Today, we are reporting 56,788 boosters administered yesterday, the highest number in one day so far, bringing the total to 1,053,055.

Similarly, yesterday was a record for paediatric doses administered of 14,400. Almost 95,000 5-to-11-year-olds have now received a first dose.

The number of first and second doses in the 12+ population also saw notable increases on previous days.

It is encouraging people continue to come forward to get their first or second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. We encourage anyone who is unsure about getting vaccinated to kōrero with people they trust, including their usual healthcare provider. Anyone with questions about getting vaccinated can also visit the United Against COVID-19 website.

Boosters lower your chances of COVID-19, including the Omicron variant, of getting very sick and being hospitalised, and help to slow the spread of the virus. If you’re 18 or older and it’s been 4 months since your second vaccine dose, get your booster as soon as you can. Book your booster or find a walk-in vaccination centre at BookMyVaccine.nz

Omicron update

Public health officials are continuing to manage Omicron cases in the community through rapidly isolating cases and contacts, contact tracing, and testing in order to slow the spread.

To date, there are 29 community cases of COVID-19 associated with the January Omicron Cluster, all are in isolation. Amongst these cases, today we are reporting an additional 10 community cases. These include:

One case in Nelson Tasman that is a household contact of a previously reported case and was already isolating when they tested positive.

One case in Palmerston North that is a household contact of a previously reported case and was already isolating when they tested positive.

Two cases in Tauranga. Both cases are in the same household and are isolating at home. Case investigations are ongoing but, at this stage, there are a limited number of exposure events associated with these cases.

Six cases in Auckland

All these cases have been linked, directly or indirectly, to a family event and other associated events in Auckland on the weekend of 15 and 16 January.

The number of cases and contacts are expected to grow given the highly transmissible nature of Omicron and as we learn more from case interviews.

In addition, the Ministry wants to thank the Nelson-Tasman family associated with this cluster for coming forward and getting tested when they became symptomatic. Their cooperation has been instrumental in identifying locations of interests, additional contacts, and cases, all of which helps slow the spread of Omicron in our communities. At this stage, it is believed the family became infected while in Auckland, not in the Nelson-Tasman region.

As part of our collective preparations for Omicron, please check your details are up to date with your regular healthcare provider and in the COVID-19 Tracer app.

We also continue to urge anyone with symptoms, or anyone who has been to a location of interest at the times notified, to isolate immediately and get tested promptly.

Second family event associated with Omicron cases

A case from the January Omicron cluster also attended a second private event in Auckland during their infectious period.

The exposure occurred on the evening of (Sunday) 16 January at the Pukekohe Indian Hall in Auckland. More detail can be found on Ministry of Health Locations of Interest. 

Auckland Regional Public Health Service believe a large number of people attended this event. Anyone at this location at the relevant times is asked to get tested immediately, and self-isolate until a negative result has been returned.

Please also record your visit online on the Locations of Interest website, or by contacting Healthline for free on 0800 358 5453. Further information, isolation and testing requirements will be provided by contact tracers.

Further locations of interest have been identified across Auckland and the Nelson Tasman region and will be published on the Ministry’s website as they are confirmed. We are encouraging everyone in these regions to check the locations of interest and follow the public health advice.

There will be people from outside of these regions who may have visited those locations at the same time period, so it is important for anyone who has been in these locations over the past week to check the website and see if they are included in that time the case was there.

It is also a timely reminder to all potential close contacts of a case to either call Healthline on 0800 358 5453 or record their visit online to a location of interest and follow advice from a health professional, as this is advice is specific to an individual and the exposure event.

A reminder that there is a Section 70 notice in place which puts a legal requirement on all people who were at locations of interest at the relevant times to follow the instructions regarding isolation and testing. Failure to comply can result in a fine of up to $4,000 or imprisonment for up to six months.

COVID-19 vaccine update

• Vaccines administered to date (percentage of eligible people): first doses 3,997,561 (95%); 3,913,001 second doses (93%); 37,159 third primary doses; 1,053,055 booster doses
• Vaccines administered yesterday: 1,224 first doses; 1,861 second doses; 469 third primary doses, 14,400 paediatric doses; 56,788 booster doses.
• Māori (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 509,673 first doses (89%); 481,252 second doses (84%).
• Pacific Peoples (percentage of eligible people aged 12+):  275,866 first doses (96%); 267,333 second doses (93%).
• Paediatric vaccines administer to date (percentage of 5-11-year olds): 94,976 first doses (20%)

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 (95%); second doses (92%)
• Bay of Plenty DHB: First doses (94%); second doses (92%)
• Lakes DHB: First doses (93%); second doses (90%)
• Hawke’s Bay: First doses (96%); second doses (93%)
• MidCentral DHB: First doses (96%); second doses (94%)
• Wairarapa DHB: First doses (96%); second doses (94%)
• Capital and Coast DHB: First doses (98%); second doses (97%)
• Hutt Valley DHB: First doses (96%); second doses (95%)
• Nelson Marlborough DHB: First doses (96%); second doses (94%)
• Canterbury DHB: First doses (99%); second doses (97%)

Hospitalisations

• Cases in hospital: 10; North Shore: 5; Auckland: 2; Middlemore: 1, Rotorua: 2,
• Vaccination status of current hospitalisations (Northern Region wards only): Unvaccinated or not eligible (1 cases / 14%); partially immunised <7 days from second dose or have only received one dose (0 case / 0%); fully vaccinated at least 7 days before being reported as a case (5 cases / 71%); unknown (1 case / 14%).
• Average age of current hospitalisations: 62
• Cases in ICU or HDU: 0

Cases

• Seven day rolling average of community cases: 29
• Seven day rolling average of border cases: 38
• Number of new community cases: 25
• Number of new cases identified at the border: 37
• Location of new community cases: Northland (1), Auckland (18), Bay of Plenty (2), Lakes (2), MidCentral (1), Nelson Marlborough (1)
• Number of community cases (total): 11,541 (in current community outbreaks)
• Cases epidemiologically linked (total): 8,793
• Number of active cases (total): 470 (cases identified in the past 21 days and not yet classified as recovered)
• Confirmed cases (total): 15,312

Contacts

• Number of active contacts being managed (total): 5,458
• Percentage who has received an outbound call from contact tracers (to confirm testing and isolation requirements): 80%
• Percentage who has returned at least one result: 78%

Tests

• Number of tests total (last 24 hours): 12,687
• Tests rolling average (last 7 days): 13,814
• Auckland tests total (last 24 hours): 5,713

Wastewater

• No unexpected results.

NZ COVID Tracer

• Poster scans in the 24 hours to midday yesterday: 2,277,105
• Manual diary entries in the 24 hours to midday: 56,950

My Vaccine Pass

• My vaccine pass downloads total: 4,909,476
• My vaccine pass downloads (last 24 hours): 15,941