COVID-19: New Zealand extends lockdown to 27 August

The 3 day New Zealand lockdown in reaction to their most recent outbreak (remember they haven’t had a community transmission case for 6 months) has been extended, ending on Friday 27 August.

Today, there were an additional 41 cases of community transmission – so cases are on the rise which seems to be the universal story with the Delta strain.

2PAXfly Takeout

This is another timely reminder to wear your seatbelt when seated. Holding you close to your seat will protect you from the sort of injuries sustained on this flight, when unsecured passengers flew to the ceiling of the aircraft, and then came crashing down once the ‘drop’ ceased.

The hope will be that this is an anomaly – a ‘freak accident’ in casual parlance. If it is a systemic error either mechanical or electronic, then this is a larger concern for the airlines that fly Boeing Dreamliner 787 aircraft. Let’s hope it isn’t. If it is, it will pile on the woes to Boeing’s existing stack.

I, unfortunately, doubt that the New Zealand lockdown will end on Friday 27 August – at least not for Auckland and the Counties Manukau which are currently the hub of the outbreak.

Our holiday in the North Island, delayed from mid-year is looking even shakier for December this year.