Covid Watch

Comedian Sanjay Patel tweeted last night that he thinks that the All Blacks should put vaccinate New Zealand on the front of their jerseys and a few punters actually seem to like the idea. 
Former All Blacks coach Laurie Mains says the current All Blacks are very socially aware that they need to be strong role models. 
But while he believes the players could be on board, he says there may be some commercial obstacles. 
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A suggestion Auckland's boundary could stay closed until after Labour Weekend.
The Prime Minister has signalled even if Auckland moves down an alert level next week the region's highly likely to stay shut off from the rest of the country.
Auckland University medical Professor Des Gorman says it must change eventually. "I think the problem for the Government is knowing what the conditions are to enable it to be relaxed. So right now, given that they're not sure what that means, they're just going to say that we need to do something. And one of the things we're going to do is stop Aucklanders from moving out of Auckland."
At some point, it will be feasible to ask Aucklanders to take a test if they want to leave the region, he says.
"I think Aucklanders will find it almost intolerable to be locked up much beyond Labour Weekend, and if the price of travel is that you have to have a test and you have to be vaccinated, then so be it - that's a small price to pay."
New Zealand has 19 new Community cases today - and Henderson and Papakura are now suburbs of interest.
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About 165,000 migrant workers and their families are expected to benefit from the one-off 2021 Resident Visa.
It's being greeted with applause from many sectors, including aged care, retail, manufacturing, and meat processing and export.
Federated Farmers immigration spokesperson Chris Lewis says to get some certainty was outstanding.
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Those schools that offer Cambridge exams have some answers at last.  
Half of them are in Auckland, and they'd been seeking Ministry of Education information on if Cambridge exams can go ahead on-site next week.  
Education Minister Chris Hipkins has this morning announced the exams can go ahead in small bubbles with proper health protection measures.  
Auckland Grammar headmaster Tim O'Connor told Mike Hosking it took multiple days to get an answer.  
"It's been about communicating with channels like ZB, and talking to David Seymour. The Secretary for Education has ignored requests over multiple days." 
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So, a lot to like in National's Covid plan. Like there was a lot to like in ACT's Covid plan. What we learn from all this, is there is more than one way to skin a cat. 
The issue for the Government from here on in is the cat they have skinned to this point looks like a mangled mess. We now have genuine alternatives and the world is offering tangible examples of how it all works every day. 
When fear was all they had, Labour played it well. Many in this country bought it hook, line, and sinker. 
But what this country's lockdown has taught us is we didn’t even need to be in a lockdown as we were let down by a lack of vaccine. And all the stuff they should have fixed, changed and tidied, none of it was done, so they have been appallingly exposed. And when there is a vacuum, whether in delivery or targets or policy, someone is going to step in. 
The stuff National would do makes sense. A purpose built MIQ and a dedicated agency. And it's in Auckland, not Wellington. The fact the Ministry of Health fights Covid from Wellington when the issue is in another city is a glaring miscalculation. 
All the obvious stuff is there. Boost ICU, launch the digital app, and roll out saliva testing. There is not a single part of it you can argue with. They would end nationwide lockdowns through vaccination and the vaccine programme would be turbo charged. They would have a flight system for arrival in the country. 
And so it goes, it's stuff that been going on overseas for months. Most importantly, the skilled migrant category for immigration would be re-opened. The migration crisis created by the Government is unforgivable and never needed to be the mess it has become. 
In totality, it’s a comprehensive, well thought through, and detailed proposal. 
What you're left with as a punter is a clear choice. You either see what we have now as safe, secure, and acceptable. Or you see a country locked off, deep in debt, labour shortages, a tanked economy, barely anyone allowed in, and layered by an overarching dose of fear. 
The contest of ideas is at least alive. Both National and ACT have realistic alternatives. 
I want better for this country, I want us doing more, living more, and making more. I want us excelling, dreaming, travelling, and reconnecting with the world. That takes planning, hard work, an element of risk, and leadership. Two of the three plans offer a decent chunk of that.

The 45 cases yesterday disrupted a gradual decline many of us were getting quite used to. 
Dr Ashley Bloomfield says many of the cases this week have been in large households, and those in emergency or transitional housing.  
We also got confirmation the outbreak is within our gangs, and among the homeless.  
Lieutenant Colonel Lynette Hudson, head of social services at the Salvation Army joined Kate Hawkesby. 
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Some good news from health officials following Auckland's latest spike in covid cases. 
Auckland recorded 45 new community cases yesterday, including 12 mystery cases, and several people who were infectious in the community. 
Chris Hipkins says six of those 12  now appear to have a connection to existing cases
The Covid-19 Response Minister told Mike Hosking he's also expecting today's case numbers to be much lower. 
"We may have a smaller number again today, but you never know what is going to come in over night." 
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Demand to be part of the home isolation trial is expected to be high.  
It will allow 150 people to travel overseas and self-isolate for a fortnight when returning.  
Business travellers will be able to submit expressions of interest from 9am today - but they need to be within 50 kilometres of Auckland or Christchurch airports.  
Enztec CEO Iain McMillan told Kate Hawkesby they're hopeful the trial will become a full rollout early next year.  
"The demand is no different to the demand for MIQ spots, where there is 10s of thousands of people." 
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The immigration minister set to announce changes to immigration settings tomorrow, and we have a little hint of the changes. 
A screenshot was taken of the immigration website suggesting the government is planning to introduce a new Covid residence visa for people who have stuck around in New Zealand during the pandemic. 
Immigration adviser Katy Armstrong says “it's something that just makes total sense both for New Zealand and for the migrant population.” 
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Health authorities admitted to Parliament today that Delta has seated itself in Auckland gang communities and among rough sleepers 
New Zealand has 45 community cases today, 12 still untraced, although half already have potential links.
Cabinet's set to review alert levels on Monday with Auckland in level 3 until midnight Tuesday.
Chris Hipkins say the number of cases seen today is sobering, but that we can take some comfort from the fact that the vast majority of those were known contacts and people already isolating.
When Cabinet reviews the alert levels on Monday, Hipkins says bigger numbers will be less of a concern if the cases are linked.
But Canterbury University Covid modeller, Michael Plank, says a level drop next week could see cases rapidly rise.
He says we don't really yet have a clear picture of how Level 3 is going.
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