South Auckland, it seems, will continue to remain edgy, despite the change in Alert Levels for the rest of the country – till at least when the entire community comes back at the same Alert levels.
Auckland and wider New Zealand had dropped one level each - to levels 2 and 1 respectively - from midnight Wednesday, February 17, after having been put into higher Alert Levels three days ago on midnight of Sunday, February 14.
The only exception to the alert levels being Papatoetoe High School, where students and their families have been asked to stay home and return a negative Covid-19 test before returning to school on Monday.
Dr Preet
This staggered alert level system - though a new reality and necessity of the Covid inflicted world – is expectedly causing cautious anxiety in South Auckland community, especially with many experts also opining that we are not out of the woods yet.
"We're not completely out of the woods yet, we're going to level two, we're not going all the way down to level one, but we are confident that around the rest of the country, New Zealand can return to level one and in Auckland we've still got a little bit more work to do,” Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said.
Dr Preet, President of Papatoetoe based Auckland Indian Retailer Association – which comprises businesses in Papatoetoe-Otara region told the Indian Weekender that there was cautious anxiety within small retailers and the wider community in the region.
“Since Papatoetoe is the epicentre of this new community cases- there is a lot of fear amongst the community members. Yes, people are taking precautions here - the streets are empty, only a few cars passing by and our local businesses have taken a big hit.”
“Retailers have either kept their shutters down for the last three days, and most of us are only giving limited access to our stores,” Dr Preet said.
Gurdeep Singh of Gold Creations (Kolmar Road) said that customers have yet not returned to his store compared to pre-lockdown levels.
Gurdeep Singh
“The impact of the new Covid cases in the community in Papatoetoe is huge. I think people are scared and confused with three days in Alert Level 3 and now in Level 2.”
“Shops are open but no customers. It's eerily quiet over here with barely any people walking on the street. We are however taking all necessary precautions for even the limited number of customers we are receiving- asking to scan QR Code and maintaining at least two-metre distance with them.”
“Good thing is people are using Covid Tracer app and are being extremely careful,” Gurdeep said.
Rajesh Goel, Kitchen Warehouse & Aroma Fashion told the Indian Weekender that the change to Alert level 2 on Wednesday midnight has yet not brought back customers to his stores.
Rajesh Goel
“Papatoetoe is a business hub for the Indian community not just from Auckland but also for people from Hamilton, Wellington, Tauranga. People come here for clothing, utensils and Indian house products,” Rajesh said.
“Last Sunday, the market was full- like a normal weekend shopping time- but as soon as the news came of the new community case that too in Papatoetoe, there was a panic in the market both amongst shopkeepers and the customers and within 30 minutes the streets of Papatoetoe became empty,”
“Businesses, small and medium enterprises like ours have taken a big hit and since last Sunday, its lockdown for us.”
“We have a lot of friends and knowns whose children go to Papatoetoe High School and assumingly, there is a fear amongst us all. People not in Papatoetoe even far east and south in Auckland are planning not to send their children to school for a while, especially childcare centres,” Rajesh said.
Dixit Chauhan, Deputy Chairman of Hunters Town Corner Centre, who previously owned a couple of businesses in the area – a travel agency and a retail clothing store – is already reeling under the pressures on the travel industry – is waiting for customers to return back on roads and stores.
Dixit Chauhan
“The business was already down but due to new cases now, it has gone to almost none. Papatoetoe is a place where Indians come to shop from all over Auckland and now that there is a fear of contracting the virus – people are scared to shop here.”
“It’s been just three days of Alert Level 3 lockdown and we are back in level 2, and soon in level, but the fear amongst the public will remain for a while before they come to shop in our suburb.”
“I have seen retailers taking all necessary precautions but as of now people are less in the area and business is taking the fall. We hope and pray things get back to normal soon,” Dixit said.
Meanwhile, there were no new community cases of Covid-19 today and Cabinet has agreed to make face coverings on public transport a requirement for all of New Zealand.
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