The Covid-19 Response Minister expects daily Omicron case numbers could potentially reach the tens of thousands.

The Association of Salaried Medical Specialists is calling for the Government to declare a health workforce emergency amid concerns an Omicron outbreak will exacerbate existing pressure.

Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins told Tim Dower while the Omicron hospitalisation rate is lower than other variants, no country has not experienced significant pressure on the health system.

“We do expect to experience pressure on the health system. The best thing that every New Zealander can do to ease that is to get their booster dose as soon as they're eligible.”

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