17 Feb 2022

Pasifika hard hit by NZ Omicron outbreak

From , 6:01 am on 17 February 2022

The Ministry of Health in New Zealand is reporting that Pasifika people make up about half of the cases in the outbreak of the omicron variant of Covid-19 in New Zealand.

The director of Pacific Health Gerardine Clifford-Lidstone says risk factors for Pacific communities are always going to be very high because of a combination of long-term health conditions, multi-generational and multi-family households, essential worker employment, and barriers to health care.

Ms Clifford Lidstone says in the past few days there has been a big increase in the positive cases of Covid-19 in Pacific communities.

She spoke with RNZ Pacific reporter Susana Suisuiki.

Medical scientist hand with blue sterile rubber gloves holding COVID-19 test tube in hospital laboratory. Male doctor or physician getting result of Coronavirus case.

Photo: 123RF