Professor Michael Baker says today's COVID cases suggest a positive sign that numbers are declining.
For the first time in six months, the daily total dropped below 3000 today.
Epidemiologist Professor Michael Baker said the rolling average of cases declined as well.
He said these numbers suggested that the second wave of the omicron outbreak was easing, but the next few weeks will make that clearer.
Professor Baker said even though warmer months are coming, COVID-19 doesn't rely on cold conditions to spread.
He said the easing flu season would help alleviate pressure on the health system.
Flu season came early this year and, combined with COVID cases, has disrupted the health system's capacity this year.
COVID modeller Professor Michael Plank said that COVID-19 does not need winter conditions to transmit.
"We wouldn't expect necessarily much effect from the season with this new virus, but it does mean that if people are getting respiratory illness, it's more likely to be COVID-19.
"Also it won't mean there's quite so much pressure on the hospital system because surely they won't see so many respiratory infections."
RNZ
