Experts warn that New Zealand could face a shortage of toilet paper within a week. This is after Prime Minister Jacinda Adern made a decision to impose harsh restrictions due to nine Omicron cases.
As a result, shoppers are seeing empty shelves at supermarkets as New Zealanders rush to grab urgent supplies after yesterday’s government announcement.
All residents are required to use face masks for public spaces such as shops. Also, there is a limit of 100 persons in gatherings starting Monday following the detection of Omicron cases in the country.
Ardern reiterated that New Zealand’s red traffic lights are not locked down. He also noted that people and businesses could still be open, and that they can visit their loved ones and freely move around the country.
Ardern said that New Zealanders should not panic, and shops would remain open. But video shows massive shortages of toilet paper in supermarkets.
Social media footage showed that there were largely empty aisles of toilet paper at supermarket Countdown stores in Mount Eden (Auckland) and Warkworth (North Auckland) on Sunday night, Monday morning.
Video footage posted to social media shows largely empty aisles of toilet paper at supermarket Countdown stores in Mount Eden and Auckland
PM Jacinda Ardern stressed that the red setting of New Zealand’s traffic light system is ‘not lockdown’, noting that businesses can remain open and people can still visit family and friends and move freely around the country
New Zealand supermarket chain Countdown confirmed that toilet paper and cat food were among the most bought items on Sunday, with some supermarkets being forced to place limits on essential items in an effort to stop products from running out.
David Robb, Auckland University Supply Chain Expert, warned that New Zealand’s supermarkets would be short of toilet paper within the next week.
Robb told Newstalk ZB that the supply chains would be impacted – meaning delays in how quickly supermarkets can restock products – if those working at factories became infected with Omicron, particularly with the country’s new strict self-isolation rules.
The new regulations require that anyone with Covid infection must be isolated for at least 14 days. Contacts from the household must remain in quarantine for an additional 10 days. That will make it a total of three and a quarter weeks.
Criticisms have condemned the long quarantine and warned it will lead to people not being tested.
Countdown general manager of corporate affairs Kiri Hannifin told the New Zealand Herald they saw an increase in sales of toilet paper on Sunday within hours of the government’s announcement of new restrictions.
Hannifin stated that while it is understandable to have a few extra products at the shop in preparation for being away for a few weeks or days, that this was not a wise decision. However, he cautioned customers against going ‘overboard’.
Video showing empty toilet paper stands in New Zealand supermarkets
Covid-19 incidences per 1 million in New Zealand and the UK, respectively. New restrictions were imposed after 9 Omicron cases.
Hannafin stated that there are no restrictions at this point, but warned that items could still be introduced in a matter of hours.
These restrictions were made after Omicron cases from one family that attended an Auckland wedding earlier in the month led to a group of Omicron cases being detected.
New Zealand recorded 24 cases in communities and 47 at the border during the last 24 hours. UK Health Security Agency data (UKHSA), where there have been a decrease in case numbers in recent weeks, shows that another 76.807 positive results were reported in the UK in the 24 hour period.
New Zealand’s case, which was not linked to the border, led Ms Ardern, to say that she would postpone her wedding because she “wasn’t different to other New Zealanders”.
During a press conference, she said that’so is life’ and reiterated to journalists that she was not putting the country in lockdown.
“My wedding won’t be happening, but it’s just that I’m joining many New Zealanders who’ve had similar experiences as a result to the pandemic,”
New Zealand’s major sporting events and fixtures were also affected by the new restrictions.
Residents can still travel to New Zealand at the traffic lights, although they are restricted from visiting other homes. However, the My Vaccine Pass limits will apply for events like concerts and sporting matches.
As a result, major events including The Great Kiwi Beer Festival in Christchurch, the New Zealand Masters Games in Dunedin and Auckland’s New Zealand Fashion Week have all been cancelled.
Fashion Week’s founder, Dame Pieter Stewart, was the managing director of the event. She said the cancellation was “incredibly disappointing” but that designers could not put on shows within the limits set by the government.
Sporting events, including Super Rugby games starting in February and the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, due to start in March, face the prospect of being played without crowds.
Segolene de Fontenay, general manager of New Zealand Events Association, said that it was too early to predict how many events will be affected. It all depended on the length of time the country remains under red restrictions.
The red light of New Zealand’s traffic signal system allows residents to still do many things. Residents are still able travel and visit others, however, events like concerts, sporting matches or auctions will be restricted by the My Vaccine Pass rule.
Clarke Gayford and Ardern are pictured together. Clarke Gayford also confirmed that the wedding will be delayed due to the current outbreak.
Omicron began spreading throughout New Zealand. The events sector in New Zealand had been planning for these new restrictions, but Omicron announced the change earlier than expected.
Christchurch beer festival director Callam Mitchell said more than 10,000 tickets had already been sold for next weekend’s event when they were forced to cancel.
