The Ministry of Health is reporting 43 new community cases on Saturday, and 41 new cases identified at the border.

Of the 43 new community cases, 19 are in Auckland, four in Waikato, six in Lakes, six in Hawke's Bay and eight in Nelson Marlborough. There are eight people in hospital and none in ICU or HDU.

More than 58,000 vaccine doses were given on Friday including more than 42,000 boosters.

Two more District Health Board regions have reached significant milestones with Lakes DHB hitting 90 per cent double doses and Hutt Valley hitting 95 per cent double dosed.

'We are continuing to encourage as many people as are eligible to get their booster shots and paediatric vaccinations,” says a Ministry of Health spokesperson.

Yesterday 42,319 boosters were given and 12,388 vaccinations to 5-11 year olds.

Together with first and second doses, a total of 58,481 vaccinations were given yesterday.

'New Zealand's vaccine rollout remains our key defence against all variants of Covid-19, including Omicron and we want to continue to thank everyone who got their first, second or booster shot yesterday, and thanks too to all the 5-11 years who went along for their first dose.”

To book a paediatric vaccine, you can:

• Book an appointment through Book My Vaccine
• See a list of all sites offering child vaccinations including walk-ins.
• Make a whānau group booking by calling the Healthline number 0800 28 29 26
• Use Healthpoint to find out of your local doctor or pharmacy can immunise local children.

Palmerston North Omicron case update

There have been 76 contacts identified to date linked to the Palmerston North Omicron case. All but two have been contacted and 66 have returned a negative result. Further test results will be reported Sunday.

Worker at Auckland Airport confirmed Omicron case

Today the Ministry of Health is confirming the possible Omicron case reported yesterday is now confirmed as the Omicron variant.

'As announced yesterday the case was being treated as an Omicron case prior to this being confirmed,” says a Ministry of Health spokesperson. 'The case has been potentially linked to returnees in Rotorua and Auckland through whole genome sequencing. This information will assist investigations to determine the source of infection.”

There have been 32 contacts identified, around half have been contacted and tested.

'As reported yesterday there has been one positive result reported in a household member and 16 other contacts have returned a negative result.

'Our objective for all possible Omicron cases is to stamp out the infection and prevent any onward transmission.”

Healthline reminder

Public health staff are continuing to focus on identifying people who were at the Ara-Tai Café Half Moon Bay in Eastern Auckland. Of the 78 contacts identified and linked to the café, 48 have returned a negative result.

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 urged to isolate and get tested immediately, and to test again on Sunday, January 23.

Anyone who visited the café during this time and hasn't already done so, should also contact Healthline on 0800 358 5453 to register at this location or register online.

'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.”

Nelson Tasman cases now linked to five flights

Five flights have now been linked to the nine cases in the Nelson Tasman region reported yesterday and are listed today as locations of interest.

An Air New Zealand crew member on the same Auckland to Nelson flight as the nine cases has now tested positive. This flight and four other flights the crew member worked on during their possible infectious period, prior to their testing positive, are now also listed as locations of interest.

The five flights are:

• Flight NZ 5083 from Auckland to Nelson at 5.20 pm on 16 January
• Flight NZ 5080 from Nelson to Auckland at 4 pm on 19 January
• Flight NZ 5077 from Auckland to Nelson at 2pm on 19 January
• Flight NZ 5049 from Auckland to New Plymouth at 7.50 pm on 19 January
• Flight NZ 5042 from New Plymouth to Auckland at 1.50 pm on 20 January

Air New Zealand report their crew member is fully vaccinated, and the positive case was found after the crew member felt unwell and was tested on top of the regular surveillance testing.

The flights are now listed as Locations of Interest on the Ministry's website and advice to those on the flights is provided there. All those on the flights are in the process of being contacted and provided with advice.

Whole genome sequencing for the Nelson Tasman cases and the Air New Zealand crew member are expected later today.

The nine Nelson Tasman cases are all from one household.

Eight of these cases were notified yesterday after the Ministry's reporting deadline and are today being added to the official tally. There are no additional new cases to report in the region today.

