‘Urgent issues’ in response

A raft of ‘‘urgent issues’’ and shortcomings in the Covid-19 response have been exposed by the Delta outbreak, according to a Government report that warns the country is not prepared to reopen.

The Government-appointed independent review group – headed by public sector fixit man Sir Brian Roche – provided Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins with a damning report of the Covid-19 response in September. The report was publicly released by the Government yesterday.

Roche, in a letter to the minister with the report, said the Delta outbreak had, ‘‘to a significant extent, exposed urgent issues with respect to New Zealand’s preparedness for reconnecting. It has also highlighted a degree of fragility around the licence to operate – the goodwill and tolerance of the general public to lockdowns, and the closure of the borders is being challenged.’’

In the report, the advice group warned that lockdowns were no longer sustainable, but the health system would not cope with the spread of the virus, given the vaccination rate at the time.

‘‘Were a larger outbreak to occur in the near future, there is real risk of our systems, infrastructures and workforce being overwhelmed.’’

Roche listed a series of ‘‘pre-conditions’’ that needed to be met before New Zealand could be reopened to the world.

He said vaccination coverage would need to be ‘‘well over’’ 90 per cent of the eligible population. ‘‘It is clear that our New Zealand vaccination programme is failing certain populations, most notably Māori, who are at higher risk of serious disease and death than non-Māori. Addressing such disparities is an urgent priority.’’

He said there needed to be ‘‘coherent and fit-for-purpose’’ alternatives to the managed isolation and quarantine system at the border, and a ‘‘breakthrough’’ that would allow for widespread use of saliva and rapid antigen testing. ‘‘The current outbreak has revealed the very poor level of preparedness of hospitals for Delta. Auckland, which has a large and Covid-19 prepared health system relative to the rest of New Zealand, has essentially been stretched to capacity.’’

Roche recommended that a Covid-19 agency or unit was needed to better run the pandemic response – something the Government has shown no appetite to create.

‘‘The current operating model is failing and will fail in the even more complex operating environment after reopening.’’

Hipkins responded, saying the Government welcomed the report.

‘‘While Delta has brought unprecedented challenges to all areas of the Covid19 response, we have made significant progress since the report was written. As the group notes, New Zealand needs to ensure it’s prepared as we move to next phase of the pandemic response.

‘‘The Covid-19 Protection Framework will guide how we keep people safe while minimising the impacts Covid-19 has on our day-to-day lives and on businesses.

‘‘Progress has also been achieved in key areas highlighted by the group, with more testing and surveillance testing options, including saliva testing and rapid antigen tests for business, and mandatory vaccine requirements for the border, education and health sectors, Corrections, the police and Defence – providing more protection and certainty.

‘‘This progress comes alongside the major reforms to the health system which will ensure fairer access for all New Zealanders. The Health System Preparedness Programme will build health system readiness to sustainably manage Covid-19 over the longer term, keeping Covid-19 case numbers as low as possible while ensuring a strong and resilient health system that meets health and social needs. We’re also reconnecting New Zealand with the rest of the world in a phased and safe way.’’

‘‘The current operating model is failing and will fail . . . after reopening.’’