As I began my ride to work

A marvellous sky just before sunrise this morning.

I was somewhat relieved by the announcement yesterday by the Government about charging returning New Zealanders for their two weeks in quarantine. Quarantine is a public health measure to protect all New Zealanders, and should NOT be seen as something that attracts a User Pays approach. The National Party opposition supported the initial suggestion of charging all returning New Zealanders, and the social media are full of argument about it. 

The end result is that the charges will be applied to those who have chosen to travel abroad AFTER the passage of the legislation to allow charging. AND there will be exemptions, AND the possibility of a waiver.

I can see a logic to this, which is less to do with returning New Zealanders, and more to do with those in New Zealand who decide to travel (for whatever reason) when that knowingly risks them contracting Covid-19, and to avoid them then passing the virus on to other citizens, they are required to have two weeks in quarantine. The exemptions appear to cover all non voluntary travel.

If we do not enforce quarantine on arrivals we risk having to reimpose on all citizens and residents, a renewed lockdown. That without quarantine renewed lockdown is a high probability is shown by the small number of quarantined persons who have tested positive for the virus. If they had been roaming freely, who knows how many persons would have been infected from each positive case.

Our death toll remains at 22. Our hospital system is in the midst of coping with the annual influenza based increase in hospital admissions. People are back at work and most things are close to normal, with adjustments based on what seems sensible.

In my interviews today, we touched elbows and that was acceptable to all, and although undoubtedly not really necessary at this time is appreciated by the patients as me protecting them (they 'know' they don't have the virus).