“AND SO IT IS CHRISTMAS”
[THE LINE FROM A POPULAR SONG]
Congratulations, we have reached the end of another interesting and challenging year. It has not been easy, but there is a sense of normality coming back to us.
Sadly COVID-19 numbers have begun climbing again. The rolling seven-day average as at the 4th December was just over 3800 newly reported cases. Of those 362+ are in hospital and sadly four more people have died.
With Christmas upon us, and social and family functions increasing as we go into the holiday season it is important that we keep ourselves as safe as possible from infection or re-infection. What the numbers (above) do not tell us is that a high proportion fall into the seniors category. The over 65-group make up the highest number of hospitalisations and deaths.
Even we “oldies” want to go out, to have fun, to mix with colleagues and get together with families. What we also need to do is be a bit more cautious when joining any gathering. A suggestion is that we should go back to wearing a mask, make sure that we wash and sanitise our hands and as much as possible to spend our social times in well ventilated venues or outside. And, if there is even a hit of any of the Covid-19 symptoms, to get a RAT Test and call the doctor if you show positive. Don’t put it off with a “she’ll be right attitude”. The anti-virals for over 65’s may well save your life.
We want you to be around to celebrate Christmas and the New Year.
Also in this edition are two articles about pedestrians and pedestrian crossings. Both contain information that you should be aware of, particularly as we go into the silly season. In the past two weeks I have almost been cleaned out twice on the crossing at the intersection of Queen St and Oxford St. On both occasions I was crossing with the “little green man”. Clearly both vehicles had run a red light, rather than having to wait for a short time for the next change of lights. It would seem that as the holidays approach people are becoming less tolerant and more ‘aggro’ on our roads.
The state highway/Oxford St is becoming more and more difficult to negotiate and NZTA, now called Waka Kotahi, doesn’t seem to give a damn about people or pedestrian safety. For them it is all about vehicle movements. There are ways that we as individuals can sort this out, but that will now have to wait until early in the New Year.
In the meantime, be cautions around crossings, trust no-one driving a motor vehicle when crossing a street and do not jay-walk. You may well get a fine.
Add to all of that the fact that the health system is a shambles. I recently heard a knowledgeable person say “previously we had the Ministry of Health mowing the grass in Wellington – now we have two new health entities mowing the same piece of grass at twice the cost and getting the same outcome”.
With the holiday season approaching, please make sure that you know the opening hours of your GP Clinic, that you have sufficient meds to see you through the break, that you know when your pharmacy will and will not be open and that you have the contact numbers listed for your doctor, your carer, your meals on wheels provider, the ambulance, your plumber and your electrician.
Then have a great Christmas and New Year! Terry Hemmingsen