NZ keeping masks, isolation rules for now

Amid high hospitalisations and deaths, the New Zealand government has opted to retain COVID-19 mask-wearing and isolating rules for another month.

New Zealand will stay in the "orange" setting of its traffic light-styled COVID-19 restrictions through to September.

At orange, Kiwis are required to mask up in many public settings, while anyone with COVID-19 or their household contacts are required to isolate for seven days following the onset of symptoms.

New Zealand has endured its most deadly COVID-19 wave this winter, with the rolling seven-day average for deaths in double figures since June.

The Omicron outbreak is putting enormous strain on the health system, with 654 people with COVID-19 being treated in Kiwi hospitals alongside a major flu outbreak.

Ayesha Verrall, the COVID-19 minister, said "the good news is current modelling suggests COVID-19 cases may have peaked at around 11,000 cases per day mid-July".

"There's still significant pressure on hospitals from winter illnesses, so our current measures have an ongoing role to play in reducing the number of COVID-19 cases and hospitalisations," she said.

"Remaining at Orange gives our health system the level of support needed to prevent a surge in demand for care ... we just need to stay the course a little longer."

New Zealand has relaxed its border settings in recent months, and is now open to incoming and outgoing travellers without the need for COVID-19 testing.