A Pasifika health leader says getting some Covid-19 positive people to isolate at home could work - but not for everyone.
Collin Tukuitonga, who's a public health associate professor at the University of Auckland, told Morning Report it wouldn't be suitable for those living in crowded multigenerational households.
"It's not for everyone," he said.
"You've got to be quite clear about the criteria, you got to have a group of people you can trust to do the right thing, you need to make sure they have a good understanding of the risks, the facilities at home have got to be up to scratch. It can't be a small state house with three bedrooms and 12 people, things like that.
"That's what I would be looking at, but you have to consider the option."
Tukuitonga says anyone isolating at home has to be trusted to do the right thing, and affluence does not mean compliance.
"Remember, we had rich Aucklanders misbehave and went off to Wanaka. I'm talking about people who understand the risks involved and can be relied upon to do the right thing."
He said some may think the move is risky, but it’s going to have to happen with cases growing.
"I know some of my public health colleagues will say 'absolutely not, this is a highly, highly risky measure', but as I say, you've got to be pragmatic.
"When we run out of facilities, we've got to look at different options."
