An Australian-based Kiwi epidemiologist believes it's better to have more Omicron cases sooner rather than later.

We have 209 community cases of Covid-19 today and 64 at the border.

Melbourne University epidemiologist Tony Blakely told Heather du Plessis-Allan our risk-averse response means we are just stretching the timeline out of having to deal with it.

“The stamping out phase, which we’re in at the moment, that’s worth doing for at least another couple of weeks while we get more RAT tests and masks, but if you haven't seen Omicron taken off by then, you’d probably want to loosen off and let the thing wash through society.”

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