Covid-19 Omicron outbreak: Queenstown Airport, hotel visited by suspected case

January 27 2022 PM Jacinda Ardern said that although Omicron could be a milder illness for some people, the Government was expecting many more cases and that would put pressure on the health system.

Two locations in Queenstown have been visited by a suspected Omicron case who travelled to the city from Auckland.

The Hotel St Moritz and Queenstown Airport have been added as locations of interest on January 22.

People at the hotel on that day between 12am on Friday and 12pm on Saturday should self-monitor for Covid symptoms for 10 days after being exposed and if symptoms start to show, get tested and stay home until a negative test result returns.

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General manager Jo Finnigan said they have been told the suspected Omicron case was a guest at the hotel.

"The advice we have been given is that the infectious period started the day they checked out and they just came down to the lobby and left," she said.

She said they were only in the lobby for a 15-minute period while infectious.

"Although there is of course some risk, we are confident that we have done everything we can to mitigate the risk."

The hotel is fully vaccinated for both staff and guests.

She said people at the hotel have been deemed casual contacts only and they are following guidelines by the Ministry of Health to monitor for symptoms for the next 10 days.

Queenstown Airport was visited between 2.15pm and 3pm.

A spokesperson said they understand the suspected case was a passenger on a flight departing Queenstown.

Anyone who was at the airport during the affected period is considered a casual contact and should self-monitor for symptoms.

"Since the emergence of Covid-19 we have been following stringent health and safety protocols including increased cleaning of high touch and high traffic areas, mask wearing, scanning in and regular RAT surveillance testing of staff. Queenstown Airport also has a vaccination policy in place.

"Given the likelihood that Covid-19 will be in the community at some point we are well prepared and this is a good reminder to make sure everyone follows MoH guidelines including mask wearing, scanning in to the terminal as well as all businesses inside terminal, and if you aren't feeling well please stay at home," they said.

Queenstown Mayor Jim Boult said the suspected case was a person from Auckland who visited the city over the weekend.

He said Queenstown is very prepared if there is an outbreak.

"We are over 99 per cent double vaccinated, we have isolation places and transport arranged if people need to be taken out of the district.

"We have extra testing facilities so we are in good shape," he said.

Boult said he does not feel confident it will not spread to the community but he does not think anybody in New Zealand feels confident of that.

"All communities around New Zealand are concerned that this disease is out there and it will enter practically every part of n sooner or later. We are taking every precaution we can."