Dr. Ashley Bloomfield says holiday hotspots are prepared for the pending surge of visitors over the summer break. 

Domestic travel is expected to pick up significantly, once Aucklanders - who're fully jabbed or have tested negative - are allowed to leave the region from December 15. 

Rural doctors and iwi groups have told Newstalk ZB some areas won't be able to cope with a summer Covid outbreak. 

But the Director-General of Health told Mike Hosking all district health boards have prepared for the influx, like they do every summer. 

“New Zealanders do travel out to the regions every year in summer, we did it last summer. We’ve been working with all the DHBs and indeed, I’ve spoken with the rural hospitals and rural doctors' network about what support they might need.” 

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