AUS
NZ
UK
CA
USA
IND
Source: Nhemz, Shutterstock
Summary
- Auckland was put under another lockdown, prompted by a coronavirus case who has been infectious for a week but did not go in quarantine.
- Auckland power outage postponed by Vector Limited but the Company would continue working where there has been urgency.
- New Zealand Chiropractors’ Association has warned that frequent lockdowns are forcing closure of chiropractic practices.
Auckland has been put under a 7-day lockdown after a fresh case of coronavirus of an unidentified origin surfaced. Several consequences are expected to be suffered by Kiwis due to the lockdown.
Vector Limited (NZX:VCT) planned power outages during coronavirus alert level 3, imposed on Sunday, as people continued to work and learn from home amid the lockdown. Vector also scheduled underground and overhead cable maintenance, transformer, pole substitutes, as well as general maintenance, during the lockdown.
Source: © Vince937 | Megapixl.com
After several complaints from people living in Auckland suburbs, including residents in rural areas, power outages have been postponed. The Company stated that it would continue work only in areas that required urgent safety or were suffering from any reliability problems.
However, Vector stated that it understood the effect of the same on the customers and would evaluate the forthcoming projects that had needed planned outages.
Lockdown compelling closure of chiropractic practices
New Zealand Chiropractors’ Association (NZCA) cautioned that imposing lockdowns again and again with no funding or exemptions support for a substantial number of private primary healthcare practices had started putting in jeopardy the wellbeing of public and the sustainability of businesses.
Dr Cassandra Fairest, Acting NZCA President, stated that a warning was given in 2020 that a crisis in health care provision was imminent and there it was. Two chiropractic practices have been shut down after the latest lockdown as they hadn’t had any patients for 12 weeks during the previous year.
Chiropractors are licensed primary health care providers who are certified under the HPCA Act and work in solo, community, and multidisciplinary clinics in New Zealand.
Many primary healthcare providers rely on face-to-face meetings and fee-based income for their survival. Subsequently, NZCA Council wrote to Chris Hipkins, COVID-19 Response Minister, to defend its case. The Ministry of Health's regulations are especially tough on chiropractors who rely on hands-on practices and are paid out-of-pocket payments by the public.
Healthcare companies that do not receive public funding support but offer a substantial portion of critical healthcare facilities tend to be a neglected sector. Chiropractors in New Zealand are leading the way in teaching the public about the connection between their spine and nervous system, and also how it impacts their work and overall welfare.
