As the country shifted into Alert Level 2, Covid-19 testing has ramped up in Tasman in the last week since the community outbreak in Auckland. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced on Tuesday last week that the country would be moving to alert level 2 while the Auckland supercity moved into level 3, with Ardern extending the settings until August 26.
Between August 13-17, 1426 Covid tests were undertaken across Nelson and Tasman, with 995 tests carried out in Nelson, and 431 across Tasman.
So far, no cases of Covid-19 have been recorded in the Nelson Tasman region since the Auckland outbreak.
The Level 2 announcement came as a relief for hospitality and retail businesses in the region, with Sprig and Fern Richmond owner Tracy Banner saying the business is feeling ‘extremely positive.’
“Everybody had their fingers and toes crossed that we wouldn’t be moving into further restrictions,” she says. Tracy says that while Level 2 takes a lot more work due to customers being seated and maintaining single service, it still leaves them in a good position.
“We’ve been experiencing good levels of trading, and it’s been easier for customers the second time around, people are used to it.”
Richmond Mall manager Belinda De Clerq says that the mall and its retailers are ‘thrilled’ with the announcement to remain at Level 2.
“[There are] a few minor changes,” she says.
“Reduced seating in the food court to allow for social distancing, and respite seating removed and play area closed under Level 2 criteria,” she says.
“Food court tenants are providing take-away options only and café’s are complying with the three S’s. Seated, Separated, Single Server,” she says.
Nelson’s political candidates are backing the move by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to delay the election to October 17.
Nelson Labour candidate Rachel Boyack says it is just a short delay of a month to make sure the Electoral Commission can deliver a safe election. It was previously scheduled for September 19.
“It’s particularly important that people feel safe and comfortable so that they can go and vote.”
Rachel says there have been plenty of events cancelled under Level 2 as well as political parties generally suspending their campaigns.
“[The delay] means that everyone has a fair shot and people have a chance to campaign.”
Incumbent Nelson MP and National candidate Nick Smith says the focus needs to be on making sure Covid-19 does not re-emerge in the Nelson region.
“It would have been a distraction to have an election occurring at the same time.”
He says that the delay will make for a fairer campaign, “but we don’t know if this second wave of Covid-19 will be able to be quickly isolated or if it will “drag out”.
Nick says he wants to be supportive of the Government in such an emergency, but he also wants to be able to ask the “hard questions”, particularly around perceived errors at the border.
Green Party candidate Dr Aaron Stallard says, while the whole situation is “unsettling”, delaying the election is a good move as it satisfied everyone.
“The greater number of weeks we can engage, then the better for democracy.”
ACT candidate Chris Bailie says he and the ACT party are “pretty happy” with the delay.
“It had to happen to make things free and fair,” he says. “We have to get out and about and meet the people and listen to people. It just levels the playing field.”