Politics
1News

Govt announcement on Thursday outlining Omicron outbreak changes

By Jessica Mutch McKay
February 23, 2022
Covid-19 Reponse Minister Chris Hipkins and Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield.

Covid-19 Reponse Minister Chris Hipkins and Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield. (Source: Getty / 1News)

There is set to be an announcement on Thursday around the Omicron outbreak.

On Thursday, February 24, at midday Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins and Director General of Health Ashley Bloomfield will make an announcement outlining changes to deal with the Omicron peak.

It is likely to be a move to Phase 3 – with relaxed rules now there are several thousand new cases a day.

Click here for more information on the different phases.

There is 3297 new Covid-19 community cases in New Zealand on Wednesday.

There are 179 people in hospital with the virus. One of those was in the intensive care/high dependency unit.

New ZealandPoliticsCovid-19

SHARE ME

More Stories

From left: Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk, Prime Minister Chris Luxon, a grieving homeowner who found herself $500,000 out of pocket due to bad building, building insurance expert Duncan Colebrook. (Composite image: Vinay Ranchhod)

'Misery for homeowners': expert warns against Luxon's building sector plans

A building insurance expert says the government's plans to shake up the building and construction sector will lead to more homeowners footing large bills for shonky building.

6:01am

Climate Change Minister Simon Watts.

Govt considers sidelining Climate Change Commission from emissions advice

Climate Change Minister Simon Watts repeatedly denied the plan, but then confirmed it to 1News two days later.

6:30pm

2:42

The downsized project is due to be completed in 2031.

Health Minister confident Dunedin Hospital rebuild back on track

The project has faced years of setbacks and cost overruns, dating back to when Sir John Key was prime minister.

5:30pm

2:24

Christopher Luxon at Air NZ on September 19

Luxon 'absolutely' backs Willis as finance minister amid GDP slump

Christopher Luxon said calls for Nicola Willis to resign were "absolute rubbish" and had told the minister she had his full backing.

10:43am

4:28

Brian Morgan's shed.

Council demands man move shed despite incoming law changes

Brian Morgan says the thought of taking the shed down, only to have to put it back up again at the end of the year, had caused him stress.

Thursday 8:30pm

Benjamin Doyle embraces Green MP Ricardo Menéndez March in the House after delivering their valedictory speech.

'Hostile and toxic': Benjamin Doyle blasts Parliament in valedictory speech

The outgoing Green Party MP resigned earlier this month after they said their child had asked them to step away from politics.

Thursday 5:45pm

10:33

Latest

Popular

26 mins ago

Two police officers bitten by dog in Rotorua, one requiring surgery

Two police officers bitten by dog in Rotorua, one requiring surgery

49 mins ago

Trump says he and Xi will meet in South Korea in coming weeks

President Donald Trump, left, shakes hands with China's President Xi Jinping during a meeting on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Osaka, Japan, June 29, 2019.

8:44am

Lawson takes two impressive top 10 finishes at Azerbaijan GP practice

Liam Lawson at the 2025 Formula 1 Qatar Airways Azerbaijan Grand Prix,

8:28am

Three injured, one critically, in separate overnight Auckland incidents

The two unrelated incidents took place in Gulf Harbour and Glen Innes.

7:57am

Canada run riot against Black Ferns in World Cup semifinal

The Black Ferns react to their World Cup semifinal loss to Canada in Bristol.

7:29am

Taliban releases British couple held for months in Afghanistan

In this photo provided by Qatar Foreign Ministry, Qatari and British diplomats, left, pose with the released British couple, Barbie and Peter Reynolds, aboard a plane before departing to Qatar from Kabul, Afghanistan.
1
2
3
4
5
6

More from Entertainment

Life and work melds for creative couple behind doco series on teen dads

Life and work melds for creative couple behind doco series on teen dads

Johnny and Azita Agnew have a history of delving into the lives of society's most marginalised groups and making artful documentaries.

6:00am

Jimmy Kimmel poses in the press room with the award for host for a game show for "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" during night two of the Creative Arts Emmy Awards.

Jimmy Kimmel's talk show pulled indefinitely over Charlie Kirk remarks

"We do not believe they reflect the spectrum of opinions, views, or values of the local communities in which we are located,” the network said.

Thursday 1:06pm

Chappell Roan arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards.

Pop superstar Chappell Roan to headline Laneway in Auckland

Thursday 10:15am

Tiki Taane performs on stage with his children and the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra.

Why are New Zealand musicians leaving Spotify?

Wed, Sep 17

Snoop Dogg performs in Vancouver, British Columbia in 2025.

Snoop Dogg NZ show canned days out

Wed, Sep 17