August 30, 2021
Manaaki needed to keep virus numbers down
A leader of the Māori pandemic response group Te Ropu Whakakaupapa Uruta says a boost in welfare support is critical for getting Tamaki Makaurau through the next two weeks of lockdown.
Cabinet yesterday confirmed Auckland will stay at level four until at least September 13, while the rest of the country apart from Northland goes to level three at 11.59 this evening.
Northland has to wait until Friday to come down a level, as long as no COVID is detected in wastewater and contact tests.
On Saturday Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the Government was putting $7 million into food banks and services operating at alert level 4, and another $1 million to existing contracts and services to support people struggling with mental health issues.
Dr Rawiri McKree Jansen says it’s just what’s needed.
"If people are hungry, if they're struggling with the basic things and they are apparently in lockdown and don't leave the house, my heart goes out to them. I think that's incredibly challenging so all the support for these families, that welfare support, that manaaki if we do that right I think we will see the result of that with our numbers keeping going down," he says.
Dr Jansen says level 4 is tough in families, especially if they have been told they are close contacts.
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