New Zealand’s vaccine rollout remains our key defence against all variants of COVID-19, including Omicron.
There were 37,967 boosters administered yesterday, bringing the total to 903,464, which is 54% of the eligible population.
There were a total of 11,762 first doses of the paediatric Pfizer vaccine administered yesterday to 5 to 11-year-olds, bringing the total 51,639.
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.
To book a paediatric vaccine, you can:
Use Healthpoint to find out of your local doctor or pharmacy can immunise local tamariki
As part of the response to Omicron, at this stage our public health teams are focussed strongly on stamping out early any Omicron cases in the community.
To help address the increased infectiousness of Omicron, as an interim measure the isolation time for all COVID-19 cases is being extended to 14 days. It was previously ten days.
A similar change Is being applied for close contacts where all close contacts will now isolate for ten days. This was previous seven. These changes take effect from today.
Isolation periods for cases and close contacts remain under review and are planned to change as part of the response to an Omicron community outbreak.
Whole genome sequencing has confirmed that the case who tested positive in Palmerston North has the Omicron variant of COVID-19.
The case became symptomatic on Wednesday and returned a positive COVID-19 test result on Wednesday evening, with WGS confirmed Thursday evening.
The Ministry would like to thank the person for recognising COVID-19 symptoms and getting a test.
Whole genome sequencing has identified similarities to border cases identified in Auckland, but no direct links. It has not identified any links to cases in the Christchurch MIQ facility, suggesting that the source of infection is offshore – either in the country they travelled from or during travel to New Zealand - rather than transmission in the Christchurch MIQ facility where they stayed.
This case was released on 16 January (Sunday), after returning a negative test result on five occasions throughout their stay.
They travelled on flight NZ550 from Christchurch to Auckland departing at 1400 arriving into Auckland at 1520. They then travelled on NZ5121 from Auckland to Palmerston North departing Auckland at 1655. The case is considered to be infectious from Monday 17 January, however if you travelled on either of these flights, as a precautionary measure, you are asked to get a test as soon as possible. If you are displaying symptoms you are asked to get a test and isolate immediately. For further clarification please contact Healthline on 0800 358 5453.
All locations of interest associated with this case are considered to be high risk and anyone who has been at these locations at the times stated are asked to follow the advice on the website, including to isolate and get tested immediately.
One previously published location of interest associated with this case has been amended. The case visited ANZOR Fasteners on 19 January. They did not visit ANZA on this date as previously stated.
Today the Ministry of Health is reporting one new possible Omicron case in Auckland. The person works at Auckland Airport and they are not linked to previously reported Auckland Omicron cases.
The worker’s infection was detected in a routine surveillance test taken on 18 January and a positive result was returned yesterday.
Whole genome sequencing is underway to determine the variant, though as a prudent measure, it is being treated as an Omicron case. Investigations are underway to determine the source of infection.
Testing of both household and workplace close contacts is underway. To date, one household member has returned a positive result and one has tested negative.
The case is considered to be infectious from 16 January. Initial locations of interest are expected to be published today.
Our objective for all possible Omicron cases is to stamp out the infection and prevent any onward transmission.
Public health staff are continuing to focus on identifying people who were at the Ara-Tai Café Half Moon Bay
This location of interest is high risk and people who were at Half Moon Bay’s Ara-Tai Café from 12.30 to 2pm on Tuesday (18 January) are being urged to isolate and get tested immediately, and to test again on January 23.
People who visited the café during this time should also contact Healthline on 0800 358 5453 to register at this location or register online at moh.govt.nz
It’s a timely reminder to all potential close contacts of a case to either call Healthline or register their location of interest online on the Ministry of Health locations of Interest page and follow advice from a health professional, as this is advice is specific to an individual and the exposure event.
No unexpected results.
We are reporting new community cases in Auckland, Waikato, Lakes, Hawke’s Bay, and the Nelson Tasman region.
In Hawke’s Bay, we are officially recording two cases, however a third case was notified after the Ministry’s cut off time and will be added to tomorrow’s case numbers.
Likewise in the Nelson Tasman region, today’s official number is one new case. However a further 8 cases, all in the same household, were notified after the Ministry’s cut off and they will be officially added to tomorrow’s case numbers.
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.
There are nine new cases to report in the Nelson Tasman region. All of the cases live in the same household.
Eight of these cases were notified after the Ministry’s reporting deadline, and will be added to the official tally tomorrow.
Public health officials are investigating recent travel to Auckland as the source of their infections.
Case interviews are underway and locations of interest will be added to the Ministry’s webpage where contacts at exposure events cannot be identified.
Testing sites are operating in Nelson and Motueka today and over the weekend. For details of all dedicated testing sites including general practices, visit Healthpoint or the DHB Facebook page.
There are 11 new cases to report in Auckland.
Health and welfare providers are now supporting 712 people in the region to isolate at home, including 147 cases.
There is one new case in Waikato to report today. The case is in Hamilton and is currently under investigation to determine any links to previous cases.
Public Health, primary care and manaaki providers in the region are supporting 15 cases to isolate at home.
Today we are reporting eight new cases in the Lakes DHB region - all are in the Rotorua area.
Seven of today’s cases are linked to previously reported cases and one case is still being investigated to determine any links.
All cases are isolating at home or in managed accommodation.
Today we are reporting three new cases in Hawke’s Bay, one of which was notified after the Ministry’s cut off and will be officially added to tomorrow’s case numbers.
As investigations continue, more locations of interest may be added to the Ministry’s website.