There are 27 new community cases of Covid-19 and 24 new cases of the virus at the border reported in New Zealand today.
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In a statement, the Ministry of Health said none of the new cases at the border were the Omicron variant, and there were no new community cases of the variant either.
Test reuslts for close contacts of the first reported case of the variant in the community have so far come back negative.
Yesterday, there were 33 new cases at the border from the previous two days. The ministry said the growing number was a reflection on the increase in cases globally.
Of the community cases, there are 12 in Auckland, seven in Waikato, seven in Bay of Plenty, and one in Lakes.
There are 44 cases in hospital (six in North Shore, 12 in Auckland, 22 in Middlemore, three in Tauranga, and one in Lakes DHB), with five cases in ICU or HDU.
Of the seven new cases in Waikato today, two are in Whitianga/Matarangi, one in Te Kuiti, one in Te Awamutu, one in Waihi, and another one’s location data is still to be confirmed, and one has been initially reported as being in Papamoa.
Six of these cases have been linked to previous cases and one remains under investigation.
In Bay of Plenty, four cases are in Tauranga, two cases in Western Bay of Plenty and one case is in the Whakatāne District.
Six are contacts of previously notified cases, with the remaining still being investigated for potential links.
The new case in Rotorua is still being investigated for potential links.
Meanwhile, the Northern Regional Health Coordination Centre has asked anyone who was at the Pelican Club in Eden Terrace, Auckland, between 22 December and 31 Friday to isolate and get tested, after six cases were linked to the parlour.
The border cases today arrived from a range of countries, including United Kingdom, Australia, UAE, USA, Qatar, France, India, Canada, and Singapore.
Today the ministry also revealed it will not be taking legal action against a UK musician who became the country’s first reported community Omicron case last week.
More than 8,189,000 vaccines have now been administered around New Zealand, with almost 3000 doses administered yesterday.
More than 2200 boosters were administered yesterday.
From this Wednesday, the interval between second doses and boosters reduces from six months to four months.
Anyone aged 18 and over who has had their second vaccination at least four months ago can have their booster dose.
In Auckland, the Airport Park and Ride drive-through vaccination centre has reopened to increase the availability of booster doses.
Located at 42 Verissimo Drive, Māngere, the Park and Ride is operating from 10am-5pm, with no appointment needed.
The ministry said it could vaccinate more than 4000 people a day and would add “significant surge capacity” to the network of vaccine providers across the region over the holidays.
Copyright © 2022, Radio New Zealand
There have been 105 new community cases of Covid-19 reported in New Zealand over the past two days, with two further deaths also reported, the Ministry of Health says.
New Zealand must look at ways to reduce the number of Covid-19 infected travellers arriving into New Zealand as cases at the border increase, epidemiologist Michael Baker says.
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