Medical professionals are warning the health system would be ill-equipped to deal with escalating Delta cases outside of Auckland.

Dr Michael Howard, an emergency consultant at Whangarei Hospital, told Nine to Noon intensive care capacity is already stretched in New Zealand and would struggle with an influx of Covid patients.

The Nurses Organisation's kaiwhakahaere is Kerri Nuku and she spoke to Māni Dunlop on Midday Report.