Time to say hello again
FOR little Talia Tili, a change in alert levels means getting a cuddle from her grandmother for the first time.
New Zealand moves into Alert Level 2 today, allowing families to reunite, shops to reopen, and the hospitality sector to start to rebound, provided safety measures are adhered to.
Yesterday marked the second day in a row with no new cases in the country, and 25 days of no new cases in the South.
For Dunedin mum Jacquie Anderson, Level 2 means she can introduce family members to her 4weekold daughter, Talia who was born on April 14, in the middle of Level 4.
With Covid19 restrictions affecting midwifery services and the number of people allowed at a birth, it was a scary time, Ms Anderson said.
‘‘I was a bit of a blithering mess.’’
It had been tough not having family being able to properly meet baby Talia during her first weeks.
Ms Anderson’s partner John Tili’s mother had been able to say hello from a distance when she dropped off baking, and her sister had seen her through a window one day, but that was the closest they could get.
‘‘I’ve got a cousin saying ‘When can I book in to see her’,’’ she said, laughing.
Many southern families told the Otago Daily Times about their plans for Level 2 yesterday, from reuniting with family and meeting friends for coffee, to getting their nails done.
Some were excited for their young children who would be able to head to playgrounds again after several weeks of having to stay away.
Dunedin’s George St was a hive of activity yesterday as businesses prepared to open their doors.
For some, it would be the first time since the introduction of Level 4 back in March.
At Dunedin’s Otago Sports Depot, manager Sam Cadman was busy preparing for customers.
They were lucky the store was large so it would be easy for customers to practise physical distancing, she said.
Customers would also provide their details via an app to allow for contact tracing.
Further up George St, at Charmaine Reveley & Co, manager Debbie Lundy said she was ‘‘absolutely excited’’ about opening the doors.
She hoped people would return to the city centre and start shopping up a storm.
‘‘If we don’t get that support, we’ll be in trouble.’’
Safety measures would include wiping down items that had been tried on, and only running one changing room at a time.
Oamaru’s The Business Hive director Cara Tipping Smith said many North Otago business owners spent much of yesterday getting ready to reopen.
She said there was a mixture of excitement, cautious optimism and for some a ‘‘desperate headache’’ amid uncertainty about the future of the retail and hospitality sectors.
Dunedin City Council facilities will also begin to reopen under Level 2.
The Dunedin Public Art Gallery, Toitu Otago Settlers Museum and Lan Yuan, Dunedin Chinese Garden will open on Saturday, and Moana Pool will open on Monday.
Further details, including when libraries will open, would be confirmed soon.
Police, Maritime New Zealand, and various other agencies also issued releases urging people to be safe during Level 2, as more cars hit the road and boaties take to the water.
Central Otago Mayor Tim Cadogan said there was an air of excitement for Level 2 in the district tempered by an element of trepidation.
He believed Central Otago had fared comparatively well so far.
‘‘That still doesn’t mean some people haven’t been significantly impacted by this but we are facing the toughest times since the Great Depression and if we are going to face this, as we all are, Central Otago might be one of the better places to be in New Zealand and the world.’’