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