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Omicron worries affect MIQ space

The number of rooms on offer in the latest release of managed isolation spots was cut by 1100 as a precaution due to the evolving situation with the Omicron variant of Covid-19. But because the numbers dropped in the second lobby since the news that the border would re-open next year, everyone who joined the queue had the opportunity to enter the managed isolation website. ‘‘We have to ensure we have the capacity to accommodate international arrivals as well as community cases in the coming days and weeks,’’ said joint head of MIQ Chris Bunny. ‘‘With travellers from the recently designated very high-risk countries now currently needing to spend longer in MIQ, instead of seven days, this will reduce the number of available rooms in our facilities.’’ A total of 3153 passengers from 95 countries secured 2090 rooms for December, January, February and March in yesterday’s room release. There were 4498 people in the lobby at 9am – about 1000 fewer people than last week. That figure grew to a total of 5315 people in the queue over the course of the room release, representing 8037 passengers.

National News

en-nz

2021-12-01T08:00:00.0000000Z

2021-12-01T08:00:00.0000000Z

https://stuff.pressreader.com/article/281775632436086

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