Case interviews continue with genome sequencing expected later today to identify the variant. Public health officials continue to investigate recent travel to Auckland as the source of their infections.

Locations of interest will be added to the Ministry's webpage where contacts at exposure events cannot be identified.

Anyone who was on these flights and who has not yet been contacted should get tested and isolate at home.

Public health officials report a strong response to testing yesterday afternoon and are expecting further demand over the weekend.

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.

Today's cases

The Ministry of Health is reporting new community cases in Auckland, Waikato, Lakes, Hawke's Bay, and the Nelson Tasman region.

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,” says a Ministry of Health spokesperson. ‘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.”

Auckland

There are 19 new cases to report in Auckland.

Health and welfare providers are now supporting 725 people in the region to isolate at home, including 158 cases.

Waikato

There are four new cases in Waikato to report today. All are in Hamilton and linked to previous cases

Public Health, primary care and manaaki providers in the region are supporting 22 cases to isolate at home.

Lakes

Today the Ministry is reporting six new cases in the Lakes DHB region - all are in the Rotorua area.

All six cases are linked to previously reported cases. All cases are isolating at home or in managed accommodation.

Hawke's Bay

Today the Ministry is reporting six cases in Hawke's Bay, including one which that was initially announced in yesterday's statement. The five new cases are all linked to existing cases.

As investigations continue, more locations of interest may be added to the Ministry's website.

Covid-19 vaccine update

• Vaccines administered to date (percentage of eligible people): 3,995,126 first doses (95%); 3,908,835 second doses (93%); 36,426 third primary doses; 946,449 booster doses
• Vaccines administered yesterday: 1,125 first doses; 2,170 second doses; 478 third primary doses and 42,319 booster doses.
• Māori (percentage of eligible people): 508,850 first doses (89%); 479,946 second doses (84%).
• Pacific Peoples (percentage of eligible people): 275,469 first doses (96%); 266,716 second doses (93%).

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 (94%); second doses (92%)
• Bay of Plenty DHB: First doses (94%); second doses (91%)
• Lakes DHB: First doses (93%); second doses (90%)
• MidCentral DHB: First doses (96%); second doses (94%)
• Hawke's Bay DHB: First doses (96%); second doses (93%)
• 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: First doses (96%); second doses (94%)
• Canterbury DHB: First doses (99%); second doses (97%)

Hospitalisations

• Cases in hospital: 8; North Shore: 4; Auckland: 3; Middlemore: 1.
• Vaccination status of current hospitalisations (Northern Region wards only): Unvaccinated or not eligible (0 cases / 0%); partially immunised
• Average age of current hospitalisations: 63
• Cases in ICU or HDU: Zero

Cases

• Seven day rolling average of community cases: 25
• Seven day rolling average of border cases: 41
• Number of new community cases: 43
• Number of new cases identified at the border: 41
• Location of new community cases: Auckland (19), Waikato (4), Lakes (6), *Hawke's Bay (6), *Nelson Marlborough (8)
• Number of community cases (total): 11,466 (in current community outbreak)
• Cases epidemiologically linked (total): 8,715
• Number of active cases (total): 478 (cases identified in the past 21 days and not yet classified as recovered)
• Confirmed cases (total): 15,104

Contacts

• Number of active contacts being managed (total): 4,879
• Percentage who has received an outbound call from contact tracers (to confirm testing and isolation requirements): 78%
• Percentage who has returned at least one result: 78%

Tests

• Number of tests total (last 24 hours): 14,337
• Tests rolling average (last 7 days): 13,388
• Auckland tests total (last 24 hours): 7,546

Wastewater

• No unexpected results.

NZ COVID Tracer

• Poster scans in the 24 hours to midday yesterday: 2,617,194
• Manual diary entries in the 24 hours to midday: 41,385

My Vaccine Pass

• My vaccine pass downloads total: 4,873,140
• My vaccine pass downloads (last 24 hours): 13,762

New cases identified at the border