February 24, 2022
Covid cases pass 5000, phase 3 switch
New Zealand will move into phase three of the Omicron response at midnight.
Covid Response Minister Chris Hipkins says the number of new community cases over the past 24 hours has passed the 5000 mark, triggering the change.
He says there are 206 people in the hospital, which will become the key metric.
Only confirmed cases and household contacts will be required to isolate, while other contacts should monitor for symptoms.
The main testing will be rapid antigen tests, and large shipments of tests are arriving today and over the weekend.
Mr Hipkins says there will be no sudden lurch in terms of personal restrictions because of the traffic light system.
He says people need to make preparations in case they get it.
Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield says household contacts are the most likely to become infected.
He says people should also think carefully about who they visit, including aged relatives and those in residential care.
He says 70 per cent of eligible people have received boosters, and this is still the best defence against hospitalisation.