New Zealand will place Covid case contacts in isolation for up to 24 days, as part of stricter Omicron rules.
Jacinda Ardern, Prime Minister of Australia has introduced the stringent measures in an effort to keep the country Covid Zero despite the danger posed by the contagious mutant strain.
Critics say that the long quarantine period makes it impossible to test for HIV and could lead to people avoiding being tested.
Covid infected individuals are now expected to be kept isolated for 14 days. This is an increase from the previous 10 days.
Contacts from households must remain in quarantine until the disease is fully controlled.
New Zealand will place Covid case contacts in isolation for up to 24 days, as part of new strict rules that were introduced to fight an Omicron epidemic (picture: Jacinda Ardern, NZ Prime Minister)
New Zealand has recorded an additional 84 Covid cases, 43 of which were in their community. Another 41 were caught at the border.
It includes an Auckland airport worker who tested positive for the omicron strain, sparking fears case numbers could soar up to 1500 a day or more if the mutant strain spreads across the nation.
NZ Ministry of Health stated that these changes were necessary because of new Japanese research which revealed the extremely infectious strain had a shorter incubation time than other variants. Also, sufferers are more likely to contract the virus.
Covid-infected persons must now be kept isolated for 14 days. All household members and contacts are required to remain quarantined for 10 more days.
Critics of Ardern warn that this extreme policy is not feasible and could result in more Covid cases, with more Covid patients refusing testing to escape the long quarantine.
‘The effect is that if you test positive, members of your household may have to isolate for 24 days,’ Act political party leader David Seymour told NZ’s Stuff.
People who can’t afford it will be incentivised to not get tested. This defeats the point of the policy.
“If this advice is not taken seriously it can lead to a collapse of the supply chain and a reduction in the workforce for health.”
Critics say the policy is unworkable and could result in more Covid cases, with a greater number of Covid patients refusing to undergo testing to prevent the long quarantine period. (photo: Anti-vaxxer protestors at the Covid vaccination clinic near Auckland).
But experts believe that the government has reversed its decision last November to cut the isolation time.
Michael Baker, epidemiologist said that this isn’t a new phenomenon. He explained that they have just returned to time periods before the change occurred a few months back.
“Our strategy for managing the virus is to keep Omicron away, and that requires us to use more stringent rules.
“But all things will be different when an almost certain outbreak happens here.