Covid-19 coronavirus: Big families, flatties worry about life in lockdown

By RNZ

Lockdown is a daunting prospect for Masterton woman Mairangi Karaitiana, who said her home was already very crowded.

"I've got six siblings - and they're all under 10 - and then my mum and her partner so I am going to be so annoyed but I've got to live with it."

Student Georgia Ahoy said living in her inner-city apartment with her flatmates for a month was going to be a challenge.

"In my flat, there's six of us and it is an apartment so it is quite small so navigating that's going to be quite fun [but] difficult, but oh well, it is what it is."

She was worried about her friends' mental health.

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"Obviously this is a really stressful time and then being told in 48 hours you really aren't allowed outside, you aren't allowed to interact, that's quite a big jump for some people."

Some people were more prepared for working and living from home, like Thorndon man Max Mckeage.

"I've been effectively in self-isolation since 1993, since I became self-employed so it will really be of no consequence to myself but to my wife who is far more gregarious and out and about, it might curtail her activities somewhat."

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But for one Canadian student, Laurence Mantha, it remains unclear whether she will be able to get back home.

She has a flight booked for Thursday, after the lockdown comes into force, and was very uncertain about what the future held for her.

• Covid19.govt.nz: The Government's official Covid-19 advisory website

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- RNZ