I find this idea that we should sacrifice those with underlying conditions (eg all our children w rheumatic fever, ppl w asthma, all our elders w heath issues, those w cancer) so that others can continue to make money completely and utterly reprehensible and morally repugnant. https://twitter.com/SiouxsieW/status/1249779550583533569

Teenagers and children have died from COVID19 overseas. Children with CHRONIC RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES are considered to be at increased risk of severe disease. You know how NZ children have VERY HIGH rates of asthma, bronchiolitis, rheumatic fever and such like? Yeah like that.

This Lancet article, for example, has a bunch of very well qualified medical sorts VERY concerned about the risk of severe infection in children and what that might mean for their long-term health as well as for mortality (death rates) in children: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(20)30152-1/fulltext

What that means is that even though children w respiratory issues might survive COVID19 they could have scarred lungs and experience significant health issues in the years to come. This is not a good thing!! We want to avoid doing this to our nations children if we can.

ANYWAY have never been more pleased & relieved to have a government who cares about ALL it's people & is well aware of the full nature of the health burden we would face if COVID19 were to spread unchecked & is doing its best to ensure that doesn't happen & keep us all safe.

And I have never been more grateful to live in a country w a strong sense of solidarity, people who for the most part are willing to sacrifice so we can all get through this well, who care about the health & wellbeing of others, who are kind and thoughtful and compassionate.