The government has scrapped the last of New Zealand’s Covid-19 requirements from today, ending more than three years of emergency rules in response to the pandemic disease.
The seven-day mandatory isolation period and the requirement for face masks for visitors to healthcare facilities were both removed at midnight.
Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and Health Minister Dr Ayesha Verrall announced the changes yesterday, saying case numbers, wastewater detection and hospitalisations had been on their way down for the past couple of months.
Mr Hipkins said it was not a politically motivated decision, but one that had been signalled in autumn.
In April, Cabinet reviewed the remaining Covid requirements and decided to keep them until the end of this month to help ease the pressure on hospitals during the onset of winter.
Dr Verrall said case numbers would continue to fluctuate, but there had not been the dramatic spikes seen in Covid-19 rates last year.
The announcement was met with cautious optimism by the scientific community.
University of Otago department of microbiology and immunology Prof James Ussher said through vaccination and infections there was significant population immunity at present and most people were well protected against serious outcomes from the disease.
For those who were at serious risk, highly effective anti-viral medications were available.
"It’s never going to go away, but it is now another respiratory virus that is circulating and it needs to be integrated into business-as-usual."
He thought it was "an appropriate time" to step back from Covid restrictions.
"I think it probably reflects the reality about how many people have been acting anyway."
"The worst of the flu season is probably behind us now, and Covid levels are relatively low, so it’s a reasonable thing to do at this stage."
University of Otago epidemiologist Prof Michael Baker said self-isolation had been a "critical measure" in the response to Covid-19 — and he wanted to know what might replace the mandate.
While it was normal for people with stomach flu, or gastroenteritis, to avoid swimming pools, he was unconvinced it was yet an established norm for people with respiratory illnesses to avoid workplaces, schools or indoor entertainment venues.
Employers, schools, venue operators and others could agree to a code of practice whereby people were discouraged from attending places if they had symptoms of respiratory infections.
Covid-19 was still causing at least 5000 known cases a week, putting about 170 people in hospital and killing about 20 people a week, he said.
"That means it is having a bigger impact than any other infectious disease in New Zealand at the moment.
"It’s moving into being a more predictable threat — no-one would say we’re in the clear in terms of that."
Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand Southern quality and clinical governance solutions executive director Dr Hywel Lloyd said HNZ Southern was reviewing its mask-wearing guidelines for healthcare staff in healthcare facilities and hospitals.
While this was under way they were asked to continue to wear masks in hospitals to protect vulnerable patients.
Masks would also be available for any visitor if they wished to wear them.
"For patient safety reasons, we will continue to require visitors to wear personal protective equipment including masks in certain clinical situations as has always been the case.
"Mask wearing is still an important way to help prevent the spread of illness in healthcare settings."
Dr Verrall said while not mandated, the Ministry of Health guidance was for people to stay at home for five days if they were unwell or had tested positive for Covid-19.
"It has been a long road, however thanks to lots of hard work, New Zealand’s Covid-19 approach has moved from an emergency response to sustainable long-term management." — Additional reporting The New Zealand Herald
