Government announces changes to combat Omicron spread
Venkat Raman
Auckland, December 21, 2021
The government has announced that travellers arriving from overseas will be obliged to stay in MIQ for ten days (from seven days) and all people going out of the country will be required to have their pre-departure test 48 hours prior to travel (from the current 72 hours).
Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins defended the MIQ system saying that without it, Omicron would have been in the community already, threatening Christmas.
The government has also announced that children between the ages of 5 and 11 will be eligible for vaccination with immediate effect.
Disappointing but inevitable
“We have sought advice on implementing a requirement for all non-New Zealand citizens entering New Zealand to have had a booster dose before flying. There is no doubt that this is disappointing and will upset many holiday plans, but it is important to set these changes out clearly today so they can have time to consider those plans,” he said, addressing the media on the changes approved by the Cabinet on Monday (December 20, 2021).
Mr Hipkins said that waiting till the end of February 2022 for the opening of the international borders will increase the overall protection and slow the eventual spread of Omicron.
“With these changes, we are buying New Zealand as much time as we can, as scientists here and overseas race to get a clearer picture of Omicron. In moving to the Traffic Light System, we signalled that we would be adjusting to more of a reactive stance when it came to protective measures and would apply them when case numbers grew and the health system came under pressure. Omicron has changed that. When it does arrive, we expect that it will spread fast, and that is what we are seeing in other places. To slow that spread, we may use the Red Traffic Light Settings earlier. That will give us the best chance to avoid returning to more restrictive alert level settings,” he said.
Avoiding lockdowns
Mr Hipkins said that the government has no intention of resorting to lockdowns unless they become absolutely necessary. Even in such a situation, there will be a targeted approach.
The government considered several alternatives but decided on the plans announced as the best course of action at the present conditions. According to him, when the government revisits the phased reopening of borders, about three million more New Zealanders would have become eligible for booster shots.
“By the end of February when we revisit the phased border re-opening, around 3 million more Kiwis will be eligible for the booster shots and the rollout to 5-11 year-olds will be well underway,” Mr Hipkins said.
Combating Omicron
He said that the Cabinet has had extensive discussions on the spread of Omicron and noted that it is the most transmissible Covid-19 Variant and that as per public health predictions, soon, every Covid case will be that of Omicron.
“But experts still do not know severe it can be and while it is sweeping the globe at a bewildering speed and appears to be the dominant variant, how sick it makes people and the impact it has on health systems is not yet fully understood. With more than 70 countries reporting Omicron cases and its high transmissibility, our plan is to get as prepared as we can by speeding up boosters and strengthening our border to keep Omicron out of the community for as long as possible,” he said.
Mr Hipkins believes that New Zealand has several advantages as the country commences its response to the Omicron Variant. These include (a) border protection (b) MIQ facility (c) end of the school term for the year (d) the onset of the summer season and (e) Vaccination rate of 90% and the rising number of the fully vaccinated population
However, we need to do more because parts of the world are re-entering lockdown and experiencing major disruption. But with the additional steps taken, the country can hope to keep Omicron at bay and enjoy the summer season.
Accelerating the Booster Rollout
Mr Hipkins said that the first step in the government’s plan is to accelerate the roll-out of the booster rollout, on the advice of Director-General of Public Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield.
“The advice of the Covid-19 Technical Advisory Group is that shortening the period between the second and booster doses of the Pfizer vaccine is an appropriate and pragmatic step and is in line with what other countries are doing. Data is emerging that a booster dose with Pfizer provides better protection than a two-dose course against the Omicron variant. While two doses are likely to hold a good degree of protection against severe disease from Omicron, a third dose is likely to offer great protection against transmission of Covid-19 and reduce the chance of more serious infections,” he said.
The shorter timeframe will start in January and the government will follow health advice if it recommends the gap in doses can and should reduce further.
“Over 82% of vaccinated New Zealanders will be eligible for a booster by the end of February 2022. We know that the most likely place for Omicron to enter the community is at the border, so we want all border and eligible health workers to have the extra protection the booster vaccine provides to protect them and their families. The border continues to be our first line of defence,” Mr Hipkins said.
