That’s it from me, Samantha Lock, for today’s Covid blog.
Please join me on our latest live feed here where I’ll be focusing a little more on the coronavirus crisis across Asia, Australia and the Pacific.
We also expect to hear new announcements regarding Plan B Covid measures across England after British prime minister Boris Johnson meets with his cabinet on Wednesday morning.
You can also keep up with the top headlines here.
New Zealand closes borders to new arrivals over ‘unprecedented’ Omicron risk
New Zealand has temporarily cut off the only pathway home for overseas citizens and visa holders, citing the risk of the Omicron variant.
Officials announced on Tuesday evening that new spaces in the country’s managed isolation and quarantine system (MIQ) would not be released.
The Covid-19 response minister, Chris Hipkins, said on Wednesday that while the pause was “temporary” there was no date for when spaces would again be available – meaning New Zealand’s border would be closed for an indeterminate time to citizens without an existing booking. “Pausing the next MIQ lobby is a temporary position while MIQ is under extreme pressure from New Zealanders returning with Omicron,” he said.
Read the full story here.
