When I had Covid last year, I wouldn’t have known I had it if I hadn’t tested.

And the only reason I did a test was because my wife was crook and under the rules I had to test negative to keep going to work.

So, no symptoms at all, but still positive. So I was in Covid prison for seven days, as well.

And every day - in fact, sometimes several times a day - I would get the RATs out just to double check I did actually have it. Because I felt perfectly fine.

I had a whole pile of them with the two red lines. Felt fine, but I was actually crook.

And if I hadn’t tested the first time, I would’ve kept sailing around the place thinking I was Mr Healthy.

And if what happened last year at our place was to happen again today, I’d still end up in Covid prison for a week because, yesterday, the Government decided to stick with the Covid isolation rules for a bit longer.

Most reports I’ve seen over the past 24 hours have said the Government wants to keep them in place for a couple of months. Although one overseas media outlet is saying this morning that the isolation rules are here for the rest of the year.

Either way, if you get Covid anytime soon - you’ll be expected to isolate.

And I reckon the only reason the Government has done what it’s done, is because generally people are bozos and can’t be trusted to do the right thing.

When I say “the right thing”, it’s no different from what “the right thing” was before Covid was around. Which was simple: if you’re sick, stay home.

But we had outfits like Codral saying “soldier on”. Remember that? And ads on TV with people at bus stops looking miserable because they were full of a cold or man-flu. Feeling very sorry for themselves but “soldiering on” for the greater good.

And, because we’ve still got this stupid “soldier on” mentality, even after the whole Covid thing, the Government feels it’s got no choice but to keep the isolation rules going.

Remember early on in the pandemic when Sir Ashley Bloomfield stood up on TV and said “people aren’t the problem, the virus is the problem”. It was a nice line. Then. These days, though, I am in no doubt that people are the problem.

How many people have you looked sideways at because they’ve been sneezing and rasping and, somehow, they’re medical experts too and they've told you “oh, it’s not Covid. It’s just hayfever”. Even without testing, they know for sure it’s not Covid. Experts apparently!

Yeah, I’ve got another word to describe them. Bozos.

And it’s these bozos who have a whole of other people living in fear. It’s not the Government making people scared - it’s all these selfish idiots who just want to keep on soldiering on, even when they’re full of Covid.

People waiting for specialist health treatment. They’re terrified of the bozos, because if they get Covid their treatment could be off.

People with respiratory conditions. They’re terrified of the bozos because if they get Covid, it could be curtains for them.

Employers. Especially the ones in hospitality or retail. They’re terrified of the bozos because if Covid goes through the shop or the restaurant or the cafe, they can’t operate.

And despite Sir Ashley Bloomfield’s kind words back in the day when he said people weren’t the problem, the virus was the problem - despite all that, I’m in no doubt that people are the problem, because they just can’t be trusted to do the right thing.

The right thing being - if you’re sick, stay home.

And because people are the problem, we are stuck with these home isolation rules and for who knows how long - because I don't see people suddenly growing brain cells and suddenly becoming less selfish than they are right now.

Which is why I think the Government has done the right thing and the wrong thing.

By keeping the isolation rules, it’s done the right thing - because there are so many bozos out there who only think about number one.

But it’s done the wrong thing too, because, surely, we’ve reached a point where Covid has to be seen in the same light as influenza - and we don’t force people to stay home if they have the flu, despite the fact that they can a lot sicker with the flu than they’ll ever be with Covid.

So, I’m disappointed that the isolation rules haven’t been scrapped but, because people are so selfish, I don't think the Government had any choice.

