Covid Watch

New research suggests gastritis is on the rise- and it may be an underdiscussed aspect of long Covid.

Gastritis describes a condition that causes stomach lining to become red, swollen and inflamed. 

Naturopath, wellness expert and Golden Yogi's Erin O'Hara explained that gastrointestinal conditions have been flaring up after people have gotten Covid-19, including peptic ulcer diseases, GERD and acute pancreatitis.

Erin O'Hara recommends getting a specialist's opinion, sticking to an anti-inflammatory diet and reducing alcohol and caffeine intake.

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The sugar hit many businesses received during the pandemic is starting to wear off.

Company liquidations are on the rise again as the Covid-related protections that once shielded businesses are subsiding.

Restructuring Insolvency and Turnaround Association chair Kare Johnstone says the number of liquidations from the first quarter of 2023 is 265, up 29 percent from early 2022.

"While liquidations are on the increase, if we just have a look at that same period for pre-pandemic levels, we're actually still sitting at under the liquidations low at 31 percent."

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New Zealand's headed towards its fourth winter since the Covid-19 pandemic was introduced.

Mask mandates and lockdowns are a thing of the past, meaning the virus is more likely to spread through the wider community in 2023.

Most people recover within days or weeks, but what happens to the percentage of people who will suffer from long Covid?

Wellness expert Erin O'Hara says all the symptoms of long Covid are still unknown, especially since the effects vary from person to person.

Erin O'Hara recommends managing your energy levels, resting when you work from home, and keeping an eye on your nutrition.

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When I had Covid last year, I wouldn’t have known I had it if I hadn’t tested.

And the only reason I did a test was because my wife was crook and under the rules I had to test negative to keep going to work.

So, no symptoms at all, but still positive. So I was in Covid prison for seven days, as well.

And every day - in fact, sometimes several times a day - I would get the RATs out just to double check I did actually have it. Because I felt perfectly fine.

I had a whole pile of them with the two red lines. Felt fine, but I was actually crook.

And if I hadn’t tested the first time, I would’ve kept sailing around the place thinking I was Mr Healthy.

And if what happened last year at our place was to happen again today, I’d still end up in Covid prison for a week because, yesterday, the Government decided to stick with the Covid isolation rules for a bit longer.

Most reports I’ve seen over the past 24 hours have said the Government wants to keep them in place for a couple of months. Although one overseas media outlet is saying this morning that the isolation rules are here for the rest of the year.

Either way, if you get Covid anytime soon - you’ll be expected to isolate.

And I reckon the only reason the Government has done what it’s done, is because generally people are bozos and can’t be trusted to do the right thing.

When I say “the right thing”, it’s no different from what “the right thing” was before Covid was around. Which was simple: if you’re sick, stay home.

But we had outfits like Codral saying “soldier on”. Remember that? And ads on TV with people at bus stops looking miserable because they were full of a cold or man-flu. Feeling very sorry for themselves but “soldiering on” for the greater good.

And, because we’ve still got this stupid “soldier on” mentality, even after the whole Covid thing, the Government feels it’s got no choice but to keep the isolation rules going.

Remember early on in the pandemic when Sir Ashley Bloomfield stood up on TV and said “people aren’t the problem, the virus is the problem”. It was a nice line. Then. These days, though, I am in no doubt that people are the problem.

How many people have you looked sideways at because they’ve been sneezing and rasping and, somehow, they’re medical experts too and they've told you “oh, it’s not Covid. It’s just hayfever”. Even without testing, they know for sure it’s not Covid. Experts apparently!

Yeah, I’ve got another word to describe them. Bozos.

And it’s these bozos who have a whole of other people living in fear. It’s not the Government making people scared - it’s all these selfish idiots who just want to keep on soldiering on, even when they’re full of Covid.

People waiting for specialist health treatment. They’re terrified of the bozos, because if they get Covid their treatment could be off.

People with respiratory conditions. They’re terrified of the bozos because if they get Covid, it could be curtains for them.

Employers. Especially the ones in hospitality or retail. They’re terrified of the bozos because if Covid goes through the shop or the restaurant or the cafe, they can’t operate.

And despite Sir Ashley Bloomfield’s kind words back in the day when he said people weren’t the problem, the virus was the problem - despite all that, I’m in no doubt that people are the problem, because they just can’t be trusted to do the right thing.

The right thing being - if you’re sick, stay home.

And because people are the problem, we are stuck with these home isolation rules and for who knows how long - because I don't see people suddenly growing brain cells and suddenly becoming less selfish than they are right now.

Which is why I think the Government has done the right thing and the wrong thing.

