Air Commodore Digby Webb had a quick aside in today's press conference with Minister Woods that was extremely important and easy to overlook.
It really points to the challenges and future of managed-isolation in NZ. /1

He said they've been struggling with growing "asymmetry" between facilities stuck in Level 4 lockdown, by design, and a world outside their doors that has moved to Level 1.
While guests are locked up, they can probably hear nearby bars and the sounds of normal lives. /2

Worse. He added, they've had to stop walks through downtown Auckland because of the amount of abuse being heaped on people in isolation.
Most people get maybe two walks a week. That's over.
They're now coming up with new ways to get fresh air for the people stuck in isolation. /3

When you consider that, and this doesn't serve as a justification at all for breaking the law, you can begin to understand how tens of thousands of people went through without problem and now something has changed. Why we've had two escapees in recent days. /4

The "asymmetry" suggests something needs to change. And more police probably isn't the answer.
So I'll do some research, speak to some experts, write about that and come back to you. /end.