The seven-day Covid-19 isolation requirement will be reconsidered this week, as Covid-19 cases rise “like clockwork”, said Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
Ardern, speaking at a regular press conference on Monday afternoon, said the latest rise in Covid-19 cases was expected by modelling, and the incoming wave would not be as “significant” as earlier ones in 2022.
The latest figures showed there were 14,311 Covid-19 cases in the past week, a rise from 11,205 the week prior. The seven-day rolling average of cases was at 2041, up from 1598.
The Government would this week review Covid-19 restrictions, including the isolation period, as the most recent epidemic notice granting those powers was set to expire on Wednesday. Australia ended mandatory isolation for people with Covid-19 last week.
David Welch, a senior lecturer and Covid-19 modeller at the University of Auckland, said earlier on Monday the rise in cases was likely driven by the government’s roll-back of Covid rules.
“A plateau and then a slow rise in cases coincides with the drop of the Covid protection framework. There are fewer people wearing masks,” he said.
Welch wasn’t overly concerned about the rising Covid numbers, however, and said the next wave was “not likely to be very large” in number.
