Aotearoa Covid Action

As Covid hits again, New Zealand confronts its pandemic past Six years after New Zealand moved into its first lockdown, the final inquiry report examines lockdowns, mandates and the cost of the pandemic -and another Covid surge sweeps the countryA deadly Covid…

"With our booster uptake falling and with little tracking of Long Covid, experts are now warning that we may be underestimating the real impact of the virus."

pocketcasts.com/podcast/the-...

“The government is making changes that will mean that annual and sick leave will accumulate based on hours worked, rather than as a set entitlement.”

What this means in practice is people will be forced to work sick, and the NZ government undermines every attempt at a health response, every wave.

Facts ⬇️

Warning for employers skimping on sick leave as Covid wave hits Under-pressure employers taking a hard line on sick leave are being warned to take care with the rules.

Having sufficient leave is really important. People need to be able to isolate while infectious. Also resting with a Covid infection can lower the risk of long term effects.

www.rnz.co.nz/news/busines...

Adding a note to say if you've any capacity to donate $ &/or masks themselves, please contact @covidactionnz.bsky.social

donations: chuffed.org/project/1510...

there is a contact email address on the chuffed donations blurb, for if you've got masks or can volunteer time-wise

We need clean air in schools. Covid is airborne with tiny aerosol particles. Ventilation and air filtration are proven to reduce levels of Covid in the air. We need to minimize transmission in schools.

With Aotearoa in its ninth wave, it is vital to stop Covid spreading in schools.

Ninth wave of Covid-19 suggests wane in immunity, expert says everyone must 'act to reduce impact' The latest figures show 50 hospitalisations and 19 deaths with the virus in the past week.

Covid Wave: Expert says everyone must 'act to reduce impact'

www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...

Our petition for clean air in schools, the reinstatement of free RATs, providing free vaccinations for more people, providing adequate sick leave, and taking Long Covid seriously is as relevant as ever. Please sign, share, and be careful out there!

#maskup #covid #longcovid

Clean Air in Schools Covid can have substantial impacts on peoples’ health. Although Covid initially enters the body through the respiratory system, it can affect virtually every bodily system and organ. There are no adva...

New Zealand is in our ninth Covid wave, with 19 fatalities last week. More must be done to prevent Covid.

our.actionstation.org.nz/petitions/cl...

It’s a good time to chuck on a respirator mask, esp in health care settings, public transport & busy places (indoors and out). @covidactionnz.bsky.social have set up a couple of mask blocs around the country if you’re close to one and need some masks.

If you would like to attend, message us and we'll send through the zoom link. Although this is an Open Mic and people are free to just show up on the night and perform, please let us know if planning to perform so we can have a rough idea of how long the run list would be. Open theme.

A yellow box with purple star and microphone overlaid. Purple text says: Aotearoa Covid Action Presents An online Open Mic

Online Open Mic! We are holding our second open mic event.

🎤 Sat 21st of Feb
🎤 8:00 - 9:30pm

"What does it mean to have Long Covid?"

Dr Nancy Klimas explains:

#watch #longcovid

www.facebook.com/share/r/1C51...

A photo shows German biathalete Justus Strelow in Munich, Germany during an pre-Olympics event on January 19, 2026. He is a young white man and wears a black, high quality mask and a red t-shirt. Behind him are logos of brands and the German Olympic team. The text reads, “The Sick Times. Winter Olympic athletes are rightfully taking COVID-19 precautions. By Miles W. Griffis.”

"Many of these athletes are also taking precautions by isolating and masking around family members and friends — something disabled people, including those with Long COVID, have been doing since the beginning of the pandemic." — Miles W. Griffis, Winter Olympic athletes are rightfully taking COVID-19 precautions

Some Winter Olympics athletes, teams, and their loved ones are protecting themselves from airborne pathogens by masking and isolating.

Meanwhile, the media stigmatizes disease prevention while minimizing serious risks of Long COVID.

Read more from @mileswgriffis.bsky.social: bit.ly/4rHDA6R

Excellent thread. Agree 💯

Clean air, along with test to isolate, have to be priorities in public spaces.

A long thread with lots of receipts.

Well worth bookmarking.

@covidactionnz.bsky.social @sassypolitico.bsky.social

Yellow free masks sign and rainbow display. A Covid safer Pride Guide in black and white is on the table.

A person in a respirator mask sits at an ACA display on lime green table

We were at the Whau ZineFest which was part of PrideFest Out West. We offered free zines sharing information about how to stay safe from Covid (and other airborne illnesses), free masks and free RAT tests. Thanks to the organisers and attendees for the warm welcome.

WHO sees low risk of Nipah virus spreading beyond India It does not recommend travel or trade curbs after two infections reported by the South Asian nation.

WHO sees low risk of Nipah Virus spreading beyond India

#nipah #publichealth

www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/5...

Visit this page on our website for details: covidaction.nz/en/iaqequipm...

It's that time of year when our tamariki head back to their classrooms... If only they were all clean air classrooms, which protect health and promote achievement. You can urge your child's school to apply to receive CO2 monitors.

thread 👇

Thank you so much. Please share widely.

Aotearoa Mask Bloc We are Aotearoa Covid Action, a grassroots advocacy group that has risen up in the wake of Aotearoa New Zealand no longer having a credible plan to control the spread of Covid in our schools, workplac...

on donations. We have set up an option in the crowdfunding link for regular payments, as well as the usual one-off donations. For those who aren't able to donate, please share this post within your covid-safe networks to help us spread the message.

chuffed.org/project/1510...

We've been very fortunate that multiple people have reached out since this page was launched just before Christmas about setting up a #maskbloc site in their rohe. In order to do this, we need more donations. We aren't quite at a point where we can apply for funding so this initiative relies

Ngā mihi o te tau hou Pākehā! We hope you had a safe and restful festive season.

Both our sites, Newtown Library in Pōneke Wellington and the Western Community Centre in Kirikiriroa Hamilton, are open again and are stocked with masks.

Aotearoa Te Waipounamu: election year this year means possibility of candidates listening to our issues

@covidactionnz.bsky.social has a pretty decent list of recommendations, including advocating for better sick leave provision and clean air standards

Thank you!

Sorry to hear that!

Sage Journals: Discover world-class research Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.

University of Utah researchers analyzed data from over 16,000 U.S. adults and found those with long COVID had 40% higher healthcare costs, mainly due to more outpatient and office visits.

journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...

Pohutakawa flower in bloom

Stay safe out there. There are indications we may be entering another wave. We have resources on our website about staying safe but also what to do if you do test positive: covidaction.nz/en/resources