Experiences New Surge In Infection Cases Due To Omicron Variant, New Zealand Provides Free COVID-19 Masks And Tests For Residents

Illustration of a COVID-19 test booth in New Zealand. (Wikimedia Commons/Ballofstring)

JAKARTA - The New Zealand government on Thursday announced the provision of masks and free rapid antigen testing, in an effort to stem the spread of COVID-19 and reduce pressure on the country's health system which is facing an influx of COVID and influenza patients.

There has been a significant spike in the number of new COVID cases in New Zealand in recent weeks, with authorities predicting this Omicron wave may be the worst than the first.

The hospital system was already struggling with increased waiting times and surgeries had to be cancelled.

"Undoubtedly the combination of the spike in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, the worst flu season in recent memory and the absence of appropriate staff, is putting healthcare workers and the entire healthcare system under extreme stress," said COVID-19 Response Minister Ayesha. Verrall, launches Reuters July 14.

New Zealand, which has a population of 5.1 million residents, recorded 11,382 new cases of COVID-19 as of Thursday, with a total of 68,737 currently infected with the virus. Of these, 765 of them were hospitalized.

New Zealand's rapid response to the pandemic and its geographic isolation kept the country largely COVID-19 free until the end of last year. The New Zealand government then suspended its zero-COVID policy earlier this year, after most of the population was vaccinated and the virus had been allowed to spread.

Verrall said while COVID-zero was no longer a possibility people would need to wear masks, to be tested and to isolate if they or someone in their household tested positive for the virus.

The government is making masks and free tests more widely available, allowing pharmacies to sell COVID drugs and expanding the criteria for who is eligible for antiviral drugs.

"Now is not the time to stop wearing masks. Evidence tells us that wearing a mask halves your chances of contracting COVID-19. It also helps protect you from influenza and other winter illnesses. So if you don't wear a mask for yourself, please use one for the health workers," Verrall exclaimed.