Dear Diary,

Well, it’s happened. Deep down I knew it might, but I still can’t believe it. Today, Chris Hipkins (our so-called Prime Minister – ugh I miss Jacinda – total queen!) dropped the last of the Covid restrictions.

There are no more masks in hospitals. No more mandatory isolation. There is not a single Covid rule anywhere. I’m gutted.

Why is he doing this now? I’m so upset. It has only been three-and-a-half years since the government brought in the rules to control the pandemic FFS! As I’m writing this, I just read on one of my science WhatsApp groups that there’s a new variant doing the rounds (eek!). I understand little of the detail, but it looks like we should mask up immediately!

Why doesn’t the Prime Minister understand that we should be increasing restrictions, not removing them? Sure, nearly everyone has had Covid, but there is always a new variant to fear, like, properly fear. And millions of Kiwis still haven’t bothered to get their fourth or even their third boosters. So lazy. So uncaring. I cannot comprehend why they want to, like, literally put me in danger. Why can’t they #BeKind?

Actually, that reminds me – this morning I overheard an unmasked guy (probably late 30s) on the bus telling a friend how he’d had Covid in October 2021. He was being all macho and pretending he hadn’t been too unwell. He was talking all sorts of rubbish – like vaccines don’t stop transmission and masks don’t work. He was even banging on about how he now had ‘natural immunity’!?! As if that is a thing. Check the dictionary, they updated it, bro.

He said to his mate that ‘on balance’ he didn’t feel he needed to get the vaccine. I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Probably should have reported him. As if people like him could actually weigh up the evidence? We are the experts, not you! He is one of those that did his own research cookers…

Also – what about getting it to protect other people, buddy!? Jeez the stupidity of these people. Typical Covidiot!

Anyway, it doesn’t make sense. Is this about the election? Media attention? Votes? The election is only 8 weeks away. I’ve told him (and Jacinda – ugh I miss her so much) till I’m blue in the face how dangerous Covid still is and that we should keep masks and isolation mandates in place forever to save people from all the other respiratory diseases. It’s not just Covid. There’s like … the flu. Masking just seems like a better way to live. So, what’s he up to? Why isn’t he listening? I hope he isn’t putting politics before science…

Diary… I miss 2020 sooooo much. 2023 feels so different – I don’t like it. I remember the early days of 2020 when people listened to the experts and did what we told them. Seeing all those people masked-up at the supermarkets and avoiding each other while outdoors made me feel so proud to live in Aotearoa.

People aren’t wearing masks at the supermarket anymore. They’re not even wearing them on buses (gross!). Like, how hard can it be? Don’t they care about other people?

The worst of it is, the media are talking about other things. And Labour haven’t called to ask for my opinion. What happened to the polls? I mean… I’ll keep posting on Twitt-I mean X. But it is totally overrun with #freedumb fighters.

I keep posting because my opinions are important and needed, now more than ever. It’s not like MSM bothers talking about Covid these days! All the media seem to care about is the economy and the cost-of-living crisis (thanks for nothing, Mr Putin!). I just don’t get it…? Covid hasn’t gone away, people!

I had a phone call with ‘A’ earlier today. He’s even more distraught. He put his heart and soul into the past 1,240 days, keeping to every rule, telling others to wear masks, and for what? Sure, he got a lot of government funding and some awards, but still! He’s terrified National (boooo!!) will win the election and form a government with ACT (double boooo!!!) and that they will simply stop talking about Covid. It’s my fear as well. People need to know the pandemic isn’t over. Sure, the WHO says it is, but we know better. We did our own research. It never will be! Eek. I hope the WHO aren’t putting politics before science as well? Do they have elections?

A and I also chatted about the future. TBH, I hadn’t thought much about the future. I thought Covid was my future! We agreed we needed to keep doing everything we can to keep Covid at the forefront of people’s minds, forever, aggressively, because, well, it’s the right thing to do! At least we have the Covid inquiry to look forward to. It’ll be great to have Covid back into the spotlight again where it belongs. A also suggested we should start writing about other crises, like global climate collapse. He reckons our Covid management experience and science communication skills are needed. We could make a huge difference to the world and people’s lives in these areas too.

Anyway – time to sign off. I’m going to a socially distanced slam poetry event this evening with friends. I need to find my portable air purifier (I hope I didn’t leave it at work?) and decide which mask to wear. Maybe I should wear the smiley-face one? It’ll hide how sad I am.

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