> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://goodoil.news/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # The Uninvited Christmas Guest - URL: https://goodoil.news/the-uninvited-christmas-guest/ - Published: 2021-12-09T00:30:00.000Z - Updated: 2021-12-08T07:12:43.000Z - Author: Guest Post - Tags: COVID-19, NZ, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2024-07-17 01:31 **Matthew Hobbs** **Lukas Marek** [University of Canterbury](https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-canterbury-1004?ref=goodoil.news) **Dr Matthew Hobbs* is a Senior Lecturer in Public Health and Researcher at the GeoHealth Laboratory, University of Canterbury. As a researcher he is interested in modifying environments to improve behaviour/health.* **Lukas Marek* received his PhD in 2015 from the Department of Geoinformatics at Palacky University in the Czech Republic. In his thesis, he conducted a nationwide research study on the spatial and spatiotemporal analysis of gastroenteritis (”food poisoning”). His main research interest is mostly focused on spatial analyses and (geo)visualisation of health- and wellbeing-related data using spatial data science.* --- As New Zealand gets ready for the festive season under the new [traffic light system](https://covid19.govt.nz/traffic-lights/covid-19-protection-framework/?ref=goodoil.news), the emergence of the [Omicron](https://7news.com.au/lifestyle/health-wellbeing/nsw-health-says-ninth-case-of-omicron-detected-in-the-state-has-no-links-to-overseas-travel-c-4797516?ref=goodoil.news) variant is a reminder this pandemic is far from over. The new [variant of concern](https://www.who.int/news/item/26-11-2021-classification-of-omicron-%28b.1.1.529%29-sars-cov-2-variant-of-concern?ref=goodoil.news) is already fuelling a new wave of infections in South Africa and there is [some evidence](https://twitter.com/dgurdasani1/status/1467915173554003978?ref=goodoil.news) hospitalisations are increasing. ![Data from the South African COVID-19 monitoring consortium show the impact of the Omicron variant.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/31/f4/31f4e20a-0315-499e-83ff-139e8eab53bf/content/images/files/435716/original/file-20211205-13-l63xwm.png) Data from the South African COVID-19 monitoring consortium show the impact of the Omicron variant. SACMC Epidemic Explorer, [CC BY-ND](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/?ref=goodoil.news) Omicron has already [arrived in Australia](https://www.news.com.au/world/coronavirus/australia/omicron-australia-covid-updates-who-official-hints-at-new-data-on-variant/news-story/e5f9beeddd16e74c63eb24a4ca32ed4e?ref=goodoil.news) and the question now is whether it will get to New Zealand during the summer holiday season and potentially affect plans for border openings. New Zealand is currently planning to start [opening its borders](https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/reconnecting-new-zealand-%E2%80%93-next-steps?ref=goodoil.news) and allowing quarantine-free entry from early 2022, first to fully vaccinated New Zealand citizens arriving from Australia after January 16, and then for New Zealanders arriving from all other countries after mid-February. There’s already some discussion about whether this plan may have to be reviewed. Omicron contains 32 mutations in the spike protein alone. These are [mutations](https://nextstrain.org/ncov/gisaid/africa?l=scatter&scatterY=S1%5Fmutations&ref=goodoil.news) that may make the virus more transmissible and better at evading immunity. There is also some evidence to suggest it poses a [higher risk of reinfection](https://www.sciencemediacentre.co.nz/2021/12/03/previous-covid-19-infection-may-not-protect-against-omicron-expert-reaction/?ref=goodoil.news). Other [anecdotal evidence](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/covid-19-omicron-outbreak-children-hospitalised-with-moderate-to-severe-symptoms/QCNS4VJU3H2WEN3UOJU5PEZXYM/?ref=goodoil.news) suggests more children are being hospitalised with moderate to severe symptoms with Omicron. However, it is still too early to draw any firm conclusions. Data over the next few weeks will help determine the variant’s full impact. #### Delta Has Taught Us Important Lessons New Zealand’s [elimination strategy](https://journal.nzma.org.nz/journal-articles/the-next-phase-in-aotearoa-new-zealands-covid-19-response-tight-suppression-may-be-optimal-for-health-equity-and-wellbeing-in-the-months-ahead?ref=goodoil.news) resulted in [good economic performance](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34739509/?ref=goodoil.news), the [lowest COVID-19 mortality in the OECD](https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract%5Fid=3875655&ref=goodoil.news) and [increases in life expectancy](https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj-2021-066768?ref=goodoil.news). However, the emergence of the [Delta variant](https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-health-advice-public/about-covid-19/covid-19-about-delta-variant?ref=goodoil.news) forced us to [abandon](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ag5ubS%5FEHWU&ref=goodoil.news) that strategy. Perhaps most importantly, Delta also taught us that when new variants emerge, [they do not stay in one place](https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/data/animated-world-map?ref=goodoil.news) for very long. So, how prepared is New Zealand? In the short term, New Zealand is well placed to deal with Omicron. Our strong [border controls](https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/127131310/covid19-omicron-officials-looking-into-extra-border-measures?ref=goodoil.news), testing and rapid genome sequencing mean that when Omicron arrives [at our border](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/covid-19-delta-outbreak-nzs-tough-border-controls-may-protect-against-new-variant-michael-baker/YUGFACL5OJWCSCDUUFKDFSGTEI/?ref=goodoil.news), we can respond quickly and prevent community incursion. It is unlikely it will be our unwanted guest this Christmas. Despite this, significant challenges lie ahead in the long term, including vaccination inequity and disruptions to routine healthcare. #### Percentage of the Double Vaccinated **Click the button in the top right corner to expand the interactive map – then swipe down for Maori vaccination rates and up for the overall population to compare.** In several regions, including Auckland and Canterbury, 90% of the eligible population are now [fully vaccinated](https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-data-and-statistics/covid-19-vaccine-data?ref=goodoil.news#90pct). High vaccination rates may blunt the extent of future potential waves of infection, but significant inequities in vaccination levels remain. We know that vaccinated people transmit COVID-19 [less than](https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099%2821%2900648-4/fulltext?ref=goodoil.news) unvaccinated people, but only 70% of Maori have received [both doses](https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-data-and-statistics/covid-19-vaccine-data?ref=goodoil.news). Even without COVID-19 spread widely, there is already [pressure](https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/457178/pharmacists-stretched-thin-distributing-vaccine-passes?ref=goodoil.news) on [hospital capacity](https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/456116/icu-surge-capacity-nurses-question-training-and-numbers?ref=goodoil.news) and [staff](https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/457098/644-million-boost-as-icu-and-hospitals-brace-for-widespread-covid-19?ref=goodoil.news) with [delayed surgeries now more common](https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/hawkes-bay/127156722/surgeries-cancelled-as-beds-fill-up-at-hawkes-bay-hospital?ref=goodoil.news), be that in [Hawke’s Bay](https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/hawkes-bay/127156722/surgeries-cancelled-as-beds-fill-up-at-hawkes-bay-hospital?ref=goodoil.news), [Dunedin](https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/300373502/code-red-issued-for-dunedin-hospital-after-spike-in-patient-numbers?ref=goodoil.news) or [Christchurch](https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/300372474/surgeries-delayed-long-waits-in-emergency-department-due-to-spike-in-patients?ref=goodoil.news). So far, New Zealand has been luckier than other countries where [concerns are growing](https://www.theweek.co.uk/news/science-health/954825/extra-non-covid-deaths-increase?ref=goodoil.news) about disruptions to routine healthcare. [Delays](https://www.bhf.org.uk/what-we-do/news-from-the-bhf/news-archive/2021/november/record-numbers-waiting-over-six-weeks-vital-heart-scans?ref=goodoil.news) may leave patients with treatable conditions suffering illnesses that [can become fatal](https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/news/coronavirus-and-your-health/pandemic-effect-on-heart-patients?ref=goodoil.news). New Zealand has one of the [lowest ICU capacities](https://journal.nzma.org.nz/journal-articles/new-zealands-staffed-icu-bed-capacity-and-covid-19-surge-capacity?ref=goodoil.news) in the world. While the government has announced $644 million to [raise ICU capacity](https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/funding-extra-icu-capacity?ref=goodoil.news), it will [take time to build capacity and train staff](https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/457148/icu-funding-may-be-too-much-too-late-health-professionals?ref=goodoil.news). Although unlikely, should Omicron breach our border [like Delta did](https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/126158263/covid19-a-timeline-of-the-delta-outbreak?ref=goodoil.news), it will have to be tackled against the backdrop of trying to manage the current Delta outbreak. [Child](https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/456967/covid-19-briefing-children-aged-5-11-may-be-able-to-get-vaccine-doses-from-end-of-january?ref=goodoil.news) vaccinations are set to start at the end of January. However, low vaccination levels are often in areas where health provision and hospitals [are a long way away](https://thespinoff.co.nz/covid-19/23-11-2021/the-worry-is-being-completely-overwhelmed-nz-regions-brace-for-a-covid-summer?ref=goodoil.news). This will need to be incorporated into the rollout strategy to ensure [equitable childhood](https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/300461792/how-does-covid19-affect-children-and-how-can-we-keep-them-safe?ref=goodoil.news) vaccination rates. #### Looking Forward to Christmas and Beyond The Auckland border will [lift](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/covid-19-delta-outbreak-maori-leaders-ask-people-to-stay-away-from-regions-with-lower-vaccination-rates/TRGPCUYAAVPDZHZWC34G6ZUBYY/?ref=goodoil.news) on December 15 and many are bracing themselves for a [COVID summer](https://thespinoff.co.nz/covid-19/23-11-2021/the-worry-is-being-completely-overwhelmed-nz-regions-brace-for-a-covid-summer?ref=goodoil.news). Calls for [staycations](https://www.1news.co.nz/2021/12/04/siouxsie-wiles-encourages-staycation-for-aucklanders/?ref=goodoil.news) have emerged as popular summer holiday spots such as [Matai Bay close](https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/news/300465501/covid19-iwi-close-popular-northland-holiday-spot-over-summer?ref=goodoil.news) and iwi are asking people to stay away from some destinations. Our analysis by regional tourism areas in the map below supports this. It shows most regional tourism areas have low vaccination rates, especially for Maori and Pacific peoples. **Click the button in the top right corner to expand the interactive map – then swipe down for Maori and Pacific peoples vaccination rates and up to compare to overall population.** As New Zealand heads into the holiday season, [public health measures](https://www.mpi.govt.nz/dmsdocument/48766-COVID-19-Protection-Framework-Guidance-for-the-primary-sector?ref=goodoil.news) such as mask wearing, physical distancing, hand hygiene, contact tracing, case isolation and vaccination will remain essential. Mandating the [COVID tracer app](https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/300399796/nz-is-introducing-mandatory-record-keeping-to-help-contact-tracers-but-is-the-data-protected-enough?ref=goodoil.news) increased the number of scans while less than 1% of paid staff at St John’s ambulance service left due to the [vaccine mandate](https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/127122945/vaccine-mandate-314-staff-volunteers-have-left-st-john?ref=goodoil.news). ![Number of scans recorded on the NZ COVID Tracer app](https://storage.ghost.io/c/31/f4/31f4e20a-0315-499e-83ff-139e8eab53bf/content/images/files/435508/original/file-20211203-17-8v7tix.png) [CC BY-ND](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/?ref=goodoil.news) [Some experts](https://edition.cnn.com/2021/11/28/world/omicron-coronavirus-variant-vaccine-inequity-intl-cmd/index.html?ref=goodoil.news) have suggested the emergence of Omicron could be a result of low levels of vaccine coverage in developing nations. The root of this is that the world [isn’t doing enough](https://www.stuff.co.nz/opinion/300468456/omicron-why-were-running-out-of-greek-letters-for-covid?ref=goodoil.news) to stop the spread of COVID-19. While some countries, including New Zealand, have had domestic success at controlling COVID-19, wealthy countries around the world continue to [hoard vaccines](https://edition.cnn.com/2021/11/28/world/omicron-coronavirus-variant-vaccine-inequity-intl-cmd/index.html?ref=goodoil.news). This ultimately gives the virus more opportunities to replicate and [mutate](https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.08.03.454981v4?ref=goodoil.news). Omicron should act as a [wake-up call](https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/127134932/covid19-omicron-variant-shows-pandemic-is-not-over-everyone-should-be-wide-awake-to-threat-who-boss-says?ref=goodoil.news) to ensure worldwide equitable vaccine delivery before even more concerning variants [emerge](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/in-the-loop-helen-clark-criticises-vaccine-inequity-as-omicron-variant-spreads/R4FACSAWQ3RKX4GZ42EM4U4K64/?ref=goodoil.news). [Matthew Hobbs](https://theconversation.com/profiles/matthew-hobbs-1138967?ref=goodoil.news), Senior Lecturer in Public Health and Co-Director of the GeoHealth Laboratory, *[University of Canterbury](https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-canterbury-1004?ref=goodoil.news)* and [Lukas Marek](https://theconversation.com/profiles/lukas-marek-1295508?ref=goodoil.news), Researcher and lecturer in Spatial Data Science, *[University of Canterbury](https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-canterbury-1004?ref=goodoil.news)* This article is republished from [The Conversation](https://theconversation.com/?ref=goodoil.news) under a Creative Commons license. Read the [original article](https://theconversation.com/the-uninvited-christmas-guest-is-new-zealand-prepared-for-omicrons-inevitable-arrival-172937?ref=goodoil.news). **Please share this article so that others can discover *The BFD***.