Covid Cases, Rules, And Free Stuff: What You Need To Know

Katie
Kenny, Digital Explainer Editor

Heading
into winter, Covid-19 is making headlines thanks to new
variants and an increase in case numbers.

Virus levels
in wastewater were the highest they’ve been since December,
2022, according to national surveillance data for the week
ending 19 May. And close to 40 people a
day were being admitted to hospital with the
disease.

Earlier this month, we
looked at the rise of a subset of variants referred to as
“FLiRT”. Descended from JN.1, these new lineages
accounted for just over 40 percent of all Covid viruses
sequenced from waterwater, according to the latest
Environmental Science and Research (ESR) data.

Ahead
of Budget 2024, let’s recap what we know about Covid
restrictions, vaccines, tests, and more.

Mandates,
restrictions, and free stuff

Government vaccine
mandates are long gone. They were scrapped in September,
2022.

The remaining Covid mandates were dropped
last year, meaning it is no longer a legal requirement to
self-isolate after a positive test.

Free rapid antigen
tests (RATs) for at-home testing will be available from
participating pharmacies and RAT collection sites until 30
June, Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora announced in January.
RNZ has heard from people around the country who said they
were already struggling to find tests. RNZ called several
pharmacies: Some had stock while others had run
out.

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests are used in
some situations by health professionals. Results are
generally more accurate than for RATs but take two to five
days. There has been no indication those will not continue,
because they are an important part of infection control in
healthcare settings.

At this point, some are asking:
Do the tests still work? Yes,
experts have told RNZ. PCR tests and RATs work in
different ways and the former are more sensitive. But
overall, the new subvariants seem to be detected as well as
their predecessors with current diagnostics.

Medical
masks were free for everyone until the end of February this
year. Special P2/N95 masks remain free for people at higher
risk of getting very sick until 30 June, 2024. (You can get
them when you pick up RATs).

Covid antiviral
medicines, that can help reduce the amount of virus in your
body so you don’t get as sick, are also freely available to
people with a range of risk factors relating to age,
ethnicity, vaccination status, and underlying health
conditions.

Covid vaccination is available and free
for everyone aged 5 and over, while additional doses or
boosters are available and free for people over the age of
30. (Some younger people can have additional doses, but
eligibility criteria apply).

What can we expect from
Budget 2024?

Hopefully, some answers. Right now, the
country’s long-term Covid strategy is unclear.

It is
unclear whether the supply of free RATs and masks will be
extended beyond the mid-year deadline. And whether vaccines
will remain free for everyone.

Initially, Covid
vaccines and treatments were paid for from a separate fund
provided by the government. But from 1 July, 2023, the
budget for them was added to the combined pharmaceutical
budget; a pot of about $1.5 billion.

Now, Covid
vaccines and treatments need to be prioritised against all
the other medicines, medical devices, vaccines, and related
products funded for New Zealanders.

While the Covid
vaccines do not necessarily stop someone becoming infected,
they remain good protection against severe
illness and death from the disease.

The Public
Health Communication Centre Aotearoa has also called for
government action in response to the threat of long
Covid, when the effects of the virus last longer than 12
weeks.

When asked for insight, a spokesperson from
Health Minister Shane Reti’s office only said: “The
government’s investment in health will be part of Budget
2024, announced on Thursday.”

Self-isolation
rules

Te Whatu Ora still recommends taking a test if
you have Covid symptoms. And if you test positive, it is
recommended you isolate for five days and update My Health
Record so you can easily access help and support if
needed.

What if someone in your household tests
positive? If you have spent at least eight hours with them
in the same home, while the person was infectious, you are
recommended to stay at home and do a RAT. Even if you test
negative, if symptoms persist, stay at home and test again
after 24 and 48 hours. Isolate if necessary.

Again,
while these things are recommended, there i s no longer a
legal requirement to isolate after a positive
test.

However, employers should support employees to
stay home in line with health guidance, the Ministry of
Business, Innovation and Employment said.

A
notifiable disease

Covid remains a notifiable
disease. There are no immediate plans to remove it from the
schedule – which is updated as needed, the Ministry of
Health told RNZ.

The schedule helps with the
monitoring of and response to diseases that pose public
health risks. Mostly this involves infectious diseases or
diseases that, if present in an area, could create a health
risk for the wider population.

Note, this does not
mean you have to upload your test result. Rather, health
practitioners and the people in charge of medical
laboratories officially report, or notify, actual and
suspected cases of
disease.

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