20 Oct 2021

National's reopening plan faces warnings of Covid deaths, hospitalisations

From Checkpoint, 5:24 pm on 20 October 2021

National says it would get rid of lockdowns once vaccination rates hit 85 percent, or on December 1 - whichever comes first.

Its 'Back in Business' plan would also boost the wage subsidy and introduce temporary tax cuts for businesses and workers.

There would be targeted support for the worst-hit industries, and possible compensation for lost earnings.

National says it will get business moving again, while a Covid-19 modeller warns reopening under those conditions would come with hundreds of deaths and thousands of hospitalisations.

Our political reporter Anneke Smith has more.