Our Country Bubble

 A while ago, I wrote a post about what it felt like to live in a country where the virus isn't raging, to live normally on an island surrounded by a world on fire.  At the time it felt off-putting, like suddenly coming into a bunch of money or fame that wasn't earned.  

And then the virus reappeared.

We still aren't quite sure how it made it into the country.  Our government has been quite transparent about all of our Covid cases - where they came from, how cases are linked both epidemiologically and genomically, what areas are at risk, and what they are doing to try to find answers.  They also communicate how to stay calm and be prepared, that there will always be new cases as long as it is out of control elsewhere in the world.  This communication has taken away the overall feeling (for me) that the virus could be lurking anywhere at any time.  

The resurgence was our largest cluster, largely because of the community it affected (Pacific Islanders, who generally are more social) and partly because some in that cluster decided not to believe the science and made some poor choices.  The government acted swiftly and stepped up the Levels throughout the country and the area affected. Once the perimeters of the cluster were under control, and cases reduced, the Levels stepped back down and here we are again living nearly normally.  

Sadly, three men connected to this cluster died. Our country mourned each death, reflecting on the life of each man. Did they have underlying conditions? Maybe, but that isn't reported here anymore because it's not important.   Reporting on "underlying conditions" only serves as a dog whistle to those who feel that the virus isn't that dangerous, or that they wouldn't have a severe case if they were to be infected. It takes away from the fact these men would not have died otherwise.

Since that large cluster, there has been another small cluster related to a port worker who likely caught the virus on a ship he had worked on.  This cluster was also caught early and swiftly dealt with - the minute the port worker felt ill, he left work, got a test, and isolated.  The cluster is small and seemingly already under control, so we all just carry on as if life is normal.

It's not quite, though.  I wear a mask in any crowded area, especially on transport. Recently, I traveled up to Auckland (the location of both resurgences) for work and made sure to wear my mask on the plane. Very few others did, though. The streets, shopping malls, and even the line for airport security in Auckland were *packed*.  It felt very dystopian (and a little nervewracking)  to be in crowds like that. 

We are lucky. But now it feels more than that - it feels earned. Not to the point of invincibility, but definitely the same feeling as being in a new job for over 6 months and finally understanding what is going on.  More cases will come.  Of course they will.  But I'd like to think we can adapt and respond as necessary.