Supermarket chain Countdown says about 2000 of its staff may be sick or isolating this week due to the rise of Omicron cases across the country.

As cases climb, the business has found it difficult to restock shelves due to fewer available staff, with empty shelves greeting customers of Countdown stores across Tamaki Makaurau, in particular. At the beginning of the month, the brand’s distribution centre was running at half strength while the in-store staff count was down by about 10 per cent. 

Coountdown spokesperson Kiri Hannifin said the situation is now “manageable” and circumstances have begun to improve.

“Across our stores, in Auckland in particular, things are improving with only five stores now on reduced hours. Down from 22 stores last week,” she told Stuff.

The business’s frozen and chilled foods supplier Americold had reportedly flown in eight Australian staff two weeks ago to manage the disruption caused by the pandemic. They will continue to stay and work until the local workforce returns to normal.