New Zealand's director-general of health Dr Ashley Bloomfield told Mike Hosking on Newstalk ZB he was keeping an open mind about Omicron. Video / Newstalk ZB
The spread of a new virus mutant has sparked fresh global warnings as New Zealand enters its final day in the Covid-19 alert level system.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) yesterday urged countries to prepare for Omicron, saying the new variant's overall risk was considered very high due to its higher transmissibility which could lead to "further surges with severe consequences".
Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins conceded it was probably inevitable Omicron would eventually arrive in New Zealand.
But he said there was no need for panic, and the Government had prepared for the new strain.
The WHO urged people who were unvaccinated, unwell, or aged 60 and older to postpone travel to communities with Omicron cases.
Health authorities were concerned about Delta - that variant was the problem, not Omicron, at this stage.
"We'll just keep an open mind and see what the next couple of weeks brings."
He said they didn't know for sure if the symptoms and impact were mild but they will keep an eye on transmissibility and will know more about in a couple of weeks.
Asked how often the Government ignored him, Bloomfield said he didn't keep a tally on whether his advice was listened to or not but the Ministry gives its best advice and it was then up to Cabinet to weigh up the different perspectives to deliver the best decisions.
As for people in rural areas being concerned with the borders about to be relaxed and Kiwis roadtripping at summer, Bloomfield said he didn't think people should be "more or less worried than we might usually be".
The Ministry had been talking to doctors about the support that they needed not only for just Covid, but over the whole summer.
Bloomfield told the AM Show there was concern in Northland from iwi and those working in health as they tried to get vaccination numbers up.
But the decision had been taken that from mid-December there wouldn't be a hard border.
"Double vaccination rates or the requirement for a test and having Northland in the red category in the new protection framework provides actually more protection than there is currently under alert level 2 settings," Bloomfield said.
"They've expressed a preference, our advice of how to reduce the risk in Northland was taken alongside advice from other parts of government and the government has made a decision."
Bloomfield told Hosking he didn't see any problem with children going back to school and only having one or no jabs, after news it's likely school children will be eligible for the vaccine in January.
He said most of the Delta cases that have affected children have occurred in the family home, not schools.
Bloomfield said it was fair to say the outbreak was under control but that was due to vaccinations.
"I think that's very fair and actually the vaccination rate is having a real effect. Nationwide it is now 93% first dose. It's great to see that numbers have levelled off."
As for why Auckland was still in red tomorrow as the country enters the new framework, he said they wanted to take the cautious approach and see what the change does and whether it causes more cases.
However, he said it would "certainly" be reviewed in two weeks if cases remain steady and vaccination rates still continue to head upwards.
"Certainly things are heading in the right direction, the signs are all good in Auckland ... and the vaccination rates will make a real difference."
The US, Australia, Denmark and the Netherlands have reported Omicron cases, as scientists race to learn more about the variant's transmissibility and virulence.
New Zealand has responded to Omicron by designating nine southern African nations "very high risk" and restricting travel from these countries.
Travel from these nations is now limited to New Zealand citizens, their partners or dependent children, and the parents of dependent children who are New Zealand citizens.
The risk designations remained even though it emerged Omicron was in the Netherlands at least five days before South Africa announced the variant's existence.
Hipkins said the designation of South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, Malawi, Eswatini, Lesotho and Seychelles was being constantly reviewed.
"We want to try and minimise the chances of that strand of the virus making its way into New Zealand, or at least delay it as much as we can," he said.
The WHO said blanket travel bans placed heavy burdens on lives and livelihoods and did not prevent international spread.
Travels bans could also remove incentives for countries to report and share epidemiological and sequencing data, the organisation said.
The WHO praised South Africa and Botswana for steps taken to contain Omicron. But some countries have imposed sudden and severe travel bans.
Australia stopped all flights to and from the nine African nations and banned foreigners who travelled to these countries in the past fortnight.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern at Auckland Zoo announcing a voucher scheme to "reactivate" the city as it shakes off the shackles of lockdown. Photo / Alex Burtob
Domestically, and with the new traffic light system approaching, a coupon plan announced yesterday aimed at stimulating local business went down like a cup of cold sick with restaurant owners.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern discussed the scheme at an outdoor Auckland Zoo press conference as spider monkeys cavorted in the background.
Aucklanders are being offered 100,000 vouchers this summer for activities. The $37 million scheme lets families register for discounts or vouchers at Auckland attractions.
But the Restaurant Association's response was scalding.
"We are absolutely crushed for our Auckland businesses that have been closed for months on end and are left with nothing in this package," the industry group said.
"For 475 days we have been calling for targeted support, yet every call has fallen on deaf ears."
In response, Hipkins at yesterday's Beehive press conference said restaurants would benefit from activation of the new traffic light pandemic response travel.
From 11.59pm tonight, the country will abolish the four-stage alert level system. Hipkins said restaurants will then be able to open for customers with vaccine passes, and he expected a lot of consumer demand.
Hospitality NZ chief executive Julie White this morning said the hospitality sector was "lost for words" and "beside themselves" over yesterday's snub over Auckland's stimulation package.
Feedback she received from members yesterday was of disbelief and disgust.
"The hospitality sector has done it tough, they've had the toughest restrictions and look we do move to Freedom Day tomorrow, but we do have the toughest restrictions."
The lockdown had been devastating and the sector has lost 75 per cent of its revenue, she said.
She told The AM Show it was up to the Government to step up and own the closures that were likely to come because re-looking at it in January could be too late.
"Our sector is beside themselves. I can't tell you - the tears and frustrations I received yesterday is heartbreaking. You've got to remember people behind this have families, they've remortgaged their houses, they've borrowed money from their friends, they are willing to open up but, you know, how much longer can they go on for."
The minister said the vouchers were designed to give people confidence to get out, and signified the Government's gratitude for sacrifices Aucklanders made in lockdown.
Hipkins, with director-general of health Dr Ashley Bloomfield joining him, also revealed the Government had advanced plans to vaccinate more children.
The new vaccine initiative looked at people aged five to 11. These children had a lower risk of direct health impacts from Covid-19 than adults did, but Hipkins added: "Covid-19 can still have serious health consequences for them."
Immunology professor and Mallaghan Institute director Graham Le Gros this morning said MedSafe had the advantage of seeing how children in other countries where the vaccination roll-out had started already were doing - and if there had been any adverse effects.
"Really, we're in a very good situation to move forward here," he told TVNZ's Breakfast programme.
It is a third of the Pfizer dose and said it was "very safe".
What experts had seen was that the vaccination for children in that age group was very safe and he acknowledged that parents did not want their children to get Covid-19.
He said many children who had contracted the virus had milder symptoms compared with older people. But there were some children who reacted to the virus just like an older person would, he said, and may even get long Covid.
"This virus - it doesn't matter who you are or how old or young - it will grow in your heart, it will grow in your brain, it will grow in your blood vessels.
"We don't want that. We never let viruses grow in our body that way - and the vaccine is the only thing to prevent that."
This is what we have and you are better off getting the vaccine rather than the virus, Le Gros said.
"That's concerning because as we've seen repeatedly in other countries, vaccination alone isn't enough to stop outbreaks when there are cases in the community."
She said clear health advice from the Government was needed for people about exercising and meeting up outdoors, and keeping doors and windows open when inside.
Kvalsvig said this summer, good ventilation and the use of face masks would be critical to keeping Covid-19 at bay.
"Importantly, they'll continue to work regardless of which Covid-19 variant is circulating."
