19 new cases – 6 in Auckland; 43 at the border

We are today reporting 43 cases identified at the border, a jump from 23 cases yesterday.  While whole genome sequencing of these cases is expected soon, the likelihood is that Omicron will continue to be the most prevalent variant at our borders.

This variant of Covid-19 continues to be having a significant impact globally, so it is not unexpected to see an increase of Omicron cases at the border.

In the past 24 hours we saw an increase in the number of New Zealanders getting first and second vaccinations and a jump in booster shots. These increases included an extra 904 first vaccinations, 3,191 second vaccinations and an additional 35,837 booster shots and a total of 41,165 booster shots administered in total yesterday.

The jump in booster shots was of course expected as those who’d had their second vaccine four months ago became eligible for a booster shot from yesterday. There were also more than twice as many My Vaccine passes downloaded in the last 24 hours than the previous day (17,609 total).

Changes to pre-departure testing

From tomorrow pre-departure testing requirements for entry into New Zealand will change with a requirement for a PCR test from within 72 hours to within 48 hours of departure. A temporary exemption has also been granted by the Acting Director General of Health. This  means travellers coming from 105 specified countries and jurisdictions where obtaining a PCR test may be difficult or not possible, can instead provide evidence of a negative rapid antigen test (RAT) or loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) test result.

This will need to be taken within 24 hours of departure and all tests must be supervised by a health professional, which includes pharmacists, and verified in writing in the jurisdiction of origin.

The places which are exempt from the requirement for a PCR test within 48 hours of departure, and for which a RAT or LAMP test is allowed as an alternative to a PCR test are available on the Unite Against COVID-19 website. The changes to pre-departure testing were announced by Government last year.

Covid-19 vaccine update

• Vaccines administered to date (percentage of eligible people): 3,977,174 first doses (94%); 3,862,780 second doses (92%); 29,881 third primary doses; 380,408 booster doses
• Vaccines administered yesterday: 1,307 first doses; 4,601 second doses; 599 third primary doses and 41,165 booster doses.
• Māori (percentage of eligible people): 501,269 first doses (88%); 464,070 second doses (81%)
• Pacific Peoples (percentage of eligible people): 271,769 first doses (95%); 260,261 second doses (91%)

Vaccination rates by DHB with active cases (percentage of eligible people)

• Northland DHB: First doses (89%); second doses (84%)
• Auckland Metro DHBs: First doses (96%); second doses (94%)
• Waikato DHB: First doses (94%); second doses (91%)
• Bay of Plenty DHB: First doses (93%); second doses (90%)
• Lakes DHB: First doses (92%); second doses (88%)
• Taranaki DHB: First doses (93%); second doses (90%)
• Tairāwhiti DHB: First doses (91%); second doses (86%)
• Hawke’s Bay DHB: First doses (95%); second doses (91%)
• Canterbury DHB: First doses (98%); second doses (96%)

Hospitalisations

Cases in hospital: 38; North Shore: 5; Auckland: 14; Middlemore: 15, Tauranga: 4,

Vaccination status of current hospitalisations (Northern Region wards only): Unvaccinated or not eligible (13 cases / 40.6%); partially immunised <7 days from second dose or have only received one dose (9 cases / 28.1%); fully vaccinated at least 7 days before being reported as a case (9 cases / 28.1%); 1 unknown (3.1%).

Average age of current hospitalisations: 55

Cases in ICU or HDU: 4 (2 in Middlemore and 2 in Tauranga).

Cases

• Seven day rolling average of community cases: 34
• Number of new community cases: 19
• Number of new cases identified at the border: 43
• Location of new community cases: Auckland (6), Waikato (5), Bay of Plenty (5), Northland (1), Taranaki (2)
• Number of community cases (total): 11.022 (in current community outbreak)
• Cases epidemiologically linked (total): 8,304
• Number of active cases (total): 1,081 (cases identified in the past 21 days and not yet classified as recovered)
• Confirmed cases (total): 14,092

Contacts

•  Number of active contacts being managed (total): 5,223
• Percentage who have received an outbound call from contact tracers (to confirm testing and isolation requirements): 82%
• Percentage who have returned at least one result: 78%

Tests

• Number of tests total (last 24 hours): 12,253
• Tests rolling average (last 7 days): 11,159
• Auckland tests total (last 24 hours): 5,887

Wastewater

No unexpected detections.

NZ Covid Tracer

Poster scans in the 24 hours to midday yesterday: 2,375,703

Manual diary entries in the 24 hours to midday: 44,656

My Vaccine Pass

• My vaccine pass downloads total: 4,658,695
• My vaccine pass downloads (last 24 hours): 17,609

Today’s cases

Today, we are reporting 19 new community cases in Auckland, Northland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, and Taranaki.

*The two cases in Taranaki we reported on yesterday but were not counted in the official tally as they came in outside the reporting period. Today they are included in the total numbers. Today we are reporting on one additional case in Taranaki that will be included in tomorrow’s official figures.

Regional updates

We are continuing to ask anyone in New Zealand with symptoms – no matter how mild – to get tested, even if you’re vaccinated. Please stay at home until you return a negative test result.

Testing and vaccination centre locations nationwide can be found on the Healthpoint website.

Auckland

There are six new cases being reported in Auckland today.

Health and welfare providers are now supporting 1,066 people to isolate at home, including 291 cases.

Northland

We are reporting one case in Northland today. This person was isolating in Northland however normally lives in Auckland and has now transferred back to Auckland where they will be re-tested.

This is subsequently being treated as a transferred case and tomorrow’ numbers will be updated accordingly

There are vaccination clinics open throughout the holidays.

• See here for Northland Vaccination Clinics.

Waikato

Two in Coromandel, one in Tairua, one in Hamilton and one location pending confirmation. Three have been linked to previous cases with two remaining under investigation.

A pop-up testing site is operating in Waihi and testing is available at Whitianga general practices. For details of all dedicated testing sites operating over the holiday period, please visit Healthpoint, the DHB webpage or DHB Facebook page.

In the Waikato, Public Health, primary care and manaaki providers are supporting 50 cases to isolate at home.

Bay of Plenty

There are five cases to report today in the Bay of Plenty. Three cases are in Tauranga and the other two cases are in the Western Bay of Plenty District. All cases are contacts of previously notified cases. There is one case to report in Taupō, which is still being investigated for potential links.

Taranaki

Today we are reporting one new case in Taranaki. This is a household contact of a previous case and linked to the Eltham cluster. They have been in isolation across the festive period. This new case will be included in tomorrow’ official figures.

Public health staff are continuing to investigate to determine links to any previously reported cases in the region. Public health staff are also working to identify any other locations of interest and these will be updated on the Ministry of Health webpage as soon as possible.

The Emergency Department at Taranaki Base Hospital has been identified as an exposure event. The DHB is working with those who may be affected.

At this stage, no staff have had to be stood down.  Anyone at the Emergency Department between Saturday 1 January at 6.30pm and midnight on Sunday 2 January will be considered a casual contact.