COVID-19 : Announcement from our NZ PM Jacinda Ardern

Today is my 2nd day (23-March-2020) of working from home. At 1:30pm, our NZ PM went live to announce that we’re already on alert level 3 and in 48 hours, moving onto alert level 4. Hearing her announce this made me cry. This is really serious. I hope everyone stay at home and do their part.

So what does Alert level-3 and 4 mean? This I got from https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-zealand-moves-covid-19-alert-level-3-then-level-4-48-hours

Alert Level 3 : Restrict
Heightened risk that disease not contained

• Travel in areas of community transmission limited
• Affected educational facilities
• Mass gatherings cancelled
• Public venues closed
• Alternative ways of working required and some non-essential businesses closed
• Non-face-to-face primary care consulations
• Elective surgeries and procedures deferred and healthcare staff reprioritised

Alert Level 4 : Eliminate
Likely that disease not contained

• People to stay at home
• Educational facilities closed
• All non-essential businesses closed
• Rationing of supplies and requisitioning of facilities
• Severe travel restrictions
• Major reprioritisation of healthcare services.