The managed isolation and quarantine system and the health system are feeling the pressure of Covid-19 Delta.
The government has extended its freeze on releasing any new MIQ vouchers, saying accommodating infected people and their families is the priority.
Citizens offshore wanting to holiday back home are being told to leave any MIQ spaces for those who need them.
The government is also culling some bookings including for seasonal workers. Reinforcements are on the way for the three Auckland DHBs that have 32 Delta patients in their hospitals.
Eight are in high dependency or intensive care units and three of them currently need help breathing.
Director General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield has indicated staff are being re-deployed from other parts of the country to the hospitals and two new quarantine facilities being step up in Auckland - that includes ICU specialist nurses.
Nurses Organisation spokesperson Kate Weston told Checkpoint the Covid-19 Delta outbreak came at a time when nurses are already under great pressure.
“Now we are unfortunately seeing people who are needing hospitalisation, and some who are needing that extra support… help with the breathing. So it is putting a lot of pressure on the workforce who came in to this particular Delta outbreak with not much left in the tank.
“We've been through winter, we've had the RSV, and unfortunately, we know there's been some very chronic understaffing issues across Aotearoa. In particular we are aware of shortages for critical care nurses.”
It is estimated 30 nurses with ICU training are needed in Auckland to help in the outbreak. Weston said that will be a significant challenge, as she understands there are about 97 vacancies for ICU-trained nurses outside of the Auckland region.
