OPINION: These are scary times - it is truly frightening.

But we have to keep smiling. It is actually a great day to be a Kiwi.

Why? Well, it sounds trite but right now the border controls are our 'birthright' as New Zealanders - we are isolated and can protect ourselves.

We can't have regrets here.

We need to save lives - we want mum and dad and nana and grandad to be there this Christmas.

We have a great health system that can handle this - if we don't put the pressure on that will break it.

We are a diligent, responsive community. We can stop the handshakes, we can stay at home, we can wash our hands and make the sacrifices required to stop this thing. 

And we are gonna go after people that break our rules - great.

We can be happy that we have clear leadership right now, both politically and from our bureaucrats.

Sure there are questions, but be happy that we are not like the United States or the United Kingdom.

And we have the economic backbone to take a big hit - we can find the billions we need to push out there to keep things moving.

We've got this - we do all that, and maybe we bounce back in a few months.

So there is a little bit to smile about. And remember, smiles do not spread the virus.

Patrick Gower is Newshub's national correspondent.