mhaze you're spot on!

The article mentions, in regards to stopping the Indian variant (sorry, "Delta") that:

Can they be stopped? Yes. New Zealand has reaffirmed its policy of elimination despite the fact that "allies have thrown in the towel". Most of the public support the New Zealand policy rather than the media death cult's campaign.

and

Public pressure could win in the long run. But we don't have a long run.

The facts are:

1. NZ is an island, tiny in population and able easily to wind up the drawbridge into the rest of the world. But there is a price to pay;

2. Have there been polls of NZers where they are asked not only if they wish to continue with a zero corona policy, but also made aware of the price they will have to pay by way of lower gov't revenues meaning lower welfare pmts, higher taxes and countless export oriented businesses hitting the wall?

3. As to "public pressure", as a New South Welshman I can confidently state that the pressure is on Gladys to open soon but safely. A zero corona policy is about as fashionable as smoking cigarettes;

4. Do the NZers and for that matter, the Westralians at all read scientific journals? Delta cannot be beaten if one wants to rejoin the world of int'l trade. As soon as borders are open, even from a zero case situation, Delta will arrive and spread. If saw NZers wish to keep to a zero corona target, then simply keep the airports closed, int'l commerce locked out and realise that the recent decision by Amazon Prime to relocate its mega production of Season 2 of Lord of the Rings to the UK given NZ's policy of zero coronavirus is but the first nail in its economic coffin.

It's shambolic all over the joint! And thanks to the, she'll be right administrations in Canberra and NSW! Who simply fail to understand that vaccinations do not do anything more than prevent the vaccinated from being hospitalised! That they can still get covid 19 and transmit it to the unvaccinated! For example, unvaccinated and unsupplied rural and regional Australia!

Or that the vaccines only protect you for a few short months! That we are likely to need booster shots every six months or so to stay protected. Because of a stubborn resistance to island quarantine!

Island quarantine would allow those who remain non-compliant or incoming, the liberty to stroll as far and wide as the island borders would allow! Properly equipped aid posts replete with oxygen and ventilators would allow that to happen. And possible inside tents!

Instead, the fools on the hill decided that they wanted to quarantine the incoming in poorly ventilated hotels! And that's how the delta variant got in!

And became the next generation mutation in unvaccinated hosts! And could further mutate into something several times more deadly, infectious, that the current vaccines don't protect anybody from?

That only stopping it before it comes in is the only real protection there is! Were that so? We could have opened up the domestic economy many months ago! Instead, we will surely see this thing get entirely out of control with a higher death toll and very serious long term consequences for us all! To the, I'm ok Joe, shoulder shrug of the aforementioned!? That the preventable death toll and hospitalisation is acceptable!

Given it's mostly useless old farts that are taken! Thus reducing the Federal government financial obligation!

Disagree with the forgoing premise, given the most useless demographic are the blundering fools on the hill! That some of our older minds, still have much to contribute! How would we know? And what does it benefit anyone, if their possible contributions are buried, unrealised, with them!? Well?
Alan B.

Agree with Hasbeen! We have antivirals that should have been in several clinical trials many months ago! I disagree with JBowers take, which would be more appropriate in prewar, Nazi Germany!

Some of the old folk could recover, as they become the newly and naturally immune hosts for the possible new variants, some of which could select, target and kill the JBower's age demographic commenting here?

And no loss really as this uncaring lower intelligence demographic is the least valued, in a normal empathetic HUMAN society!

Apart from that, some of our older minds are the ablest with much, much more of inestimable value to contribute? HTF would that dehumanised fool know?
Alan B.

We do not need to open our borders to people! Just normal trade and commerce. with face to face done by teleconference! All incoming arrivals/returnees, should spend some time in, offshore island quarantine

Moreover, all goods should spend some time in the sunshine to allow that naturally disinfecting medium to disinfect all incoming goods! Or failing that, UV lamps charged with the same objective, where human hands have pawed the product or good!/fruit or vegetable

I get that the drug dealers pushers and addicts are unhappy with closed borders and lockdowns! But who amongst us, gives a shite for their hyperventilated, vociferous concerns?
Alan B.

Alan B I wish you a long and happy life too!
This is just another virus and not a particularly deadly one as being deadly is not conducive to it's spread. It is to these viruses benefit to be benign to us and that is the way they usually go. We have lived with them forever and now all you super old people forget history and make up your own facts.
Politicians are loving all this fascist control egged on by the media and Alan B. What about Thorium Ally can that save the day?