Zoe Hunter: We all need to be responsible in interlinked Covid world

Scanning the Covid Tracer QR code is a key habit to maintain to minimise the disruption caused by Covid-19. Photo / File

OPINION

Welcome to the Auckland ripple effect.

We're seeing it happen before our eyes. Auckland goes into lockdown and we all suffer.
Just one person flouts the rules and we're all impacted.

We all need to take responsibility for our individual actions and there should be serious consequences for those who don't.

Yes, we're all human and we all make mistakes. But this time, people's actions will affect everyone.

We're at the peak of our events season in the Bay - the early autumn schedule is fully booked.

But yo-yo-ing between lockdowns puts all this in jeopardy.

Not to mention the financial loss for our business economy.

We've reported the Bay of Plenty could lose upwards of $6 million this week after new community Covid-19 cases were discovered in Auckland over the weekend.

It meant Auckland moved into alert level 3 - and cue the ripple effect. The rest of the country moved to alert level 2 at 6am on Sunday.

The effect has been catastrophic and felt right through the regions.

Events planned for the Bay have been postponed and cancelled. This includes the Royal NZ Ballet, the Tauranga Auto Extravaganza, Foundation Clinic Mauao Half Marathon, and sold-out international cricket doubleheader at the Bay Oval, which will move to Wellington.

In Rotorua, the Rotorua Night Market, Aotearoa Cuban Festival and the Copthorne Rotorua Off-Road Half Marathon have all been pushed back or cancelled completely.

Yes, no one invited Covid-19 into our region, our country, our world. And yes, in our Prime Minister's words: "We are a team of five million."

But when one person stuffs up it means we all suffer.

If people don't isolate when they're told to, we risk going into lockdown and we all suffer.

If they don't stay home when they're sick, we potentially all suffer.

If people don't get tested and they're symptomatic, there is a high risk we will all suffer.

If passengers don't wear a mask on public transport, we could all suffer.

We are no doubt one of the luckiest countries in the world right now to be where we are. Everyone must play their part.

Scan in, stay home if sick and if anyone has to isolate - they need to do it.

Surely no one wants to be responsible for spreading the virus and putting the whole country back into alert level 4.

Everyone needs to take responsibility.