Despite an increase in Covid-19 cases there is no need at present for the country to shift back into the red traffic light setting, the prime minister says.<\/p>\n
Covid-19 cases are on the rise again and a new subvariant, BA.2.75, has been detected here for the first time.<\/p>\n
There were 9629 new community cases announced today<\/a> and the seven-day rolling average was 7246 compared with 5480 last Tuesday.<\/p>\n On Friday afternoon, genome sequencing confirmed two cases in New Zealand with the BA.2.75 subvariant of Omicron.<\/p>\n The two cases had recently travelled from India where it had previously been detected.<\/p>\n The Ministry of Health said the characteristics of the subvariant may enhance its ability to evade immunity.<\/p>\n There was early evidence overseas that it might be slightly more transmissible than BA.2.<\/p>\n Speaking in Australia<\/a>, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the settings were recently reviewed, and New Zealand would only move to red if it would have a material effect on slowing case numbers.<\/p>\n “Keep in mind we have really important rules at the orange setting that are there to protect us,” Ardern said.<\/p>\n “Having just come from Europe, also recently the United States, even being here in Australia I can tell you that New Zealand is still using measures many other countries don’t.”<\/p>\n One main change under red would be gathering limits, however, there was still a question mark over whether that would make much difference, given the notable rise in infections among older New Zealanders.<\/p>\n She said the two most important measures to reduce the spread of the virus were vaccinations and mask use.<\/p>\n “I encourage our older New Zealanders to go out and get that booster shot and for people to keep using their masks and if you’re sick isolate at home.<\/p>\n “The point here is we have to do things that make a difference to what we’re seeing now.”<\/p>\n New Zealand had hung on to mask use and vaccinations partly because winter was putting additional pressure on the country’s health system, Ardern said .<\/p>\n University of Auckland infectious disease expert Dr Siouxsie Wiles told RNZ yesterday that another wave of Covid-19 had been expected and should not come as a surprise.<\/p>\n