# New Zealand PM warns of more COVID variants in 2022 Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2022-02-08 Category: NEWS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news Meta Title: New Zealand prepares for more COVID-19 variants in 2022 Meta Description: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern warns that Omicron won't be the last variant, urging preparation for further challenges amidst protests against restrictions. URL: https://financedigest.com/new-zealand-pm-warns-of-more-covid-variants-in-2022html ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/2022-02-08t035332z1lynxmpei1703prtroptp4health-coronavirus-newzealand-1736816253987-compressed.jpg) WELLINGTON (Reuters) – The COVID-19 pandemic will not end with the Omicron variant and New Zealand will have to prepare for more variants of the virus this year, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Tuesday in her first parliamentary speech for 2022. Ardern’s warning came as hundreds of protesters gathered outside the parliament building in the capital Wellington, demanding an end to coronavirus restrictions and vaccine mandates. “Mr Speaker, advice from experts is that Omicron will not be the last variant we will face this year,” Ardern told lawmakers in the speech which was livestreamed. “It’s not over. But that doesn’t mean we cannot move forward. And keep making progress. And so we are,” she said. Ardern’s government has enforced some of the toughest [pandemic restriction](https://www.financedigest.com/pandemic-restrictions-that-hampered-the-circulation-of-viruses-other-than-covid-19.html "Pandemic restrictions that hampered the circulation of viruses other than COVID-19") in New Zealand for the last two years, as the government tried to keep the coronavirus out. The policies helped [keep infections and deaths low](https://www.financedigest.com/how-analytics-can-keep-your-cost-base-low-plus-deliver-improved-cx.html "How Analytics Can Keep Your Cost Base Low Plus Deliver Improved CX"). A country of five million people, New Zealand has had about 18,000 confirmed [COVID cases](https://www.financedigest.com/hungarian-doctors-warn-of-sad-christmas-as-covid-cases-soar.html "Hungarian doctors warn of ‘sad Christmas’ as COVID cases soar") so far and 53 deaths. But it also angered many who faced endless home isolation, and tens of [thousands of expatriate New Zealanders who were cut](https://www.financedigest.com/meta-plans-to-cut-thousands-of-jobs-as-soon-as-this-week-bloomberg-news.html "Meta plans to cut thousands of jobs as soon as this week – Bloomberg News") off from families back home as the borders remained sealed. The measures have also been devastating for [businesses dependent on international](https://www.financedigest.com/auditors-could-have-unfettered-access-to-internal-business-processes-to-avoid-another-carillion.html "Auditors could have unfettered access to internal business processes to avoid another Carillion") tourists. Ardern’s approval [ratings plummeted in the latest 1News Kantar Public Poll](https://www.financedigest.com/bank-of-england-to-raise-rates-by-50bps-again-to-tame-inflation-reuters-poll.html "Bank of England to raise rates by 50bps again to tame inflation: Reuters Poll") released last month, as the public marked her down for the delays in vaccinations and in removing restrictions. Hundreds of anti-vaccine mandate and anti-government protesters gathered outside the parliament demanding an [end to all pandemic](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-house-prices-end-2022-on-a-weaker-note-after-pandemic-boom.html "UK house prices end 2022 on a weaker note after pandemic boom") restrictions, part of a series of protests undertaken in recent months. The government said last week that the [country will reopen its borders to the rest of the world](https://www.financedigest.com/richest-countries-in-the-world.html "Richest countries in the world") in phases only by October. Omicron cases in the country have been steadily [rising since some of the social distancing measures were eased](https://www.financedigest.com/oil-prices-rise-as-china-eases-covid-curbs-u-s-storm-fuels-supply-worries.html "Oil prices rise as China eases COVID curbs, U.S. storm fuels supply worries") recently. New Zealand [recorded](https://www.financedigest.com/russian-covid-cases-hit-record-high-as-eastern-europe-imposes-new-curbs.html "Russian COVID cases hit record high as eastern Europe imposes new curbs") its largest ever one-day case number with 243 cases on Saturday. Ardern told Radio New Zealand that the country’s [Omicron peak](https://www.financedigest.com/betting-omicron-has-peaked-johnson-drops-covid-rules-in-england.html "Betting Omicron has peaked, Johnson drops COVID rules in England") could be in March with daily cases ranging between 10,000 to 30,000. (Reporting by Praveen Menon; Editing by Michael Perry) --- This blog is powered by Superblog. 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