in new zealand, they are delaying their phased reopening plans after being shut for about two years. new zealand was in january set to finally start this phased reopening. that is now being delayed. take a listen to what the nation's covid-19 minister had to say. >> all evidence so far points to omicron being the most transmissible variant yet and public health advice suggests that every case coming in through our border and our isolation facilities will be the omicron variant. our immediate job right now must be to slow it down and to delay it from speaking with the new zealand community for as long as we possibly can. on the bright side, new zealand has become one most vaccinated countries in the world with about 90% of its adult population being vaccinated. >> elsewhere across asia, cases rising in china and south korea. what is the latest on that area?