"Please remember this is a pandemic. It's not just happening here in NZ"

New Zealand Registered Nurse and Pacific Health Advocator Ange Lina shares some helpful advice & info, after seeing misinformation being shared across social media with news of Covid19 positive cases in the community again.

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1. South Auckland wasn’t targeted with a fake community case. South Auckland is the epicentre where all the positive cases from travellers set foot in. The New Zealand international airport is in South Auckland.  You have people who are quarantined in South Auckland.  

2. This isn’t a political strategy.  This is a public health strategy.  If no one does this then who is responsible?  Jacinda did not make these decisions on her own. There’s a team of experts, just like there’s a team that helps decide what the best medical intervention is for your loved one when they’re in hospital.

3. There have been talks about 2nd waves etc. since we were at Level 4.  No one has ever said that it’s over the whole time during level 1.  The Ministry of Health have warned us over and over again that this may happen.  It was just a matter of time.

4. 99% recovery rate does not necessarily mean everyone fully recovers. Quality of life changes where people’s organs are no longer functioning at full capacity. This will have a major impact on their life. If you’re out here saying that the Prime Minister should just let the virus do its thing then you are condemning people to death and to poor health.  Just because it hasn’t happened to you or anyone you personally know, it doesn’t mean it’s not happening.

Click here to read an article by Today.com on the long term health consequences of Covid19 on patient's Lungs, heart, kidneys, nervous system, brain and mental health.

5. Natural immunity comes at a great risk. How many lives are you willing to sacrifice for the sake of natural immunity that we have no proof that any country even has it?

6. If the government really wanted to control you and you’re really worried about it, maybe throw your phone away

7. Stop blaming the family. Pray for them and for anyone else so that they can fully recover.

8. Contact and tracing. Download the app now and use it everywhere you go. No ones interested about you going to a brothel or a meeting for anime fanatics - they just want to know whether you were there if there was a positive case. It’s not that deep. Stop making it a conspiracy thing. Like I said - throw your phone away if you’re that worried about the government coming after you.

9. Research is all about finding new recommendations and research for Covid-19 has been going non stop. Recommendations change when new information is discovered or circumstances change. For example - masks. We never had to wear them before. It wasn’t recommended before. But now it is according to research, because any barriers to stop the spread of COVID-19 should be taken. It’s not a sign of oppression. I work in masks all day - I don’t feel oppressed. It is my duty to protect you so wearing a mask is part of that.

10. If you had gone through a tough time during the first lockdown, please reach out. We have services and community groups that can help. Doesn’t matter what it is, reach out.

That’s all I got for now. But please remember, this is a pandemic. It’s not just happening here in NZ.

Faafetai,
Your humble Pasifika community nurse

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