All of Aotearoa will be in ‘Phase 2’ of the government’s Omicron response plan from 11.59pm, 15 February, 2022. Phase 2 is when cases have spread more widely in the community and aims to minimise and slow transmission to protect our vulnerable communities.
What happens in Phase 2?
Changes to Isolation:
- People who test positive for Covid-19 will need to isolate for 10 days (down from 14 days at Phase 1). This also applies to household contacts of the case. Household contacts will need to get tests on day 3 and on day 8. If all tests are negative, the whole household can complete isolation at the same time.
- Close Contacts will need to isolate for 7 days (down from 10 days at Phase 1).
Changes in Testing:
- Anyone who has symptoms must get a PCR test and self isolate until they receive the results.
- Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT) may be used in addition to PCR testing for symptomatic people and close contacts
- PCR testing to confirm the diagnosis if positive RAT.
Changes in Contact Tracing:
- Communications may not be received via phone. E-mail and SMS messages may be used more often, in order to streamline communications.
- Household contacts of a case will have regular communication with a health professional and if they become symptomatic, they will become a probable case.
- Cases will be:
- notified by text message and given an online self-investigation tool that will focus on high-risk exposures – events or locations.
- identified through a positive PCR test.
- Contacts will be:
- interviewed if required but notified by text message, directed to a website, and will need to get a test on day 5.
- identified by push notifications from QR scanning, Bluetooth tracing, and registrations for being at a location of interest.
Click here for more information on the three phase approach to Omicron and head to our Covid-19 Hospitality Hub for more information and resources.