Police Minister Poto Williams and Police Commissioner Andrew Coster are briefing MPs this morning on the police enforcement of the Covid-19 Delta outbreak.
OPINION If one thing is clear in my mind and should be in yours, it's that the virus is here to stay.
Professor Michael Baker, one of New Zealand's leading Covid-19 experts, earlier this week said it was vitally important people don't think there's a clear path leading forward.
"[Covid-19] canchange in many ways ... we're set up in an evolutionary environment that favours variants that are much more infectious and vaccine-resistant.
"I don't think the future will necessarily look better. It may look worse for quite some time. Basically, we're in an arms race against the virus."
Those were his thoughts in response to Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison's criticism of New Zealand's approach towards elimination.
Baker believes this Delta outbreak, which plunged us back into an alert level 4 lockdown, can be beaten and elimination status reached again.
University of Otago epidemiologist Michael Baker. Photo / Supplied
However, as he pointed out, we're in a race with the virus and that's why following the Ministry of Health's guidelines around isolating, testing and getting vaccinated are so important.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and the rest of the powers elected by the people are committed to elimination and so, we must continue on this path — for now, at least.
I believe elimination is still the right way forward for the time being but we must not get complacent again as so many of us, myself included, got after our first bout with Covid-19.
We need to continue using our CovidTracer app. We must get vaccinated. And most importantly, we need to follow the advice of the experts.
What does Morrison know that our medical professionals do not? What do failed politicians and social media fanatics know that our experts don't?
You wouldn't take driving lessons from a child over motorsport legend Greg Murphy, so why even bother listening to people who don't really know what they are talking about?
The same argument could be made for listening to some bloke who failed science in high school and spends his day behind a keyboard, but I'd urge you to at least think about it.
As we have learned with our front-row seats to this latest round of community transmission with the Delta variant, Covid-19 is ever-changing.
Therefore, we must be too but not right away. Baker says it's important we continue the route of elimination for now but in the not-too-distant future, we should weigh up our options.
"There's a high degree of consensus in New Zealand is that what we're aiming to do is the elimination approach until we have high vaccine coverage.
"I think it's likely we stamp out this outbreak. Maintaining our borders and improving our biosecurity [should be the focus] over the next few months.
"I'd hope late this year or early next year we can look around at what the evidence is telling us about the best long-term strategy."
Other than listening to a man who has spent a lifetime researching epidemiology — the method used to find the causes of health outcomes and diseases in populations — just take a look at the state of Morrison's country across the ditch.
Sulphur Point boat ramp during the lockdown. Photo / George Novak
We've got our own problems with the virus, especially around the vaccine rollout but it's a right royal state of affairs in Australia. I mean them no harm, I'm an Australian myself, but Morrison is barking up the wrong tree.
Kiwis are already noticing a change in how we lock down, with Ardern not committing to an extended period of level 4 right off the bat like in March 2020.
Some people don't like this approach and would prefer to know if they'll be locked down for weeks or months but I think it's a good idea.
It shows Cabinet and health officials are weighing up our options each day and making decisions based on the latest information at hand.
Most importantly — and no doubt you're bored of hearing it — but we need to stay the course for now and continue following health guidelines: Maintain good hygiene, get tested for the virus, get vaccinated and isolate when instructed.
