20 Sep 2021

Covid-19: Aucklanders weigh up alert level change

6:39 am on 20 September 2021

Not all Aucklanders are desperate to move to level 3, with some saying they would rather remain in level 4 until daily case numbers drop to single digits.

Central Auckland on Wednesday 25 August 2021 on the eighth today of a Covid-19 lockdown.

Photo: RNZ / John Edens

In the South Auckland suburb of Manukau, Sean Poimafisi said he hoped the city can drop down an alert level, but only if it's safe.

"I believe we could possibly go longer for another week or so just until we get into the single digits like under 10, but there's a lot of pressure on the government now to try to lift levels, especially for small businesses, to get back to work and operating."

Poimafisi lives with his partner and three children. The family has been coping fine with working and learning from home but their kids are missing their friends and being in the classroom, he said. He called on everyone to stay the course.

"People are just not doing what the government is saying or asking, and that's the only way we can go forward and we can move out of level if everyone just abides by the rules and wears a mask - not just to keep yourself safe, but the community," he said.

Chisana Heemi was also cautious about moving too quickly to level 3.

"I reckon once the cases get under 10... I reckon we will drop back down to level 3, but other than that for now I reckon we should stay on level 4 just for the safety of everyone."

Working as a customer service representative at night, Heemi is enjoying the family time made possible by the lockdown.

"Because I was working quite a bit before but now during this lockdown I get to see my family more. I was working night shift so I hardly ever got to see anyone because everyone will be gone during the day and then I'll come back at night and everyone is sleeping."

Scott Robertson said level 4 is tough but he was worried about relaxing restrictions.

"I obviously want to get out of lockdown to have the freedom that we would all like to have but the Delta variant is a lot more vicious than the other strains that we've had, and I feel like if we do come out of lockdown, then we'll probably see the cases go through the roof," he said.

However, Isaac Kaiuha couldn't wait for the restrictions to ease.

"Just sick of staying home. I'd like to go out and do some stuff and go back to work."

He was finding it hard to cope on the wage subsidy but overall he was not too stressed about level 4.

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