WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND --
New Zealand is among the many few remaining nations to have averted any outbreaks of the Omicron variant -- however Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern stated Thursday an outbreak was inevitable and the nation would tighten restrictions as quickly as one was detected.
However she additionally stated that New Zealand wouldn't impose the lockdowns that it has used beforehand, together with for the Delta variant.
"This stage of the pandemic is completely different to what we have now handled earlier than. Omicron is extra transmissible," Ardern stated. "That's going to make it more durable to maintain it out, however it's going to additionally make it more difficult to manage as soon as it arrives. However similar to earlier than, when COVID adjustments, we alter."
Ardern stated that inside 24 to 48 hours of Omicron being detected in the neighborhood, the nation would transfer into its "crimson" setting. That might permit companies to stay open and home journey to proceed, however would require schoolchildren to put on masks and restrict crowds to 100 folks.
At the moment most of New Zealand is on the "orange" setting, which requires some masks carrying and proof of vaccination however does not restrict crowd sizes.
About 93% of New Zealanders aged 12 and over are totally vaccinated and 52% have had a booster shot. The nation has simply begun vaccinating youngsters aged between 5 and 11.
New Zealand has managed to include the unfold of the Delta variant, with a mean of about 20 new instances every day. But it surely has seen an growing variety of folks arriving into the nation and going into necessary quarantine who're contaminated with Omicron.
That has put pressure on the quarantine system and prompted the federal government to restrict entry for returning residents whereas it decides what to do about reopening its borders, angering many individuals who need to return to New Zealand.
Opposition chief Christopher Luxon stated Ardern had deliberate poorly for Omicron and had managed to safe into the nation lower than one speedy COVID-19 take a look at per particular person.
"That could be a gorgeous indictment on the federal government's lazy lack of planning," he stated.
Ardern stated crucial factor that folks may do was to get a booster shot, which would scale back the severity of an Omicron an infection and permit most individuals to get well at dwelling slightly than needing hospital care.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, proper, is watched by COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins as she speaks in regards to the omicron state of affairs whereas visiting New Plymouth, on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022. (Mark Mitchell/New Zealand Herald through AP)
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