HDPA: There is no reason Kiwis stuck overseas shouldn't be able to come home for Christmas

 

We should now expect that Kiwis stuck overseas — especially those in low-risk Covid countries — to be allowed to come home for Christmas.

This shouldn’t even be a debate anymore. It just needs to happen.

Now that Covid is in Auckland — and spreading through Auckland — there is no reason these kids and loved ones can’t fly into Auckland and self-isolate at home or in an Airbnb or a hotel at their own expense or whatever. 

They are not bringing in anything that we don’t already have here.

You are literally at more risk of catching Covid from another Aucklander in Auckland than you are of catching Covid from someone who is coming in from overseas. 

Lemme run you through the numbers:

Today: 55 cases in Auckland, none at the border. 

Yesterday: 43 in Auckland, 3 at the border 

Monday: 35 in Auckland, Zero at the border 

Sunday: 60 in Auckland, 1 at the border 

Saturday: 34 in Auckland, 2 at the border 

What’s the risk if those people isolate at home? 

And as we now know the government is running out of quarantine rooms for the Auckland cases.

So shortly Aucklanders who catch Covid will be asked to simply self-isolate at home.

If you have positive Aucklanders isolating at home, why wouldn't you let travellers from overseas who are doubled jabbed and have a negative test also isolate at home?

This is no longer a debate.

Keeping them out to protect us from Covid when Covid is already here is becoming a ridiculous position to hold.

Heather du Plessis-Allan is a journalist and commentator who hosts Newstalk ZB's Drive show.