Research, just published in the Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand, offers some new insights into how Kiwis view the measures at the core of our elimination strategy. It drew on more than 2400 responses, collected as part of a wider Ministry of Health-commissioned Ipsos survey between April and July last year.
Although most believe staying home was effective when someone was sick with severe symptoms, there was slightly less agreement in regard to mild symptoms.
"This speaks to the need to be clear in messaging that staying home is effective for all symptoms, whether severe or mild," the research co-authors wrote.
Around half of all participants reported also having trouble physically distancing.
"Key reasons behind this included being an essential worker, and challenges related to the behaviour of others and inability to distance in some public places."
Perhaps more concerningly, it also found physical distancing - and support for doing so - fell away as alert levels declined.
Further, Covid Tracer app data showed that, while new cases sparked a surge in the number of active devices from just under 400,000 on February 13 to just over 900,000 on February 17, the numbers had been coming down since.
Each of the latest leaks have been preceded by lapses in general vigilance, despite repeated warnings.
The Covid-19 Response Minister received a briefing from officials in early January which stated our managed isolation and quarantine facilities wouldn't cope with a prolonged community outbreak.
Meanwhile, New Zealand coasted towards the inevitable.
Over the summer months, the usage of the Covid-19 tracer app nosedived from a high of 2.5 million QR code scans a day in August last year to only 500,000 in January.
Oh, it quickly picks up after news of a community case. The number of scans of the Covid tracer app on January 17 was 485,620. News of positive cases shook the complacent and by Tuesday, January 26, there were more than a million - 1,067,641 - scans.
However, this is too reactive. Tracking movement matters most in the two-or-so weeks before a case is notified.
Yes, we are building an arsenal of weapons to fight this wily interloper - vaccines, better treatment, managed isolation and quarantine and even wastewater testing. However, the greatest weapon we hold is vigilance.
We need to be aware this invisible invader could be among us already. Keep tracing, washing hands regularly, wearing masks on public transport and keep your distance. If that's not too much to remember, then be kind also.
Covid loves complacency, it's the very thing it relies on to continue to exist. Do not be lulled, the virus isn't.
