There is increasing opinion that some of our media commentators and media companies are irresponsible and scare-mongering.
People and government
Opinion Polls suggest that a majority of New Zealanders support Ms Ardern and her government.
“We are breaking the chain, but this is not the time to take the leg off the pedal. We are studying a number of scenarios of the post Covid-19 period. Meanwhile, the government will announce further financial incentives for small and medium companies. We are also aware of the hardship caused to our large media companies. We are talking to them,” she said.
New Zealand recorded four deaths on Monday, April 13, 2020, taking the total number of the virus fatalities to nine. The number of people who have recovered was placed at 628.
“This is a reminder of how much worse the spread and death toll would have been had we not taken the action to break the chain of infection,” Ms Ardern said.
She said there had been 1452 breaches of the level 4 rules, and Police had made 169 prosecutions.
Cash pay out to Students
Ms Ardern said that many students will be able to borrow an additional amount of $1000 on their student loan to tide them over the difficulties they may be facing in the current situation.
“The increase to the student loan amount available is part of a wider support package for tertiary students who may be struggling during the Covid-19 pandemic,” she said.
Full-time students will be able to borrow up to $2000, up from the current $1000, for course-related costs. The government will continue support payments for students unable to study on-line for up to eight weeks. It will also change the rules so no-one will be disadvantaged if they have to abandon their study this year because of Covid-19, for example under the fees free scheme.
Certainty in education
Education Minister Chris Hipkins said that the government wanted to give students as much certainty as possible so that they can continue to engage in their education.
“They will be supported adequately until such time that tertiary education providers can put in place alternative ways of delivering teaching and learning,” he said.
The initiative will allow students who cannot access their courses online to receive their student loan payments as normal throughout the four-week lockdown period, and for up to four weeks thereafter.
“This flexibility is already available for student living allowances,” Mr Hipkins said.
Domestic students enrolled in full-time tertiary study can access these supports from April 15, 2020. The total cost of the package is $133 million.
Mr Hipkins said that the student loan changes are being financed from the Covid-19 Response and Recovery Fund and the fees related changes can be met from existing budgets.