By keeping the isolation rules, it’s done the right thing - because there are so many bozos out there who only think about number one.

But it’s done the wrong thing too, because, surely, we’ve reached a point where Covid has to be seen in the same light as influenza - and we don’t force people to stay home if they have the flu, despite the fact that they can a lot sicker with the flu than they’ll ever be with Covid.

So, I’m disappointed that the isolation rules haven’t been scrapped but, because people are so selfish, I don't think the Government had any choice.

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There has been disappointment New Zealand isn't looking to move away from mandated Covid-19 isolation.

The Government is not changing the seven-day isolation requirement for cases for at least two months.

It's also asked for more work on whether testing to return to work for mild or asymptomatic cases,  would be safe.

First Retail Group Managing Director Chris Wilkinson told Roman Travers this will have an impact on retailers.

He believes the decision around whether to isolate or not, should be with employers.

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Tonight on The Huddle, Tim Wilson from Maxim Institute and David Farrar, Curia Pollster and Kiwiblog contributor joined in on a discussion about the following topics: 

The Government has announced that they plan to keep the seven-day isolation requirement in place for the next two months. What do we think of this- will people stick to the isolation requirements?

The Greater Wellington Regional Council has proposed an 18 percent rate hike to boost bus driver wages- is this an acceptable amount to make people pay?

Auckland Transport has taken on a new CEO- who would be brave enough to take on this job? What do we want him to do for the public transport sector?

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The Health Minister says when countries move away from mandated Covid-19 isolation, it means more transmission.

The Government's keeping the seven day isolation requirement for people with Covid-19 for at least the next two months.

Cabinet's also asked for more work on whether testing to return to work for mild cases or asymptomatic people would be safe and effective.

Health Minister Ayesha Verrall says such a scheme can be used so if a person tests negative they'd be released earlier.

"Also in some places where they have this, you have to stay in isolation until you test negative, which may be longer than our current seven days."

Verrall says it depends on how the mandate is structured.

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Cabinet is seeking advice on whether a Covid "test to work" scheme would work.

Business NZ CEO Kirk Hope says that could allow some workers back sooner than seven days.

"Of course, you know your employer's going to say- only come in if you're capable of working, we don't want you here if you're still, in fact feeling quite sick."

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New Zealand's mandatory seven-day isolation period for Covid-19 isn't changing for at least the next two months.

Chris Hipkins says he expects we'll reach a point by the end of winter where Covid becomes normal and we're moving towards the virus being just another thing managed by the health system.

ZB's Chief Political Reporter Aaron Dahmen says it seems that the remaining Covid-19 restrictions will be on the 'policy bonfire' come spring.

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You might have heard Prime Minister Chris Hipkins on the Newstalk ZB this morning saying the Government will be making a carefully balanced decision on whether to scrap the mandatory seven-day isolation period for people who test positive for Covid.

Cabinet will be reviewing Covid rules with an announcement expected sometime this in the near future.

They're going to be basing their decision on the latest public health advice and the state of the health system heading into winter. Well, we can tell them that it's buggered, isn't it? I mean, it's pretty much stuffed.

The Prime Minister told Tim Dower this morning it's a careful balancing act between the impact of people being unable to go to work and the impact of Covid spreading.

The public health professionals, who we all saw rather too much of throughout Covid, have been urging the Government over the weekend to keep the few remaining restrictions in place.

These being the seven-day isolation period and the wearing of masks in many spaces to protect against not only Covid, but the other dangerous respiratory illnesses doing the rounds including flu and whooping cough.

And all of them were preaching the abundance of caution message, which I suppose is their job. This is what they're trained to do. To warn people about infectious diseases and try to prevent any deaths at all. I get it.

I guess when it comes to the mandatory stand down period, what that did was give people who don't have flexibility or autonomy with their employers the ability to take time off. They had to. They had no choice in the matter.

So many people during those awful years rang me and said they would be going to work regardless of whether or not they tested positive, because they simply could not afford to stay home. So where do you stand on this one?

I imagine it will depend on whether you're an employee with a good boss and you'll say, yes, well, get rid of the mandatory period. You have somewhere where you can rest where you're not surrounded by ten other people. You've got the ability to get yourself better.

But if you're someone and your income is the difference between having a roof over your head or not, and you are told to stand down for seven days. You're not going to do it, are you?

You're going to drag yourself out of bed; no matter how sick you're feeling and go to work because that is what you have to do.

So what's right in your opinion?

Keep the mandatory stand down period for those who simply haven't got the luxury of taking time off, it has to be enforced before they can do it. Or rely on common sense?

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