Covid hospitalisations back at April levels
Experts are urgently calling for less focus on traffic lights and more on mask use as nearly every public hospital defers surgery and pressure on GPs mounts
Mōrena and welcome to The Bulletin for Monday, July 11, by Anna Rawhiti-Connell. Presented in partnership with Z Energy.
In today’s edition: monkeypox detected in NZ; mega polytech in financial trouble; why people donate to political parties; but first, surgeries deferred at nearly all public hospitals.
Public hospitals defer surgeries and pressure on GPs mounts as case numbers climb (Photo: Negative Space/Pexels)
Focus on mask use, not colour of traffic light
According to the New York Times Covid tracker, New Zealand now has the third highest number of Covid cases per 100,000 people in the world based on numbers over the last seven days. On Sunday we returned to hospitalisation numbers we haven’t seen since April. Nearly all public hospitals are delaying or cancelling surgeries according to RNZ this morning. Michael Baker appeared on Newshub’s The Nation on Saturday calling for the government to step in now saying that instead of focusing on which colour the traffic light should be, the focus should be on mask use.
“Over 800 ads for GPs across Aotearoa at the moment”
In some good boots-on-the-ground reporting, Q&A’s Jack Tame spent time with a health clinic in the Auckland suburb of Papakura recently and found just two staff juggling 90 appointments. Dr Matire Harwood said she understands there are over 800 ads for GPs across Aotearoa at the moment and is struggling to find staff. RNZ’s Katie Todd had another good example of the pressure GPs are feeling last week, visiting a clinic in Whangārei with National party health spokesperson Shane Reti. The GP at that clinic, Geoff Cunningham, has outlined his concerns about the state of general practice for Stuff this morning.
Word of caution for employers about sick leave
An employment lawyer has warned employers (paywalled) who require staff to work while they're sick with Covid that they could face claims if workers end up with long Covid. Employment specialist Jennifer Mills says “An employer could be potentially exposed to a claim for failing to ensure a safe working environment if they have required an employee to work while sick which has also increased the risks for that employee in developing the debilitating effects of long Covid''. The Employers and Manufacturers Association is worried about complacency from both employers and employees, and presenteeism, where people turn up to work sick, especially if they’re in roles where they feel the public depends on them.
The difficulties among the splintering discourse
Whether it’s complacency, feeling weary or just desperate to get on with things, we are now in the era of the pandemic that might mildly be described as more discursive. This isn’t limited to members of the public either, but is happening within the scientific community. This was perfectly illustrated in the overwhelming responses to this piece from Andrew Nikiforuk at Canadian publication The Tyee, titled “The Forever Pandemic”. He was accused of doomsaying and scaremongering, including by a virologist, and has since published a response to the response. Both are worth a read.
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First case of Monkeypox identified in New Zealand
I was alerted to the presence of Monkeypox in New Zealand on Instagram with a “not now Monkeypox” meme. Understandably, this does feel like yet another thing to be worried about. There are a couple of important things to note though. Monkeypox does not spread the same way Covid spreads and is not as transmissible. The Herald’s Jamie Morton has written a good explainer. Thus far, the cases around the world have primarily been identified among gay and bisexual men. As such, the ministry is asking anyone who had been overseas and attended events connected with the spread of monkeypox to be aware of any symptoms and seek advice from their GP or Healthline, or get in touch with a sexual health clinic. The Burnett Foundation (formerly the AIDS Foundation) has advice here.
$110m deficit forecast at new mega polytech
As Stuff’s Mike Mather reports, the newly merged mega polytech Te Pūkenga is facing problems before it's begun to function properly. In a memo sent to education minister Chris Hipkins, Tertiary Education Commission deputy chief executive Gillian Dudgeon has outlined concerns about a forecasted $110m deficit, a lack of progress and declining enrolments. In notes in the margin of the memo published on the commission’s website late last week, Hipkins shares the concerns, writing “I’d like an urgent update on what Te Pūkenga is doing to trim costs now (underlined twice) in response to lower enrolments. I’d like to see a plan for some early wins re: network efficiencies ASAP.” It was announced on Friday that Te Pūkenga chief executive Stephen Town had gone on “personal leave” for unspecified reasons.
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“They’re nice to me, I’m nice to them”
Max Rashbrooke and Lisa Marriot are currently conducting research about why people donate to political parties. It’s particularly timely given the electoral law reform that’s underway. Rashbrooke and Marriot spoke to several party donors across the political spectrum who have given over over $30,000 to political parties. Under the current laws, these will have been disclosed. Some talk about proximity as the motivation, others the public interest but none talk about expecting favour or influence. Rashbrooke and Marriot caveat that by saying that the donors willingness to talk might indicate a higher level of comfort about their donations and that some of their comments suggest a level of influence even if it wasn’t explicitly stated.
Click and collect
Radical acceptance may be required over the school holidays if travelling as airports and airlines try to cope with passenger numbers and staff shortages.
There are reasons to be sceptical about the depth of consumer gloom writes Liam Dann (paywalled). If you’re after an interesting American perspective, Kyla Scanlon has written about the self-fulfilling prophecy of consumer confidence in what she calls “The Vibecession”.
Kiribati withdraws from the Pacific Islands Forum.
Sri Lankan president resigns after protesters storm palace, country in worst financial position in 70 years.
Kyodo News has a report on the possible motivation for the fatal shooting of former prime minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe.
Got some feedback about The Bulletin, or anything in the news? Get in touch with me at thebulletin@thespinoff.co.nz
Toby Manhire explores what Act’s “first 100 days” pledge could mean for National; Craig Hickman – aka DairymanNZ – explains what it’s like being a 21st century farmer in an industry that can be slow to change; Rebecca K Reilly looks back on a life as a young Westie in the early 2000s; Chris Schulz shares the shocking news that it’s a very good time to be a young journalist looking for a job; and Sam Brooks talks to veteran comedian Justine Smith about her rocky road to Taskmaster NZ.
Afghan sports women seek asylum in New Zealand
As Stuff’s Laura Walters reports, a group of 140 female football and basketball players, who have represented Afghanistan nationally have written to associate immigration minister Phil Twyford seeking asylum in New Zealand. Many are currently stuck in Albania on temporary visas after being evacuated via Qatar with the help of Fifa and the Canadian Government. They were led to believe Canada would be their final destination but the Canadian government has refused to supply them with resettlement visas.
Black Caps win over Ireland
In news that will sting for rugby fans, the Black Caps have beaten Ireland in Dublin this morning after a superb innings from Michael Bracewell.
“The reason it looks like a dog’s breakfast is because it is”
Today’s feature is from Stuff’s Nikki Macdonald on the state of palliative care in New Zealand. The “dog’s breakfast” quote is from Hospice New Zealand acting chief executive Wayne Naylor who also says “There's no clear model for how palliative care is or should be delivered. There's no clear model of how it's funded. There's no understanding really of who is doing palliative care.”
