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Posted December 17, 2021 14:37 · last edited December 17, 2021 15:08

Marto

As someone living and working at the British Covid coal face, yes it's spreading like wildfire but so does the flu in the UK this time of year. A number of my family and friends have had positive Omicon cases but all jabbed so apart from a mild cough and a positive test nothing wrong.

I really hope NZ does not knee jerk on this one or believes BS from flakey media like many do.

Yipe all the early evidence seems to be that Omicron is less severe than Delta. That's the good news. Bad news is that it's definitely more contagious, and early modelling for both NZ & Australia is that even with high vaccination rates (90% plus eligible popns), daily new cases will skyrocket. Already starting to see it in NSW.

So even if a very small number of Omicron cases are required to go into hospital/ICU, there could be a huge strain on the hospital systems. I think from memory Aus has much better ICU capacity per head of popn than NZ, so they are in a better position to cope with Omicron than NZ. Stand to be corrected.

I'd say a postponement of the 17th January date, when Kiws can enter NZ sans MIQ is almost guaranteed now. NZ likely needs some time to get the booster 3rd dose programme underway, plus start vaccinating kids in that 5-11 age bracket. So another month extension or so of MIQ for Kiwis coming in from overseas (incl Aussie), likely makes some sense, unless Omicron gets into NZ beforehand. Probably sadly the right approach, and this from someone currently overseas, and someone who wants to see the Nix playing back in NZ ASAP.

And unfortunately any hope NZ Super Rugby teams, Breakers & Nix can play Aussie teams in NZ pre April 30th could well be dead and buried.

But the border should be reopened to Kiwis coming in from African countries (with 2 weeks MIQ of course) ASAP. South Africa did the right thing announcing the new Omicron strain, now they are being punished for it, when what the new strain is already in 70+ countries & counting worldwide.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/news/300481000/covid19-how-will-omicron-affect-travel-for-new-zealanders

The following day, Omicron was detected by South African scientists and this week we learnt Cabinet intends to meet in early January to discuss potential changes to the reopening plan in light of the worrisome new Covid-19 variant. Meanwhile, Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins has warned that it will be “flyer beware” when border restrictions do begin to ease.

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Unknown editor edited December 17, 2021 15:08

Marto

Yipe all the early evidence seems to be that Omicron is less severe than Delta. That's the good news. Bad news is that it's definitely more contagious, and early modelling for both NZ & Australia is that even with high vaccination rates (90% plus eligible popns), daily new cases will skyrocket. Already starting to see it in NSW.

So even if a very small number of Omicron cases are required to go into hospital/ICU, there could be a huge strain on the hospital systems. I think from memory Aus has much better ICU capacity per head of popn than NZ, so they are in a better position to cope with Omicron than NZ. Stand to be corrected.

I'd say a postponement of the 17th January date, when Kiws can enter NZ sans MIQ is almost guaranteed now. NZ likely needs some time to get the booster 3rd dose programme underway, plus start vaccinating kids in that 5-11 age bracket. So another month extension or so of MIQ for Kiwis coming in from overseas, likely makes some sense, unless Omicron gets into NZ beforehand. Probably sadly the right approach, and this from someone currently overseas.

And unfortunately any hope NZ Super Rugby teams, Breakers & Nix can play Aussie teams in NZ pre April 30th could well be dead and buried.

But the border should be reopened to Kiwis coming in from African countries (with 2 weeks MIQ of course) ASAP. South Africa did the right thing announcing the new Omicron strain, now they are being punished for it, when what the new strain is already in 70+ countries & counting worldwide.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/news/300481000/covid19-how-will-omicron-affect-travel-for-new-zealanders

The following day, Omicron was detected by South African scientists and this week we learnt Cabinet intends to meet in early January to discuss potential changes to the reopening plan in light of the worrisome new Covid-19 variant. Meanwhile, Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins has warned that it will be “flyer beware” when border restrictions do begin to ease.

