Ed Said What’s the deal with Delta?

20 Aug, 2021

Without sounding simplistic or insincere, our comparatively serene lifestyle somehow seems barely unsettled by a Level 4 lockdown. Sure, there’s inconvenience to us all in some way, business takes a hit, and the economy slows to a crawl, but look how easily we fell into lockdown mode.

In a crowded gym on Tuesday evening I noticed just four people watching the announcement of a full lockdown when it was made at 6pm. I put this general apathy down to most being comfortable with their understanding of what was about to happen through previous experience. And let’s face it, there’s not a lot we can do about it anyway.

When the spotlight is blindingly pointed to issues here, it is easy to forget the challenges others are facing as we watch on through the desensitising filter of our TV screens. News broadcasts of wildfires cutting a swathe through the US and France, or machine-gun toting Taliban patrolling the streets of Kabul is often an opportunity for the average viewer to make a cuppa, or grab an arm of firewood as if it’s an ad break. These sorts of news events are right there in front of us yet we also unwittingly feel a detachment from them knowing, as horrible and distasteful as they are, there is not a whole lot we can do from the comfort of our Kiwi suburban lounge.

Covid news on the other hand, that which impacts us directly and is right outside our front door, is compulsive viewing and drowns out everything else. A great All Blacks win against the Aussies in the second Bledisloe Cup Test just a few days earlier is all but forgotten. Although, not only do we have our Antipodean neighbours’ sloppy defence to thank for a big win, we must also thank the general Australian public for showing us how not to deal with the Covid Delta variant that has now eventually, and inevitably, made it to our shores.

An Australian correspondent I saw interviewed about the situation here was full of praise for Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and her quick and decisive decision-making, and lamenting Australia’s poor implementation of measures around their own lockdown shambles. The lackadaisical approach by many Australians, and the speed at which Delta infections are spreading around their states, is a frightening and stark reminder that we have to be on our guard with this strain where across the ditch they are seeing hundreds of new cases every day. More sobering is the correspondent’s lack of optimism around control of the virus over there where she says they will be lucky to come out of restrictions by Christmas.

We know the Delta variant is a more dangerous proposition, and that could easily mean tougher measures to get on top of it. Some international media was scathing about our government putting the whole country into lockdown due to just one case, but we knew more would be out there and that’s proved to be the case. New Zealanders, no matter what their philosophical approach to the virus, are at least generally putting in the effort as part of the ‘team of five million’.

My latest showing of Kiwi male bravado was having a vaccine jab last week – the day before lockdown. Personally I see no issue with having the vaccine. No, I don’t know what’s in it, but I also hate to think what’s in your everyday saveloy. If I start growing a third nipple I’ll let you know.

Rich Pooley
Editor
info@mangawhaifocus.co.nz