Congratulations to Jacinda Ardern and the Government for being prepared to put people over profits and quickly go for a level 4 lockdown to contain the spread of the coronavirus. Without this, many more lives would have been lost. But can they hold their nerve as investors panic about the shrinking value of their share portfolios and business owners/ managers worry that profits will not increase this year?

If we come out of lockdown too early and too quickly the lives of many, many, New Zealanders would be at risk. And the quality of life of many people would be so diminished as to be almost inhumane, for a very long time.

This virus can be spread before the infected person shows symptoms. We should not kid ourselves, with the best hygiene practices in the world, it would not be possible for the coronavirus to be kept out of rest homes, hospitals, and disability support services. Even if people were kept in solitary confinement in their rooms for the foreseeable future, social distancing by staff looking after them is impossible. Nurses and support workers have to go home to their families, who would be mixing in the community. They could be infectious well before they realised it and stopped going to work.

People in the community with underlying health issues that make them especially vulnerable would also be confined to a lonely solitary existence for a very long time – until a vaccine or effective early treatment is discovered.

Being in lockdown has been difficult for many people, especially for solo parents, those in cold damp houses without enough money to heat them, those living alone without modern technology, and those in unsafe relationships. But the government has it within its power to deal with most of these issues. And to be fair, has tried its best to deal with them.

Jobs will be lost. No one is denying that. The challenge is to ensure that everyone has a decent income regardless of whether they are in paid work or not. And there will be the opportunity to create better jobs in the future. Jobs that not only pay well for the workers but contribute to the wellbeing of us all and of the planet. Perhaps ensuring that the aged care and disability sectors and the health sector in general are adequately staffed so that they can cope in emergency situations would be a start. Then there is the education sector, also overworked and understaffed.

Documentary maker Bryan Bruce has made the excellent suggestion of setting up kitchens in every school and providing free lunches. That would provide employment for some of the hospitality workers who find themselves out of a job. Add in a garden for each school to provide fresh vegetables and more jobs are created, as well as excellent learning opportunities and good nutrition for our children.

Time and time again over the lockdown period we have seen examples of amazing things being done for the common good. People everywhere have gone above and beyond the call of duty. Let’s see it through. The already wealthy will still have plenty of money once this is over. This is not about them. It is about being a truly inclusive society that cares for everyone. Not one that leaves our most vulnerable lonely and scared, stuck in solitary confinement indefinitely, quite possibly dying there, while the rest of us get on with our lives.