Day #315 Writing Through COVID-19: New Zealand / Cass County, Iowa

New Zealand is widely regarded as the country that has executed the best COVID response and control. 

For my little family there (son Max, wife Andrea, and baby Wolf), this is wonderful. After an initial hard lockdown, a nationwide let's-protect-each-other campaign, and strict quarantining for anyone entering the country, New Zealand is (minus its important tourist industry) essentially back to normal. 

This means that last week my dear ones celebrated Andrea's birthday with a restaurant meal. They walk around maskless. They invite friends over for a barbecue, attend mom-and-baby swim classes, greet each other with hugs. (Remember those?) 
-----------------------

As of today, New Zealand has experienced 2299 COVID cases and 25 deaths, while Cass County, Iowa, has had half the cases (1155)  but nearly twice the deaths (41).

New Zealand is a country with a population of nearly 5 million.
Cass County is home to 13091. 

In other words, Cass County is ONE-QUARTER of ONE PERCENT of NZ's population, but we've lost twice as many grandparents, friends, and colleagues to the virus. 
---------------------------

Because New Zealand has been responsible in its handling of the pandemic, today's news shouldn't have startled me. 

But it did.

New Zealand plans to exclude travellers from the rest of the world until they vaccinate their population and can be assured that incoming visitors will not bring the contagion to their country. 

At this time, they are estimating non-admittance to extend through the year of 2021.

---------------------------

Yes. I understand.

No. I don't understand. 

For months I've held to the hope that if I were vaccinated, I could get to NZ to hold Wolf before he turns one. 

Enough.
Enough.
Enough. 

Be well.

Write.

Allison

William Wolf Hoegh, 6 months