Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's COVID-19 update as Omicron threat looms

  • 20/01/2022

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Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is speaking at Labour's caucus retreat in New Plymouth to provide an update on the Government's response to COVID-19.

Cabinet ministers met on Wednesday afternoon to assess the current traffic light settings, the planned border reopening, and testing requirements, as the Omicron threat looms. 

Northland is the only region currently under the more restrictive 'red' rules due to its relatively low vaccination rate, with the remainder of the country at 'orange'.

Ardern earlier this week encouraged Kiwis to get a booster shot, warning that an eventual Omicron outbreak was "a case of when, not if".

She signalled there would be changes to the processes and requirements surrounding testing, isolation and contact tracing.

Watch the video.