DailyDits

Jacinda Ardern, the prime minister of New Zealand, has declared that her country is free from the deadly coronavirus and she has officially ended the lockdown in her country – much to the delight of New Zealanders. 

There are, however, still stringent border controls in place which are intended to keep new cases of the deadly virus away from the country. 

But robust social distancing methods have been lifted after health officials in the country confirmed that no new cases of COVID-19 had been detected. 

During a press conference, Ms Ardern said that her country had: 

“united in unprecedented ways to crush the virus”. 

The popular prime minister has been praised for her government’s handling of the global pandemic, with the World Health Organisation also commending her administration of the emergency. 

On the 25th March, New Zealand was put into lockdown for four weeks. 

After that period, the restrictions slowly started to ease. 

Meanwhile, in the UK, three months after the lockdown started, lockdown measures have only recently started to ease. 

But from midnight tonight, all restrictions in New Zealand will be lifted.

Back in March, New Zealand had around 200 confirmed cases the virus. Even during its peak, only 1,500 cases were confirmed. 

Twenty-two people in New Zealand died after contracting the virus. 

That represents a figure of around 0.0000044% of the total population. 

In the UK, over 40,000 people have died, which represents a figure of around 0.00061538% of the population – a mortality rate 1,398 times higher than New Zealand. 

Scientists have said that the mortality rate in New Zealand could have been much higher had their government not have acted so swiftly. 

On Thursday, officers from Nottinghamshire Police executed a warrant at a residential address to try and find a male who had been giving them the slip.

However, when the police arrived, the male had other ideas and made good his escape by running and hiding in some local ‘foulage’.

The suspect thought that hiding in the woods would be enough to throw officers off the scent, so to speak.

But as the officers were searching the undergrowth, they heard a distinctive noise that can only be attributed to the every-day function of the human body; the suspect let off an ‘air biscuit’.

A spokesperson for Nottinghamshire Police confirmed that officers heard a noise “believed to be the sound of someone breaking wind from a nearby bush”.

Once the male had given away his location, it wasn’t long before officers picked him up and carted him away.

Perhaps another good reason why anyone with a dairy intolerance should lay off of the stuff. Especially when you are ‘playing’ hide n seek.

As we face an unprecedented global emergency, not seen before in recent times, more and more people are feeling isolated and anxious. 

Access to factual information that has not been ‘ramped up’ or ‘spun’ to get clicks is also increasingly hard to find. 

But a Facebook group that has been set up by ‘Emergency Services News‘ hopes to not only offer support for the vulnerable but also hopes to be able to share timely and accurate information about this fast-moving situation. 

In the group’s description, an admin for the group announced:

“This group has been set up by our news team in order to enable the general public to get access to factual information regarding the COVID-19 outbreak.

“It has also been set up in order to offer support to anyone who may need it.

“For example, if you are in a vulnerable situation but DO NOT need immediate help, then it is our hope that fellow group members might be able to offer you some help and/or guidance via this virtual community.

“We have set the group up so that all posts must be approved by an admin prior to being posted. 

“This is because we do not want any ‘fake news’ or false information being shared. 

“Admin group approval will also mean that no SPAM etc. should make its way into the group.

“If our news team spots a story that we think will be of benefit to group members (outside of our own reporting), then we will share the link to the story once we have verified (as much as we can) that the story is genuine.

“And lastly, if you feel isolated or alone then we hope that this group will be able to connect you with other people who are feeling the same.

“If you are elderly or vulnerable or you are a parent who has run out of essential items such as formula milk, then we hope that others may be able to help you.

“Please also note that we are NOT a governmental organisation. We are a news outlet run by former emergency services/armed forces personnel. For the latest advice on Coronavirus/COVID-19 please visit: 

“NHS.uk/coronavirus”.

The group has only been set up this morning, so it will be interesting to see just how many people join it. 

But at a time when we are all feeling anxious and isolated, then hopefully this group will be able to connect people and bring people together. 

To join the group, CLICK HERE

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As we all need a smile on our faces, then we thought that we would share this bizarre video that has popped up on social media.

In the video below, we can see a couple who are planting rolls of toilet paper into a field that has been rotavated (is that the right word?) ready for the rolls of toilet paper to be ‘seeded’.

I am not into gardening (yet), so I have no idea as to how many rolls of bog paper can be grown from a single roll.

But it’s worth a try! And the sight of it definitely bought a smile to my face for about 30 seconds (the length of the video).

Of course, it’s a light-hearted ‘prank’ intended just to raise a few smiles.

We have to add this otherwise people will start “panic planting” their 3-year supply of toilet paper into the ground.

Whole streets could end up being destroyed as people use the ground to plant toilet paper.

You may laugh, but if we told you three weeks ago that people would be panic buying loo roll from the shops, then you would have never of believed us!

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All pubs in Ireland have been asked to close by the Irish Government in a desperate bid to tackle the spread of coronavirus, Health Minister Simon Harris has confirmed.

Following a meeting with the Vintners’ Federation of Ireland today (15th March), Mr Harris said that all pubs and bars should close from this evening until at least 29th March.

A Government statement said:

“The LVA and VFI outlined the real difficulty in implementing the published Guidelines on Social Distancing in a public house setting, as pubs are specifically designed to promote social interaction in a situation where alcohol reduces personal inhibitions.

“For the same reason, the Government is also calling on all members of the public not to organise or participate in any parties in private houses or other venues which would put other peoples’ health at risk.

“The Government, having consulted with the Chief Medical Officer, believes that this is an essential public health measure given the reports of reckless behaviour by some members of the public in certain pubs last night.”

The advice to close is also being given to hotels which have bars. 

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