Former Ottawa man turned Kiwi living post-pandemic dream

Imagine what life will be likeafter the pandemic: the hugs, the handshakes, theprospect of a functioning economy.

David Houston is already living that life.The former Ottawannow lives in New Zealand, where an early and intense lockdowncorralled COVID-19 and made Kiwis the envy of the pandemic-plagued world.

The country, which has a population of 4.9 million, has had 2,313 casesand just 25 deaths.On June 8, 2020, the country declared the pandemic over. Subsequent isolated cases have been contained.

"There was no longer any community transmission. You could be out in the public, and there was just no chance of you actually getting COVID," Houston told CBC.

It's hard not to compareother countries' COVID-19 response toNew Zealand's full-court press. In March 2020, the government issued a nationwide stay-at-home order that lasted seven weeks.

During the lockdown, Houston a classical music programmer for Radio New Zealand who did similar work for CBC Ottawa was able to work from home in the small town of Martinborough, 60 kilometresaway from the capital, Wellington.

In the cities, he said, there were long lineups at grocery stores and many shuttered businesses. It was, Houston said, "a really stressful time."

"It was really clear here what we had to do. Then it was done and it was sorted," said Houston. "[The government's] argument at the start was if we don't do this now, we'll be doing it constantly. It's been proven right around the world."

But then it was over

Houston recalled bookingpost-pandemic flights with his partner to Queenstown, in a mountainous region of New Zealand.

"We were able to go skiing. We were able to go wine-tasting," he recalled."Ironically, I did get a cold for the first time when I flew back. I had to have my first COVID test, but it came back negative."

Houston also described experiencing intense moments of post-pandemic gratitude, especially when his choir was invited to perform with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra in a performance of Handel's Messiah.

"The hall was packed. There were 2,000 people. It was completely safe for them to be there. The conductor actually had the entire audience sing the Hallelujah Chorus," said Houston.

"It was just quite incredible."

New Zealands response to COVID-19 means the show can go on

4 years ago

Duration 1:19

Canadian David Houston, who now lives in New Zealand, sang with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra before Christmas in front of an audience of 2,000 people. He says the fact that that was possible is an indication of how well the country has handled the pandemic.

Meanwhile back home

Houston still worries about his parents back home in Canada and the impact of their year-long isolation. He has Canadian friends with young children who can't have play dates and are limited to virtual social interactions.

"You just feel like life has shrunk so much," said Houston. "They can't be with people or do the things that they love."

Had Houston tried to visit Canada, it would have meant two weeks of quarantine at either end. Travellers arriving in New Zealandmust spend 14 days in government-managed isolation centres facilities that "are so booked up there's no room in them until May." he said.

'It looks like normal life'

There are still minor inconveniences, Houston said, like signing inwhen you go to a restaurantin case close contacts have to be traced, or wearing masks on domestic flights.

But life, for the most part, is as it once was.

"It looks like normal life," said Houston."You can just behave almost entirely normally."

And while he's proud of his adopted nation, Houston's alsocareful about wallowing in his good fortune and thinks twice before posting a selfie "on the patio having a nice glass of ros or Pinot Noir."

"Yeah, you're a bit cautious about it," he said. "But I think most of our friends are like, 'Yeah, we know you're lucky. Yeah, we get it.'"