Luke Kirkness: It is time for the Covid-19 daily update as we know it to change

OPINION:

Just as the virus evolves, New Zealand needs to evolve - starting with the standard 1pm Covid-19 news briefing.

The Delta variant, one of many Covid-19 mutations, is more severe and can spread more easily than the original form of the virus.

After it was discovered in Devonport, Auckland, in mid-August, the nation was whisked into alert level 4 to combat its spread.

In the month and a half since, everywhere but Auckland moved to level 2 and a border was set up around New Zealand's largest city.

On the weekend it was joined by parts of Waikato after two cases without known links to the current outbreak appeared in that area, sending Raglan, Te Kauwhata, Ngaruawāhia, Hamilton city and Huntly into level 3.

Ngarunui Beach near Raglan, a well-known surf town on New Zealand's North Island west coast. Photo / NZME

It couldn't have happened at a worse time with the school holiday starting. Travel plans will be disrupted or cancelled and businesses will suffer.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern delivered the unfortunate news on Sunday afternoon alongside director-general of health Dr Ashley Bloomfield.

They are a pair New Zealand is well used to, with both having fronted the media at 1pm each day for most of the past 18 months.

However, they continue to delay, in my view, delivering the news everyone is really tuning in for.

Ardern welcomed everyone before handing it over to Bloomfield to go over details about the latest community cases.

Instead of presenting what changes to alert levels might come — and did — the nation was forced to sit through news most probably didn't care about.

Bloomfield spoke about epidemiological links and where people could get tested and vaccinated, but did not discuss the Waikato cases.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and director-general of health Dr Ashley Bloomfield. Photo / Mark Mitchell

After a few moments, Ardern stepped up to the mic and dished out the bad news — parts of the Waikato would move to level 3.

Why does this Government continue to beat around the bush when they could give us what we really want?

People want their news instantaneously and, with a virus that is ever-changing, it's not hard to see why.

Kiwis no longer watch or listen to the announcements with perked ears and googly eyes, we just want to get on with it.

While the information Bloomfield and Ardern deliver is important, the key information, such as alert level changes, should come first.

None of this would be a problem if more of us were vaccinated.

Until then, Ardern needs to rip the Band-Aid off without hesitation and get to the point — removing it slowly only makes it more painful for everyone.

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