Reckoning

Level 2 as of midnight tonight! 

News blues…

President Ramaphosa updates South Africans (28:00 mins) and declares a “new phase” in response: Extend national state of disaster until Sept 15 but move to Level 2.
Alert Level 2 protocols:

• Remove restrictions on the resumption of economic activity albeit with necessary and appropriate conditions
• Interprovincial travel ban lifted
• Hospitality reopens with approved protocols
• Restaurants, bars, taverns reopen with approved protocols
• Lift restrictions on the sale of cigarettes
• Alcohol use subject to conditions: up to 10 pm in public; for sale Mon – Thur 9 am to 5p for use at home
• Lift restrictions for family and friend – small gatherings
• Continue social distancing and protect the vulnerable continue

Protocols that remain in place:

• International travel remains restricted
• No gatherings of more than 50 people, including funerals and religious
• Curfew from 10 pm to 4 am
• Stay at home, work at home if possible

Continue to:

• Wear masks
• Protect the elderly and those with underlying conditions
• Social distancing
• Proper ventilation
• Limit travel to necessary trips only
• Avoid social gatherings
• Wash and sanitize hands
• Behave responsibly – act as if you could infect others

Keep in mind that New Zealand, a model of well-managed response to Covid-19, reinstituted lockdown in Auckland due to a second wave of infections.

On Sunday, New Zealand reported 13 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus for the last 24 hours, as the country’s first outbreak in months continued to grow.
All but one of the new cases were from community transmission and appeared to be linked to a cluster in Auckland where the most recent outbreak started, said Ashley Bloomfield, the New Zealand director general of health. The 13th was a traveller who returned from abroad and was in managed quarantine. It brings the number of active cases in New Zealand to 69. Since the start of the year the country had recorded 1,271 cases.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch…

Despite international travel remaining restricted, this morning, for the first time in 144 days, I fantasized about la dolce vita aboard my houseboat. Many things to work out here before I can resume the liveaboard life, but it beckons, and I can see myself back in California.

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Alas, in California, news came of a favorite pet cat passing away peacefully. RIP, Tommy, Mr T, The Tomalizer, Catiwompuss. The 90-year-old mother of a friend passed away the same day, almost the same time. Perhaps they’re together in the place the succors good souls? 

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Local weather here has gone from hot 27 C (81 F) with gusting winds, accompanied by fire warnings, to 11 C (42 F) with predictions of 1 C and -1 C (31 - 30 F) overnight this week. Continued predictions for sorely needed rain that never comes.