Unknown editor edited December 17, 2021 15:03

Marto

Yipe all the early evidence seems to be that Omicron is less severe than Delta. That's the good news. Bad news is that it's definitely more contagious, and early modelling for both NZ & Australia is that even with high vaccination rates (90% plus eligible popns), daily new cases will skyrocket. Already starting to see it in NSW.

So even if a very small number of Omicron cases are required to go into hospital/ICU, there could be a huge strain on the hospital systems. I think from memory Aus has much better ICU capacity per head of popn than NZ, so they are in a better position to cope with Omicron than NZ. Stand to be corrected.

I'd say a postponement of the 17th January date, when Kiws can enter NZ sans MIQ is almost guaranteed now. Probably sadly the right approach, and this from someone currently overseas.

And unfortunately any hope NZ Super Rugby teams, Breakers & Nix can play Aussie teams in NZ pre April 30th could well be dead and buried.

But the border should be reopened to Kiwis coming in from African countries (with 2 weeks MIQ of course) ASAP. South Africa did the right thing announcing the new Omicron strain, now they are being punished for it, when what the new strain is already in 70+ countries & counting worldwide.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/news/300481000/covid19-how-will-omicron-affect-travel-for-new-zealanders

The following day, Omicron was detected by South African scientists and this week we learnt Cabinet intends to meet in early January to discuss potential changes to the reopening plan in light of the worrisome new Covid-19 variant. Meanwhile, Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins has warned that it will be “flyer beware” when border restrictions do begin to ease.

Unknown editor edited December 17, 2021 14:43

Marto

Yipe all the early evidence seems to be that Omicron is less severe than Delta. That's the good news. Bad news is that it's definitely more contagious, and modelling for both NZ & Australia is that even with high vaccination rates (90% plus eligible popns), daily new cases will skyrocket.

So even if a very small number of Omicron cases are required to go into hospital/ICU, there could be a huge strain on the hospital systems.

I'd say a postponement of the 17th January date, when Kiws can enter NZ sans MIQ is almost guaranteed now. Probably sadly the right approach, and tyhis from someone currently overseas.

And unfortunately any hope NZ Super Rugby teams, Breakers & Nix can play Aussie teams in NZ pre April 30th could well be dead and buried.

The border should be reopened to African countries (with MIQ of course) ASAP though. South Africa did the right thing announcing the new Omicron strain, now they are being punished for it, when what the new strain is already in 70+ countries & counting worldwide.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/news/300481000/covid19-how-will-omicron-affect-travel-for-new-zealanders

The following day, Omicron was detected by South African scientists and this week we learnt Cabinet intends to meet in early January to discuss potential changes to the reopening plan in light of the worrisome new Covid-19 variant. Meanwhile, Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins has warned that it will be “flyer beware” when border restrictions do begin to ease.

Unknown editor edited December 17, 2021 14:39

Marto

Yipe all the early evidence seems to be that Omicron is less severe than Delta. That's the good news. Bad news is that it's definitely more contagious, and modelling for both NZ & Australia is that even with high vaccination rates (90% plus eligible popns), daily new cases will skyrocket.

So even if a very small number of Omicron cases are required to go into hospital/ICU, there could be a huge strain on the hospital systems.

I'd say a postponement of the 17th January date, when Kiws can enter NZ sans MIQ is almost guaranteed now. And any hope NZ Super Rugby teams, Breakers & Nix can play Aussie teams in NZ pre April 30th could well be dead and buried.

The border should be reopened to African countries (with MIQ of course) ASAP though. South Africa did the right thing announcing the new Omicron strain, now they are being punished for it, when what the new strain is already in 70+ countries & counting worldwide.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/news/300481000/covid19-how-will-omicron-affect-travel-for-new-zealanders

The following day, Omicron was detected by South African scientists and this week we learnt Cabinet intends to meet in early January to discuss potential changes to the reopening plan in light of the worrisome new Covid-19 variant. Meanwhile, Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins has warned that it will be “flyer beware” when border restrictions do begin to ease.