Hospital pressure keeps Covid settings on red

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Claudette Hauiti Jacinda Ardern: Hospital pressure keeps Covid settings on red

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Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says lower Māori vaccination rates are being reflected in higher hospitalisation numbers.

Cabinet yesterday decided to leave the country at the red light setting, despite positive cases falling in Tāmaki Makaurau and Whanganui-ā-Tara.

Ms Ardern says Omicron continues to sweep through other regions like Te Taitokerau and Te Waipounamu, and the number of cases needing hospital treatment is also a factor in continuing with restrictions.

“We are seeing those who are unvaccinated or unboosted I worry that people hear the message it is a mild to moderate illness and they don’t need to bother. They do.” she says.

The settings will be reviewed again on April 14.

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