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Omicron worries affect MIQ space

Joel MacManus

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 the joint head of MIQ, Chris Bunny, in a statement.

‘‘With travellers from the recently designated very highrisk countries now currently needing to spend longer in MIQ, instead of seven days, this will reduce the number of available rooms in our facilities,’’ Bunny said.

A total of 3153 passengers from 95 countries were able to secure 2090 rooms for the months of 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, and 10,000 fewer people than two weeks ago.

That figure grew to a total 5315 people in the queue over the course of the room release, representing 8037 passengers.

By contrast, the eighth round of the lobby in November – before the border announcement – had 24,675 people in the queue, and 4230 rooms were snapped up.

Australia remained the top country for passenger numbers at 527, closely followed by 524 from India.

About 40 per cent of people who participated in the room release yesterday were based in New Zealand – people booking on behalf of those overseas, or people planning to travel overseas and return to New Zealand.

The MIQ system has now brought 195,000 people back to New Zealand.

More than 51,500 people have secured vouchers through the last 10 room releases and there are still several thousand rooms to be released through to March.

Fully vaccinated Kiwis travelling from Australia can bypass managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) from January 17, instead self-isolating at home for seven days. Those returning from other countries will be allowed to do so from February 14.

National News

en-nz

2021-12-01T08:00:00.0000000Z

2021-12-01T08:00:00.0000000Z

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