[conspire] NZ went to high alert

[Rick Moen]

https://youtu.be/lySmKKZEMQk

NZ Prime Minister Ardern announced yesterday that they're going into
lockdown because of new evidence of community transmission, which hadn't
been observed before (but two such cases were just found).  The new
'Level 4' regime means they've just adopted about the same
shelter-in-place rules (and mandatory closing of all non-essential
businesses, all schools, etc.) as has the S.F. Bay Area -- for at least
four weeks.  She is letting people have 48 hours before the lockdown
goes into enforceable effect.

Domestic air transport and other public transport will be restricted
_only_ to the staff of essential services -- including even
ferry-crossings between South Island and North Island(!).

She hopes that some localities within the country will be able to be
excused from Level 4 over time, depending on success at suppression --
and is optimistic that the whole country can emerge from Level 4 
_provided_ there is widespread compliance.

(Deirdre and I _hope_ to attend the World Science Fiction Convention in
Wellington, NZ in August, but that assumes it'll still be possible and
that it'll be feasible for foreign visitors to attend.  Both are
increasingly in some doubt.)