There are five new community cases of Covid-19 in the Bay of Plenty today, with 90 new cases nationwide.

All five of the cases in the Bay of Plenty are in the Tauranga area and interviews are underway to determine links to existing cases.

'Contacts are being identified and will be contacted for testing and isolation advice,” says a MOH spokesperson.

One person is currently being treated in Tauranga Hospital.

Bay of Plenty DHB has added additional testing capacity in Tauranga and is urging anyone in the area, who may have any symptoms, to get tested. Updated locations and times of testing sites will be available on the Healthpoint website.

A positive case reported in Northland today will shortly be re-recorded to the Bay of Plenty following interview completion.

A person from the Bay of Plenty has returned a positive Covid-19 test in Kaitaia.

Two further Northland cases announced yesterday are counted in today's numbers. They have both been linked to known cases.

There is one new case to report in the Lakes DHB region today. This case is in Rotorua.

'Investigations are continuing today to determine any links to existing cases and any locations of interest,” says the MOH.

There were 24,142 total vaccine doses administered yesterday, including 4,387 first doses and 10,093 second doses. To date, 94 per cent of eligible people in New Zealand have had their first dose and 88 per cent are fully vaccinated.

Tairāwhiti Gisborne wastewater

The virus has been detected again in a wastewater sample taken in Tairāwhiti Gisborne on December 6. This follows positive detections on December 1 and 2.

Two further samples will be collected this week.

Public Health Officials are not aware of any recovered cases in the region who may be shedding the virus. A third positive detection strongly indicates that there is at least one undetected case in the community.

Anyone living in the region with any symptoms that could be Covid-19 – no matter how mild – is encouraged to get a test.

Testing is available this week at the drive-through at 110 Peel Street:

• Today until 4pm
• Thursday 9 December (9am-12pm)
• Friday 10 December (9am-12pm)

Today's cases

Today, we are reporting new community cases in Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Lakes and Nelson-Tasman.

There are no new cases to report in Hawke's Bay, MidCentral, Whanganui or Canterbury.

A border-related case remains under investigation in the Southern DHB area.

Other regional updates
We are continuing to ask anyone in New Zealand with symptoms – no matter how mild – to get tested, even if you're vaccinated. Please remain isolated until you return a negative test result.

If you are not vaccinated, now is the time, as vaccination is your number one defence against Covid-19. Your DHB or local health provider will have plenty of opportunities to make this happen.

Testing and vaccination centre locations nationwide can be found on the Healthpoint website.

Northland

Today we are reporting one new case, a person from the Bay of Plenty who returned a positive Covid-19 test in Kaitaia. This case has been transferred to Bay of Plenty DHB and will be recorded in their case numbers once interviews have been completed.

Two further cases announced yesterday are counted in today's numbers. They have both been linked to known cases.

Please keep checking the Ministry website for new locations of interest

Testing and vaccination sites open in Northland can be found on the Northland DHB website.

Auckland

Today, there are 71 new cases being reported in Auckland.

A staff member at Ellerslie Gardens Aged Residential Care facility in Auckland has tested positive for Covid-19.

Auckland Regional Public Health Service and Auckland DHB staff are supporting the residents and staff at the privately-owned facility.

Testing is being undertaken with residents and staff as part of the outbreak management plan.

There continues to be a daily review of testing numbers and testing locations to ensure good coverage of risk areas.

Health and welfare providers are now supporting 3,112 people to isolate at home, including 813 cases.

Waikato

There were nine new cases confirmed in the Waikato overnight, with six in Te Kūiti, one in Ōtorohanga, and two locations under investigation. All are under investigation for links to previous cases.

There are 11 pop-up and dedicated testing sites operating across Waikato today in Hamilton, Ngāruawāhia, Ōtorohanga, Piopio, Thames, Taumarunui, Tokoroa, Putāruru and Te Kūiti.

There is one Covid-19 positive patient in Waikato Hospital ICU.

Health and welfare providers are now supporting 109 people to isolate at home.

Nelson-Tasman

There is one new case being reported in Nelson-Tasman today. This case is linked to an existing case.

This takes the number of active cases in the Nelson area to 20, after one case has recovered.

Locations of interest are regularly added to the Ministry's website so people living in Nelson-Tasman are asked to keep checking for any updates.

Several pop-up testing sites are open in Nelson-Tasman today:

· Saxton Fields carpark, Suffolk Rd, Stoke, 9am to 6pm.

· Richmond Showgrounds, 359 Lower Queen St, 9am to 6pm.

· Motueka Recreation Centre: Old Wharf Rd, Motueka, 9am to 3pm.

Southern

There are no new cases to report in the Southern district today.

The one case we reported yesterday remains under investigation following yesterday's negative repeat test.

Public health staff have identified 14 close contacts including a household contact. All contacts are currently isolating and will be tested.

The Green Lake Hut remains the only location of interest – details of this visit are on the Ministry's webpage.

New cases identified at the border

*There have been four case reclassifications, one MIF case and three community cases, therefore the net increase in total cases is 88.