tdgeek:

 

mattwnz:

 

IMO we should really be now requiring these people from the UK especally, but also other infested countries, to do 14 days of isolation before departing to NZ, to reduce the risk of it getting into MIQ facilities in NZ. Top epidemiologists have been calling for this for some time. Also not happy that a report into NZs failings over covid, wasn't released to the public until after the election, when they could have released it prior. One of the failings with running an election during a global pandemic.

 

 

There were also calls by prominent people in NZ to get tested 3 days before a flight. No help, when that 3 days can be spent boozing and partying. How does another country control another country's isolation protocols? Dont get me wrong, a GREAT idea, but in practice it provides more emotional protection that practical protection.

 

I saw on the news that apparently 27 counties are now banning flights from the UK due to the risk of this new mutation, and possibly for due to the fact that it is impossible to trust people and other countries protocols. I think NZ will need to follow, but we could still get case from connecting flights, or if it spreads to other countries. We were too slow with the original outbreak in shutting down the border, which ended up in a lockdown to purge the virus, and we could end up in a similar situation again. This new strain is definitely a worry for a country like NZ which is currently clear of the virus, mainly because it could rip through the country as we have almost no immunity at all, unlike the UK and most other countries which are living in a Covid socially isolated world.