Jacinda Ardern warns New Zealand that an Omicron outbreak is inevitable

About 93% of New Zealanders aged 12 and over are fully vaccinated and 52% have had a booster dose

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the nation’s response to Covid will change. Picture: Mark Mitchell/Pool Photo via AP

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has warned that an Omicron outbreak is inevitable and the nation will tighten Covid restrictions as soon as one is detected.

But she also said that New Zealand will not impose the lockdowns that it has used previously, including for the Delta variant.