Zizi Sparks: Cook Island travel bubble hopes give mixed messages

COMMENT

"Every New Zealander needs to be prepared for the virus to re-emerge."

That's the message the Ministry of Health had for Kiwis on Monday as we reached 101 days since the last case of Covid-19 was acquired locally from an unknown source.

Yet that same day Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said there were hopes a travel bubble with the Cooks Islands would be up and running before the end of the year.

If a bubble was introduced, Auckland Airport would have a process to separate passengers from Covid-free countries and those arriving into quarantine.

But surely there is still a risk. Why else are Kiwis being told to buy masks and be prepared for a case of community transmission "at any time" as the ministry increases testing and contact tracing capacity including with a Covid card trial in Rotorua.

The first Covid-19 lockdown crippled businesses and left many unemployed or struggling. A second lockdown would worsen the effects of the first.

Yet the Cook Islands Chamber of Commerce said the country risked losing many young people to New Zealand if a safe travel corridor was not opened soon. In New Zealand, many tourism providers are also still struggling and would benefit from a travel bubble.

Another outbreak of Covid-19 in New Zealand will mean more deaths, more job losses and more debt.

Yet the Government is getting our hopes up with prospects of a travel bubble.
There is a mixed message being conveyed.

Do we need to buy masks for emergency kits or start planning our next island holiday?
There are livelihoods at risk but there are also lives at risk.

We are playing with fire.