New Zealand will retain its seven-day COVID-19 self-isolation period for people with the virus for at least another two months.
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On Tuesday, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins' cabinet reviewed its pandemic settings, deciding after a "difficult balancing act" to hold onto the measure.
"We've had to weigh a number of things quite carefully," he said.
"The isolation period serves not just to relieve pressure on the health system and result in fewer people being infected, but actually there is a labour market incentive for this as well."
Mr Hipkins said he envisaged NZ shedding the rule by year's end, ordering further advice on a "test to return to work" system which will be considered in June.
"We are heading towards a point where COVID-19 will become normal. I would expect certainly at the latest by the end of the winter we'll be into that zone," he said.
The latest data shows an seven-day average of 1729 cases a day, marginally down from last week, with 219 people in hospital and seven in intensive care.
Eight people have died in the past week, taking the death toll to 4133, or 2695 attributed to the virus.
Under NZ law, people who catch COVID-19 must isolate for seven days from their first symptoms.
Other members of the house do not need to isolate but are asked to test daily.
Australia shed its five-day isolation requirement for most workers in October.
Epidemiologists and public health officials have argued for the retention of the isolation rules ahead of winter, when respiratory illnesses can flood hospitals.
Mr Hipkins said those arguments weighed heavily on him, along with recent experience of outbreaks through the education system.
"Last year that resulted in a number of teachers getting COVID-19, being off work, some schools not able then to offer the full range of classes, kids being rostered home and parents having to stay at home to look after them," he said.
"We have to weigh up all of those factors and making these decisions."
Opposition leader Chris Luxon recently fell foul of the rule, catching COVID-19 at the start of a parliamentary sitting week and having to isolate in his Wellington apartment for seven days.
Australian Associated Press
