Today, we are reporting 12,057 first doses of the paediatric Pfizer vaccine administered yesterday to 5 to 11-year-olds, bringing the total 39,829.

We want to thank children who got their first dose yesterday and the caregivers who supported them. We encourage everyone who is eligible to get vaccinated.

New Zealand’s vaccine rollout remains our key defence against all variants of Covid-19, including Omicron.

Today, we are reporting 36,226 boosters administered yesterday, bringing the total to 864,929, which is 52% of the eligible population.

Palmerston North Covid-19 case

Today the Ministry of Health is reporting one new possible Omicron case in Palmerston North. Local DHB MidCentral District Health Board announced the case this morning.

This case was in a MIQ facility in Christchurch and tested negative on day 9, before being released on January 16 (Sunday), after returning a negative test result on five occasions throughout their stay.

The case became symptomatic yesterday and got tested. They returned a positive Covid-19 test result yesterday evening.

Urgent whole genome sequencing is underway though, as this case was staying at a MIQ facility at the same time as known Omicron cases, as a prudent measure it is being treated as a Omicron case. Investigations are underway to determine the source of infection, including possible in-facility transmission.

The case is considered to have been infectious from January 17 (Monday) and there are exposure events associated with their movements, including an early childhood centre. Initial locations of interest associated with the individual have been published this morning and more will be added as they are identified.

The case, who has had two doses of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine is now isolating at home with their family.

Information on testing sites in Palmerston North can be found on HealthPoint.

Our objective is to stamp out the infection and prevent any onward transmission related to this case.

New Zealand’s vaccine rollout remains our key defence against all variants of Covid-19, including Omicron. With 93% of the eligible population now double-dosed and the booster programme underway, New Zealanders are well protected.

Auckland Omicron case update

As announced last night, there are now three confirmed Omicron cases in the Auckland region. These include a MIQ border worker and their household contact, and a worker at Auckland Airport.

At this stage, one additional contact associated with these cases has tested positive for Covid-19. This case is a household contact of the MIQ worker and was already isolating when they tested positive. Whole genome sequencing is underway, but the assumption is this case has the Omicron variant.

The highest priority for local Public Health staff relates to contacts who were at the Ara-Tai Café Half Moon Bay at the same time as the worker at Auckland Airport. This location of interest is high risk and people that may have visited this location are asked to follow the advice below.

As of this morning, a total of 88 contacts have been identified in relation to the MIQ border worker. At this stage, 84 have returned negative test results and two have returned a positive result. This includes a positive household contact that was reported earlier this week, and an additional household contact reported today.

As of this morning, a total of 39 contacts have been identified in relation to the worker at Auckland Airport. At this stage, 13 have returned negative test results.

Investigations into the source of infection are ongoing.

Omicron update

To date, there have been 440 Omicron COVID-19 cases detected at the border since 1 December, and 32 cases of the Delta variant.

Covid-19 vaccine update

• Vaccines administered to date (percentage of eligible people): 3,992,821 first doses (95%); 3,904,231 second doses (93%); 36,245 third primary doses; 864,929 booster doses
• Vaccines administered yesterday: 1236 first doses; 2433 second doses; 525 third primary doses and 36,226 booster doses.
• Māori (percentage of eligible people): 507,862 first doses (89%); 478,318 second doses (84%).
• Pacific Peoples (percentage of eligible people): 275,028 first doses (96%); 266,019 second doses (93%).

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

• Northland DHB: First doses (89%); second doses (86%)
• Auckland Metro DHBs: First doses (97%); second doses (95%)
• Waikato DHB: First doses (94%); second doses (92%)
• Bay of Plenty DHB: First doses (94%); second doses (91%)
• Lakes DHB: First doses (93%); second doses (89%)
• Hawke’s Bay DHB: First doses (96%); second doses (93%)
• Wairarapa DHB: First doses (96%); second doses (93%)
• Capital and Coast DHB: First doses (98%); second doses (97%)
• Hutt Valley DHB: First doses (96%); second doses (94%)
• Canterbury DHB: First doses (99%); second doses (97%)
• MidCentral DHB: First doses (96%); second doses (93%)

Hospitalisations

• Cases in hospital: 21; North Shore: 6; Auckland: 8; Middlemore: 7.
• Vaccination status of current hospitalisations (Northern Region wards only): Unvaccinated or not eligible (7 cases / 37%); partially immunised <7 days from second dose or have only received one dose (2 case / 10%); fully vaccinated at least 7 days before being reported as a case (9 cases / 47%); unknown (1 case / 5%).
• Average age of current hospitalisations: 55
• Cases in ICU or HDU: 1; Middlemore: 1.

Cases

• Seven day rolling average of community cases: 22
• Seven day rolling average of border cases: 37
• Number of new community cases: 39
• Number of new cases identified at the border: 46
• *Location of new community cases: Auckland (21), Lakes (14), Hawke’s Bay (2), Canterbury (1), West Coast (1).
• Number of community cases (total): 11,360 (in current community outbreak)
• Cases epidemiologically linked (total): 8670
• Number of active cases (total): 525 (cases identified in the past 21 days and not yet classified as recovered)
• Confirmed cases (total): 14,959

Contacts

• Number of active contacts being managed (total): 4848
• Percentage who has received an outbound call from contact tracers (to confirm testing and isolation requirements): 77%
• Percentage who has returned at least one result: 79%

Tests

• Number of tests total (last 24 hours): 16,184
• Tests rolling average (last 7 days): 13,841
• Auckland tests total (last 24 hours): 8425

Wastewater

• No unexpected results.

NZ Covid Tracer

• Poster scans in the 24 hours to midday yesterday: 2,350,639
• Manual diary entries in the 24 hours to midday: 37,598

My Vaccine Pass

• My vaccine pass downloads total: 4,831,138
• My vaccine pass downloads (last 24 hours): 14,465

New cases identified at the border

Today’s cases

We are reporting new community cases in Auckland, Lakes and Hawke’s Bay, Canterbury and in the West Coast.

*The Christchurch case and one of the Hawke’s Bay cases were announced yesterday after being notified after the reporting deadline. These cases are being added to the tally today.

Following public health investigation and further testing, the person on the West Coast who returned a weak positive test result earlier this week is deemed to be a historical case. This case has been re-included in the case totals today, following being under investigation and therefore was removed, until the case was deemed to be historical.

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.

Please also continue to check for any updated Locations of Interest and appropriate health advice, updated regularly on the Ministry’s website.

Auckland

There are 21 new cases to report in Auckland.

Health and welfare providers are now supporting 712 people in the region to isolate at home, including 142 cases.

Lakes

There are 14 new cases to report in the Lakes DHB region today, all in the Rotorua District.

Nine of today’s cases are linked to previously reported cases, the remaining cases are still being investigated to determine any links.

All cases are isolating at home or in managed accommodation.

Hawke’s Bay

There are three new cases to report in Hawke’s Bay.

One of these cases was announced yesterday and is being formally added to the tally today.

Two of the cases are linked to previously reported cases, and investigations are underway to identify a link for the third, who is believed to have contracted Covid-19 outside of the region.

There are now six active cases in the Hawke’s Bay.