Rotorua Daily Post
  • Rotorua Daily Post home
  • Latest news
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Sport
  • Video
  • Death notices
  • Classifieds

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Residential property listings
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
  • Rural
  • Sport

Locations

  • Tauranga
  • Te Puke
  • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Tokoroa
  • Taupō & Tūrangi

Media

  • Video
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-Editions
  • Photo sales

Weather

  • Rotorua
  • Tauranga
  • Whakatāne
  • Tokoroa
  • Taupō

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Rotorua Daily Post

Covid 19 Omicron: How to prepare for an outbreak and home isolation

NZ Herald
22 Jan, 2022 10:33 PM5 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Omicron is the new variant of Covid-19, first detected in South Africa in November 2021. Video / NZ Herald

With the Omicron outbreak now imminent, New Zealand is moving to the red-light setting at 11.59pm tonight.

Here are some ways to have your household and support networks ready in the event of self-isolation, being transferred to an MIQ facility, or becoming sick and needing hospital care.

Of course, the best way to prepare for a community outbreak is to make sure you're fully vaccinated and have received the booster dose if eligible.

While the Omicron variant is more contagious than Delta, studies show it causes milder disease than previous strains of Covid-19.

Omicron in the community

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

On Friday it was confirmed a case in Palmerston North has the highly contagious variant, and ir was confirmed on Saturday that a second Auckland Airport worker is infected with Omicron.

Three cases of Omicron have already been confirmed in Auckland.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern also confirmed there will be no lockdowns when Omicron enters the community, but the country would move from the orange setting to red. Today she confirmed the move to red from midnight Sunday.

According to latest modelling almost 2000 Omicron cases a day - 10 times the Delta peak - are expected in the Auckland region in just six weeks in the event of an outbreak.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

But it's important to remember stock piling and panic buying everyday supermarket items is not necessary. If you live at home alone, or know someone who does, make sure adequate support systems are organised in advance of possible self-isolation.

Everyone who tests positive for Covid-19 needs to stay at home or alternative accommodation, or be moved to an MIQ facility.

If you contract Omicron you will need to isolate for at least 10 days, or 14 days if you are not fully vaccinated, and be symptom-free for 72 hours. There have been reports and suggestions the self-isolation period may extend to 24 days.

Have a plan and share it

If someone tests positive for Omicron, everyone living in the same dwelling as the case will have to stay at home for the entire time they are isolating.

Families in the same household are encouraged to have a meeting so everyone, including children, knows what to do if someone gets sick or has to go to hospital.

Create a map of your home and mark out shared spaces, isolating areas and a sanitising station with the intent of reducing the spread of Covid-19 as much as possible.

If you are infected, it's best to limit time in shared spaces, and to use your own household items and take care of your own laundry.

Make a list of your family information, including names, ages, NHI numbers, any medical conditions and medication people regularly take.

Make plans if you have shared custody of a child or dependant, and check in with any relevant schools, employers and in-home carers.

Medical supplies

The Ministry of Health suggests having pain relief such as Ibuprofen and Panadol to hand, as well as a kit with hand sanitiser, masks, tissues and cleaning equipment such as gloves, rubbish bags and cleaning products.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

It's also helpful to have medicines that will help with the symptoms of Covid-19, such as throat lozenges, cough medicine and ice blocks.

If you need particular medicines, your doctor or local pharmacy can arrange having prescriptions delivered to your home.

Self isolating at home can be tedious, so make sure to stock up on games, books, or any activity that you enjoy and will help to pass the time.

Support networks

Think about how to let people know if you're heading into self-isolation, such as your neighbours and wider family, and how people can help you with contactless drop-offs - eg texting before they arrive, or leaving goods at an agreed entrance.

If you are living alone, contact friends, family or a local organisation that can drop off food or supplies if you need to self-isolate.

Have someone in mind that you can organise regular catch-ups with either online or via phone in the event of self-isolation.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Staying mentally healthy during self-isolation is extremely important. There are helpful support networks such as the Mental Health Foundation, Te Whare Tapa Whā and helpline 1737. There are also a variety of financial support options.

Write down instructions for anyone who may need to keep your house ticking over if you get sick and require hospital care - these could for looking after pets, paying bills and watering plants.

A Ministry of Health dedicated contact person will check up on anyone who is isolating at home.

• Further information can be found on the Unite against Covid-19 website.

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Rotorua Daily Post

Rotorua Daily Post

Mixed verdicts delivered for Tribesmen accused of murdering one of their own

11 Jul 05:00 AM
Rotorua Daily Post

Pair deny charges over death of Paige Johnson in alleged hit-and-run

11 Jul 12:26 AM
Rotorua Daily Post

Home-schooled students ride 755km to Parliament for equal sports access

10 Jul 11:07 PM

From early mornings to easy living

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Rotorua Daily Post

Mixed verdicts delivered for Tribesmen accused of murdering one of their own

Mixed verdicts delivered for Tribesmen accused of murdering one of their own

11 Jul 05:00 AM

Mark 'Shark' Hohua died in June 2022 after a violent assault over money.

Pair deny charges over death of Paige Johnson in alleged hit-and-run

Pair deny charges over death of Paige Johnson in alleged hit-and-run

11 Jul 12:26 AM
Home-schooled students ride 755km to Parliament for equal sports access

Home-schooled students ride 755km to Parliament for equal sports access

10 Jul 11:07 PM
Heavy rain warning issued for Bay of Plenty, up to 140mm expected

Heavy rain warning issued for Bay of Plenty, up to 140mm expected

10 Jul 10:57 PM
Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • Rotorua Daily Post e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the Rotorua Daily Post
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP