From Thursday, businesses could register as a "critical service", which would allow their workers to skip Covid-19 isolation requirements as long as they returned daily negative rapid antigen tests.
The new close contact exemption scheme will begin when New Zealand moves into "Phase Two" of its Omicron response, when daily case numbers are approaching 1000.
Companies and organisations can "self-assess" to participate in the scheme as long as they meet certain criteria.
The Covid-19 Response Minister is Chris Hipkins spoke to Māni Dunlop.