Segolene Fontenay indicated that she hoped the restrictions would be “short and sharp” so there was some assurance about events scheduled for April or the following months.
Ms Ardern was due to wed her television host fiancé Clarke Gayford this summer in Gisborne on the North Island after becoming engaged in early 2019.
After the detection of 9 Omicron cases within the community, the PM increased the red alert.
“Red does not need to be locked down.” Red business are open, so you can still do the majority of your normal activities, such as visiting loved ones and traveling around the country.
‘One of the most important things that people can do is to make sure you and your family have a buddy – like a neighbour or a friend – who can help you out by delivering things that you need if you do become unwell.’
After confirming that her wedding was postponed, Ms Adern said to reporters: “Such is Life.”
My Vaccine Pass (New Zealand) will allow you entry to many locations. Pictured: Francis Kumu receives his Covid-19 vaccination
Recently, nine Omicron cases from the same community were discovered. There was no connection with the border.
These new infections were found in Nelson and Marlborough regions, meaning that there was community transmission in Auckland.
They are all part of the same family, who traveled to Auckland mid-January for a large wedding. One flight attendant became infected.
Ms Ardern explained that there is no clear evidence yet to link the Index case with this family and the border. She also said she had not seen any Omicron cases.
New Zealand has reported 24 cases in the community and 47 cases at the border this Sunday. Eight people were admitted to hospital, and one was in ICU.
After nine Omicron cases in a community were found, the setting increased. People lined up in New Zealand to be tested.
“At Red, businesses are open. You can do all the usual things, including visit family members and travel around the country,” the PM declared.
In order to be able to work in retail and hospitality, as well as schools and airports, masks will now be required.
Hospitality is allowed to remain open but must be limited to 100 guests. Patrons are required show their passport and sit down.
Retail and public buildings also have capacity limits. However, it is encouraged to work remotely from your office.
New Zealand’s vaccine pass, called My Vaccine Pass will be required to gain entry into many locations.
Public and private events will be limited to 100 vaccine-infected attendees, and 25 unvaccinated.
However, there is no adjustment to the academic year 2022, however all staff and students over Year 4 must use masks indoors.
After getting engaged in the early part of 2019, Ms. Ardern had planned to marry Clarke Gayford, her TV host partner (right), this summer in Gisborne.
Ms Ardern said both the North and the South Islands would be under the red setting for ‘some weeks’ as the country enters the start of a new wave (pictured, people line-up for vaccines)
Ms. Ardern confirmed that no change was made to the February 28th international border re-opening.
As the country begins a new Covid wave, she said that both the North as well the South Islands will be subject to the red setting for “some weeks”.
Three stages of Omicron will be prepared by the government. The third stage is for new cases that exceed a thousand.
Phase 1 is now in effect, as long as there are less than 1,000 cases per day. It involves redefinition and encouragement of the use of booster shots.
Ms Ardern indicated that phase 2 and 3 would have more details later in this week. They would require large-scale rolling out of rapid antigen test as thousands of cases are received, along with changes to contact trace.
According to the prime minister, it is important that residents get their booster shots before the virus can take off.
New Zealand had 84 Covid cases recorded on Saturday. There were 43 new Covid cases in the locality and 41 at the border. (pictured: protestors
Prime minister says it is important that residents come forward for their booster shot in order to improve coverage. (Photo: Residents get tested at Wellington).
She stated that boosting is a task she requests New Zealanders do as soon as possible.
This reduces the risk of getting a virus or other infections and makes it less likely that you will need to go to the hospital.
The announcement was made just hours prior household contacts of Covid cases will have to isolate for 24 days under harsh new rules.
Ms. Ardern introduced the stringent measures to ensure that the country fights for Covid Zero, despite the danger posed by the contagious mutant strain.
Critics argued that the long quarantine period is ‘unworkable’, and people would be unable to get tested.
Covid-infected persons must isolate for at most 14 days.
Anyone infected by Covid in New Zealand must now isolate the infection for at least 14 days. This is an increase from 10 days in previous interim rules. (pictured: People wait in Auckland for their coffee)
The quarantine period must be extended to 10 more days for household contacts. This will make the total time in quarantine up to three and half weeks.
New Zealand has recorded an additional 84 Covid cases, 43 of them in their community and 41 at the border. This is an extension to isolation.
One of the victims was an Auckland Airport worker, who had tested positive for the Omicron strain. This raises concerns that the number of cases could rise to as high as 1,500 per day if this mutant strain continues spreading across the country.
NZ Ministry of Health stated that these changes were necessary because of new Japanese research which revealed the extremely infectious strain has a shorter incubation time than other variants. Also, sufferers are more likely to contract the virus.
Critics warned that the policy is ‘unworkable’. It could result in more people refusing to undergo testing to get around the long quarantine.