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3 easily foreseeable logistics problems with National’s compulsory negative test policy before arrival in NZ...
3 relatable scenarios: /1
3 relatable scenarios: /1
1) NZer flies overseas for essential business. Contracts mild Covid. Attempts to fly home, test positive, rebuffed by border control.
6 weeks later the NZer still tests positive as PCR can be positive for weeks after infection ends.
/2
6 weeks later the NZer still tests positive as PCR can be positive for weeks after infection ends.
/2
2) NZer overseas attempts to fly home to NZ. Has contracted Covid and starting to get symptoms. En route home she gets worse, now stuck in a country and unable to access healthcare except at huge cost and risk. Wishes they could get home to NZ for essential public health care /2
3) Family wants to fly home to NZ. Mother and father have lined up new jobs to start after 14 day stint in MIQ. Child has contracted Covid and has mild to no symptoms (often mild in children), so can’t fly back. Parents stuck, companies asking when they can start. /4
The reason it’s so easy to foresee these problems is because the strengths and deficiencies of PCR testing are well known. Months into the pandemic, politicians should be well versed in how these clinical tests function and foresee difficulties with using these as infallible.
This extra test layer puts overseas NZ citizens at risk of being stranded and does not increase the security of the border more than currently. It creates frustrations for NZers overseas and family and companies in NZ that are trying to plan for new arrivals.
