Editorial: Are we losing the ability to see the positives?

People out and about in Christchurch on a 20C Level 2 day this week. Photo / George Heard

Editorial

Angst over Delta level 2 restrictions in other parts of the country is causing a few eyerolls in level 4 land.

There's been grumbling in news reports from businesses in the south about how tough some level 2 rules are, particularly the slashed indoor and outdoor limits for the hospitality industry.

At the risk of ruining the City of Sails' newfound popularity with the rest of New Zealand, it has to be said that the complaints can grate on frayed nerves.

Aucklanders are a month and counting into this. Non-Aucklanders are living two levels lower than Delta zero, and for just a short period of time. With due acknowdgement to Monty Python's Four Yorkshiremen sketch, some of us have it tougher.

People at level 2 can go out for takeaways, cafe food or coffee, visit more people, have a drink with friends - and generally do a bit more than walk around the block. It all looks better than current life in Fortress Auckland.

Perhaps there was a case for reviewing the overall effectiveness and impacts of restrictions on businesses before the Delta outbreak. But extra caution is obviously warranted over Delta and social gatherings have featured in Auckland's clusters.

The traditional Kiwi can-do attitude also seems to be in short supply with these criticisms.

When businesses overseas faced indoor dining restrictions last year, they got creative. Small streets, some car lanes and parks were temporarily cordoned off to allow outdoor eating areas to expand with raised platforms, screens between tables, plants and large umbrellas.

Businesses under level 2 have to cope with some restrictions, but at least they can still open. The outlook in Auckland is much worse. Tens of millions of dollars are being lost each week. Business anxiety in Auckland is understandable.

The public debate over anti-Covid measures in the wider country shows a frustrated wish for normality in life and business.

People outside Auckland are in a halfway house between relief at having some normal things but not quite being back to the sheltered, cocooned existence Kiwis have had for most of the pandemic.

Apart from a few particularly hard-hit communities, we've rarely had to struggle with Covid cases at high levels the way other countries have.

Before Delta gatecrashed the party we didn't have to think on our feet when dealing with Covid and show much initiative in response to it. Now the challenge of having to boost vaccination rates quickly under Delta is spurring more innovation in how to urgently get shots to people from drive throughs and walk-ins to mobile jab buses.

Overall, Covid-19 has been dealt with here as a temporary emergency rather than a particularly bad part of a pattern. Yet it is the sixth infectious outbreak in 20 years after Sars, H1N1, Mers, Ebola and Zika. Another one is due at any time, even as Covid lingers.

There are background issues that are yet to be dealt with such as: having purpose-built quarantine facilities away from central Auckland; improving medical preparedness and access to vaccine production; proofing buildings against airborne viruses; and coming up with more innovative ways to help businesses trade during a pandemic.

On the plus side, the country has gained a lot of useful knowledge that will stick with us about the firefighting side of dealing with a bad outbreak. The practicality of quickly introduced restrictions; business financial support; remote work; online orders and deliveries; click and collect; and public masking in such emergencies has been entrenched.

Even as most people wish all this disruption would just go away.