Yesterday the Rt. Hon. Jacinda Ardern announced a level system for
       Covid-19, and told us that we were at Level 2, having previously been
       at the rough equivalent of Level 1.
       
       The day before yesterday, New Zealand closed its borders to all except
       citizens, permanent residents, and their children and partners (with
       limited exceptions).
       
       We are clearly living in the middle of a historic event of some
       magnitude, one that is going to impact on everyone's lives quite
       directly.
       
       I saw a woman on the BBC the other day complaining that her university
       experience has been compromised by the pandemic, because she's having
       to do her final year from home.  In the scheme of things this seems
       like a rather minor complaint — yes maybe you miss out on some student
       parties and lunch on the campus lawn but you'll be able to say for the
       rest of your life that it was because of a pandemic, a moment you
       share with everyone else alive today.  Living through a pandemic is a
       different experience, probably a lot more notable than a typical final
       year!
       
       
       A colleague (with whom I am no longer friends, apparently, having
       beaten her in an axe-throwing competition) agreed with me, saying that
       she's encouraging her students to document their experience by
       e.g. taking photos.  Thinking about it, it's not a bad idea, so I
       started to log it.
       
 (HTM) https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/412280/coronavirus-prime-minister-jacinda-ardern-gives-address-to-nation-on-the-covid-19-response
       
 (HTM) https://thespinoff.co.nz/the-bulletin/20-03-2020/the-bulletin-new-zealands-border-is-now-closed/
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