When I had Covid last year, I wouldn’t have known I had it if I hadn’t tested.
And the only reason I did a test was because my wife was crook and under the rules I had to test negative to keep going to work.
So, no symptoms at all, but still positive. So I was in Covid prison for seven days, as well.
And every day - in fact, sometimes several times a day - I would get the RATs out just to double check I did actually have it. Because I felt perfectly fine.
I had a whole pile of them with the two red lines. Felt fine, but I was actually crook.
And if I hadn’t tested the first time, I would’ve kept sailing around the place thinking I was Mr Healthy.
And if what happened last year at our place was to happen again today, I’d still end up in Covid prison for a week because, yesterday, the Government decided to stick with the Covid isolation rules for a bit longer.
Most reports I’ve seen over the past 24 hours have said the Government wants to keep them in place for a couple of months. Although one overseas media outlet is saying this morning that the isolation rules are here for the rest of the year.
Either way, if you get Covid anytime soon - you’ll be expected to isolate.
And I reckon the only reason the Government has done what it’s done, is because generally people are bozos and can’t be trusted to do the right thing.
When I say “the right thing”, it’s no different from what “the right thing” was before Covid was around. Which was simple: if you’re sick, stay home.
But we had outfits like Codral saying “soldier on”. Remember that? And ads on TV with people at bus stops looking miserable because they were full of a cold or man-flu. Feeling very sorry for themselves but “soldiering on” for the greater good.
And, because we’ve still got this stupid “soldier on” mentality, even after the whole Covid thing, the Government feels it’s got no choice but to keep the isolation rules going.
Remember early on in the pandemic when Sir Ashley Bloomfield stood up on TV and said “people aren’t the problem, the virus is the problem”. It was a nice line. Then. These days, though, I am in no doubt that people are the problem.
How many people have you looked sideways at because they’ve been sneezing and rasping and, somehow, they’re medical experts too and they've told you “oh, it’s not Covid. It’s just hayfever”. Even without testing, they know for sure it’s not Covid. Experts apparently!
Yeah, I’ve got another word to describe them. Bozos.
And it’s these bozos who have a whole of other people living in fear. It’s not the Government making people scared - it’s all these selfish idiots who just want to keep on soldiering on, even when they’re full of Covid.
People waiting for specialist health treatment. They’re terrified of the bozos, because if they get Covid their treatment could be off.
People with respiratory conditions. They’re terrified of the bozos because if they get Covid, it could be curtains for them.
Employers. Especially the ones in hospitality or retail. They’re terrified of the bozos because if Covid goes through the shop or the restaurant or the cafe, they can’t operate.
And despite Sir Ashley Bloomfield’s kind words back in the day when he said people weren’t the problem, the virus was the problem - despite all that, I’m in no doubt that people are the problem, because they just can’t be trusted to do the right thing.
The right thing being - if you’re sick, stay home.
And because people are the problem, we are stuck with these home isolation rules and for who knows how long - because I don't see people suddenly growing brain cells and suddenly becoming less selfish than they are right now.
Which is why I think the Government has done the right thing and the wrong thing.
By keeping the isolation rules, it’s done the right thing - because there are so many bozos out there who only think about number one.
But it’s done the wrong thing too, because, surely, we’ve reached a point where Covid has to be seen in the same light as influenza - and we don’t force people to stay home if they have the flu, despite the fact that they can a lot sicker with the flu than they’ll ever be with Covid.
So, I’m disappointed that the isolation rules haven’t been scrapped but, because people are so selfish, I don't think the Government had any choice.

Every weekday join the new voice of local issues on Canterbury Mornings with John MacDonald, 9am-12pm weekdays.

It’s all about the conversation with John, as he gets right into the things that get our community talking.

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With two decades experience in communications based in Christchurch, John also has a deep understanding of and connections to the Christchurch and Canterbury commercial sector.

Newstalk ZB Canterbury Mornings 9am-12pm with John MacDonald on 100.1FM and iHeartRadio.

Every weekday join the new voice of local issues on Canterbury Mornings with John MacDonald, 9am-12pm weekdays. It’s all about the conversation with John, as he gets right into the things that get our community talking. If it’s news you’re after, backing John is the combined power of the Newstalk ZB and New Zealand Herald news teams. Meaning when it comes to covering breaking news – you will not beat local radio. With two decades experience in communications based in Christchurch, John also has a deep understanding of and connections to the Christchurch and Canterbury commercial sector. Newstalk ZB Canterbury Mornings 9am-12pm with John MacDonald on 100.1FM and iHeartRadio.

Every weekday join the new voice of local issues on Canterbury Mornings with John MacDonald, 9am-12pm weekdays.It’s all about the conversation with John, as he gets right into the things that get our community talking.