Consequences
Amongst other problems, one of the issues with the "road map" outlined by the Government yesterday is the lack of incentive to being vaccinated/disincentive to not being.
A woman I know is choosing not to be vaccinated, believing that she's healthy, eats healthily, takes her vitamins and that she will be sweet. She lives outside Auckland at level 2, where her life is no different to anyone else there. Yet we are waiting on people like her to get vaccinated, who have absolutely no intention of doing so.
Maybe if there was a date specified, where she wasn't allowed in the cafe when her vaccinated friend was; was unable to go to her workplace when her vaccinated workmates could etc, she might see the consequences of her choice. As it is now, the consequences of her choice (and those like her) is actually on others.
Something for those of us in Auckland, to ponder about on our picnics.
Nicola Mathews, Ponsonby.
Shared air
The Government has done a lousy job in explaining to people the basics of how Covid is transmitted and this is why people don't understand the reasoning behind restrictions and as to where and how they should be applied.
Aerosol is far and away the main route. Activities, such as hugging, are safe - provided people don't breathe in each other's air.
Masks and ventilation reduce the risk of breathing in somebody else's air.
As for the anti-vaxxers, the solution is to make vaccination mandatory for every person.
Their "choice" may kill a member of my family and, as such, they pose a risk to my family. Dr Andrew Montgomery, Remuera.
Give us a sign
Businesses should proudly display signs alongside their QR codes proclaiming their staff has been vaccinated. "Double-shot, 100 per cent" would give customers a real sense the business was standing shoulder to shoulder with the rest of us.
We should not have to overhear a deluded shop assistant in a supermarket boasting she wasn't going to be vaccinated.
Businesses need to be accountable to their customers. If staff want to work in a particular shop, they must be accountable too.
Human "rights" of staff have no place in a shopping basket. It is not a human right to put fellow citizens in danger. It never has been.
Double-shot, 100 per cent.
John Harvey, Devonport.
Belgian example
We've been watching the UCI world cycling championships held in Belgium and have been struck by the largely mask-free crowds lining the racecourses. Must be great, we thought, to have so much freedom during Covid.
However, a quick check on Covid19.healthdata.org reveals the true Covid position in Belgium (population 11 million about twice that of New Zealand). Covid cases to date: 1,247,197, deaths: 25,612, active cases: 59,681 (213 in serious condition).
Relating this to our population means around 600,000 Covid cases, 12,500 deaths, 30,000 active cases, with at least 100 in serious condition. Our health service would be well and truly overwhelmed.
Would New Zealanders except these figures? I doubt it very much. Should we be grateful for the current approach to this pandemic (lack of freedoms and all)? Of course we should.
David Milner, Greenhithe.
Hand outs
The country's fastest-growing beneficiary group, NZ Business, does not have a history of support for other beneficiary groups, yet daily makes public pleas for yet more money for themselves.
Perhaps, to be successful, they should make the case for increased income tax and increased benefits for all groups.
Mark Nixon, Remuera.
Against the flow
So, the Government wishes to amalgamate the country's "water boards". Sounds good on paper but, as an example of amalgamating services, look at what a mess "Auckland Super City" has become.
Our rates are spiralling out of control, our services like roads, refuse and water are falling apart. The open spaces we once loved are being turned into ghettos. Producing food for our Super City is going offshore, and there is no city plan that we can recognise, just a downtown plan.
Now the Government wants to screw around with our most precious commodity, handing it over lock stock and barrel to some entirely unknown entity. Sadly for us this is sounding so very familiar.
Please fix what is broken, don't amalgamate us with other council entities having difficulties. You will only be creating another super facility monster that will soon crumble and fail.
Bob Jessopp, Massey.
Columns appreciated
It is one of my life's joys to sit down each morning with the NZ Herald, particularly to read what the columnists are sharing. Their wit, command of language, opinions, advice, analysis, debate, predictions, ability to make the complicated understandable have made the contributions from these talented people like letters from first-name friends.
It was disappointing to have a blip over the weekend with the negativity from Heather and Kerre, but maybe they had a bad week.
Thank you columnists. Your contributions are eagerly looked for and appreciated.
L. Clark, Onehunga.
Short & sweet
On roadmap
The Government may as well have titled the road map "Godot". Huw Dann, Mt Eden.
The alert level rules that were once as simple as 1,2,3,4 is now a nasty mess of variants, like Covid-19 has become. Grant McLachlan, Mahurangi.
On space
While the Pope calls on all his flock to address a climate change emergency, Jeff Bezos takes William Shatner on a space junket. They obviously inhabit different worlds. Peter Mortimer, Greenhithe.
On vaccine
Ban the voluntarily unvaccinated from fast food outlets, liquor stores, cigarette sellers and petrol stations. We'd be world leaders in a flash. James Archibald, Birkenhead.
Vote Professor Rod Jackson for prime minister. His mantra "No jab - No job and No jab - No fun" should be our Government's rallying call. Barry Williamson, Te Ākau.
On terms
A four-year term is too long for a bad government but three years is too short for a good government. Mike Baker, Tauranga.
The Premium Debate
Bloomberg rating
No one is stopping people that want to stay "inside/locked up" from staying inside. Life is a lottery, try as hard as you like that won't change and Covid is not the only bad thing out there by a country mile. After all this time, there is no reason (other than medical) for people not to be vaccinated. You do or you don't, you take your chances. Eric B.
Good article but it's sad to see the wimps have got their way. After all the work the top 10 per cent and the bottom 10 per cent have got away with selling the rest of us out again. We the taxpayers ( the ones in the middle) do not mind subsidising those whose businesses are threatened and we don't mind supporting those who do not have the economic resources to support themselves. Just save me from the self-righteous justifications. Instead of moaning, why don't these people act, e.g do something to help get people vaccinated. Mark S.
None of the countries listed, US, Britain, Australia, want NZ to be seen to do well because it highlights their ineptness. None of the Opposition has an interest in the Government succeeding in keeping our populace safe because they failed in the first instance by promoting open border policy and still do, to invite more disease to NZ. Labour may take the heat politically, but as a population we will each wear it personally. And the Opposition spin is responsible. Gervaise L.
I am very pleased that this article has collected together some "real world" data on how the world at large is doing. We are not alone. Ireland, Scotland, Norway, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, South Africa , the USA, etc, have all had to deal with the same disease that New Zealand has had to, and with the same tools available. I am proud at how well we have done but no one is perfect. Alexander M.
Based on the Herald numbers, 2,225,000 more jabs are required to get to 90 per cent of those eligible. Jabs for each of the last two days have been +/- 27,000. It will take 82 days - around Boxing Day - to get to 90 per cent. If we can go back to 90,000 a day, as was achieved a month or so ago, we can be there in 25 days - before the end of October. I know which I would prefer. Maxene R."
