Cases of Omicron are expected to exceed 1,000 this week, after a rapid increase in infections over the weekend.
Professor Michael Baker earlier told Morning Report, the announcement yesterday of 810 cases is not the true spread, and there is likely more going undetected in the community.
As the daily numbers inch upward, the government is preparing to take the move to phase two.
Immunologist Dr Dianne Sika-Paotonu spoke to Midday Report.
