Immigration alarm

Reading reports of masses of people crammed together at Immigration offices is alarming.

On the one hand, the government is urging, if not ordering, people to observe social distancing and those over 70 to stay at home.

On the other hand, it is encouraging people to do the opposite by having to succumb to Immigration’s archaic rules.

Surely the 90-day rule should be shelved for people like me who have lived here in the same house for over thirty years on a retirement visa.

And again for people like me who are well over the dreaded 70-year-old mark, a trip to renew my retirement extension is akin to playing Russian roulette.

It’s time for this government to relax some of its immigration rules if it wishes to slow the spread of coronavirus.

My sympathies lie with the frontline immigration officials who are subjected to this danger and facing the frustration of the people they are dealing with.

RON MARTIN