16-07-2021, 18:39
(16-07-2021, 16:27)themaclad Wrote: And again no one has answered the question given Covid is going to be around for a lengthy period when does she open up to tourism to return to NZ
Zero Covid is impossible
Just as a matter of interest the R rate in England has reduced slowly this week
I agree we are going to have to find a way to live with Covid, it will not disappear completely. The vaccine is crucial to this, it is one of the most effective vaccines that we have ever seen and it seems to protect nearly all those who have taken it. The problem is the % that don't get it, and we are seeing the effects of that clearly here in the US. Learning from this is one of the ways we will learn to live with it going forward.
In terms of Australia opening up, they have stated that they will not open to visitors until next year at the earliest but because the country is in effect fully open internally I think they can sustain this for longer if they need to, certainly from an economic viewpoint. Their international tourist dollars are 44 billion, but they are also seeing their own citizens spending their money at home with not being able to travel so the hit is not as bad a some think. They are also struggling with vaccines, only 10% are fully vaccinated, so they really need to stay closed until they get a better handle on that.