The country has been in the traffic light system since December 3, and the Auckland boundary is set to be softened from December 15. Ministers also decided to keep the Auckland boundary in place instead of lifting it at the same time the country went into the new system, which was the public health recommendation. Health staff 'tipping point'A public health assessment on November 17 noted the pressure that testing labs were under, with only 49 per cent of tests being turned around within 24 hours. "The public health service is increasingly becoming stretched and is potentially reaching a tipping point where staff will be lost," the Minister of Health was told, as staff supported 5010 to isolate at home including 2238 cases, the Health Ministry document, dated November 18, said. The Health Ministry supported no prerequisites because of high vaccination coverage around the country and confidence in the use of the red setting.

Source: New Zealand Herald December 11, 2021 03:05 UTC