Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield is joined by officials to explain how home isolation will work, and how technology will support it.
Ministry of Health primary care lead Joe Bourne, and Ministry of Social Development chief executive Viv Rickard are presenting alongside him.
New Zealand moved overnight to phase two of the government's plan to handle the Omicron outbreak, signalling a shift to shorter isolation periods and greater emphasis on at-home isolation.
The steady increase in daily Covid-19 cases means it will be harder for contact tracing to cope, so cases and their contacts will be followed up differently by officials with greater reliance on automation and technology.
This includes cases being notified by text rather than a phone call; an online tool to help cases provide details of high-risk exposures to reduce the reliance on intensive interviews carried out by contact tracers; and greater use on rapid antigen testing including for the test-to-return-to-work scheme.
The government yesterday revealed rules for self-isolation for incoming international travellers ahead of borders beginning to reopen from the end of the month.
Cases and contacts within New Zealand will be expected to follow similar guidelines when isolating at home.
Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins told Checkpoint last night the systems for having people provide RAT tests results had been established, and there would be options for people without internet access.
2 comments
RATs
Posted on 16-02-2022 12:28 | By Kancho
Should have been in the country well over a year ago. Stupidly the government still has a stranglehold on antigen tests so employers have difficulty accessing the antigen test deliveries they ordered. The government has taken away any independence and self responsibility by denying everyone the right to buy antigen tests. Spoon fed dependents of the state is unacceptable. People in the UK I know have access to antigen testing to be able to self help and keep the system clear for those who need it. So much very unecessary damage and controlling and mostly to slow by months even years in RATS case. Vote them out
@Kancho
Posted on 17-02-2022 13:33 | By morepork
Hear! Hear! This government must go...
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