Covid update here and around the globe

Finlayson Park School principal Shirley Maihi has battled non-attendance for all of her 52 years in education, but this year has been particularly bad. Photo: Stuff

School attendance dropped during the nationwide lockdown for obvious reasons.

It is less clear why, as New Zealand returned to relative-normal, school attendance failed to return to pre-lockdown numbers.

Attendance at one Auckland primary school is down by 29 students. Figures only show they are no longer turning up at Finlayson Park School and haven't enrolled elsewhere.

Many businesses took a hit during lockdowns but Ruatoria Pies on the East Cape has managed to increase business and double staff numbers.

Samoa's strict border rules mean it was until-recently Covid-free but two new cases in the island nation mean some New Zealand-based Samoans are deciding not to go home for Christmas for fear of exporting more cases there.

A seventh member of the Pakistani cricket team, self-isolating at the Chateau on the Park in Christchurch, has tested positive for Covid-19.

Four new cases of coronavirus in managed isolation on Saturday brings the total number of cases to 2040 confirmed and probable cases since the pandemic arrived in New Zealand.

Global toll

The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases worldwide by Sunday morning is 61,967,977, according to Johns Hopkins University.

That included more than 13.1m cases in the US, 9.3 million in India, 6.2m in Brazil and 2.2m in France.

The number of deaths worldwide attributed to the disease has passed 1.44m, of which 265,146 were in the US, 171,974 were in Brazil, 136,200 were in India and 104,242 were in Mexico.


What should I do?

Anyone who wants to get tested can find their local testing centres by visiting the Ministry of Health website.

New Zealand, including Auckland, is at Covid-19 alert level 1.

Masks are now mandatory for: people travelling on public transport services in and out of the Auckland region; the drivers of small passenger service vehicles in Auckland, such as taxis and app-based ride services; and people travelling on passenger flights throughout New Zealand.

A list of exemptions around mask use can be found here.

If you are sick, call your GP before you visit, or Healthline on 0800 358 5453.

To avoid contracting and spreading the virus, wash your hands properly, cough and sneeze into the crook of your elbow and throw tissues away immediately.

Reach out, find support from people who care, connect with your community or help a neighbour in need.

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