Day 43- The Long Tail

It's Thursday, six weeks since we were locked down. We're still around and many of us are working, albeit in a different scape. News reports show the rest of the world going through the same stuff, each with their own take on how to make it through. The Covid car crash seems to be the US where numbers of sick and dead keep rising. Aroha to them. Covid is exposing systemic flaws in every country. And people are paying the price, particularly the vulnerable.
Globally, 261,000 people have died. In the US, 76,000, with 31 million filing for unemployment. Research in western countries shows that racial minorities, non whites, are more at risk and are showing higher rates of infection. That's the argument Maori are using to set up and police road blocks into their rohe, areas.

As for the long tail of Covid in New Zealand, at 1pm the PM notes we are "Halfway down Everest." And proceeds to outline rules for alert level two. Legislation setting out the legal basis for level 2 restrictions will be introduced to parliament next week. A $25 million relief package aimed at local and regional sport and recreation groups struggling due to Covid is unveiled. Today's new cases, 2, and one previous probable turns out to be negative.
When I pick up filler for Lance at the paint shop I have a chat to Neil about restrictions. People not permitted to be with dying parents. There could be a backlash against crisis leadership. I go to work in B block and it's spookily quiet. No sound except for my movements. Wierd as I'm used to it being such a busy place. And peopled.
I meet Kay on site to talk about the windows. She takes me through the double glazing process and reassures me the glass hasn't been damaged during preparation for the windows, it's to do with this history. I feel better. The only window I feel disturbed by now is the one in the walk in wardrobe which has been chopped slightly at the top and didn't need to be- Kirk could have made the opening bigger. I'll have to stop noticing it.
While I'm out for a ride I notice bigger groups of people, including a group of 11 year olds on bikes, think Stand By Me, Stranger Things. They're having a great time together, there's energy generated by social contact. And there's a more upbeat mood among people out and about, with larger groups here and there. We're anticipating the imminent reduction on restrictions, though it hasn't happened yet.