There are 25 new cases of Covid-19 in the community today, including 8 confirmed cases of the Omicron variant.

To date, there are 19 community cases of Covid-19 associated with the January Omicron Cluster, all are in isolation, says a statement from the Ministry of Health.

'Of these cases, today we are reporting eight – two are in the Nelson/Tasman region and are contacts of existing cases, five cases are in Auckland linked to one of the reported family events, and there is an additional case in Palmerston North, a household contact who was already isolating and linked to the previously reported Palmerston North Omicron case,” says the ministry.

'The number of cases and contacts are expected to grow given the highly transmissible nature of Omicron and as we learn more from case interviews.”

There are also 50 new cases in managed isolation today.

There are 10 cases of Covid-19 in hospital today - five in North Shore, two in Auckland, one in Middlemore, one in Rotorua and one in Northland. There are no cases in ICU or HDU.

On vaccinations, 21,318 booster doses and 6399 paediatric doses were given yesterday. There were 10,061 tests in the past 24 hours.

From now, unlinked positive cases of Covid-19 in the community will get priority for whole genome sequencing, says the ministry.

These samples will be treated as urgent and tested within 12-24 hours of being received by the laboratory.

Previously, sequencing Covid-19 in international arrivals was the priority.

Yesterday health officials announced there were 24 new community cases of Covid-19 in the community, and 47 new cases in managed isolation and quarantine facilities.

Regional updates

Northland

There have been four new cases in the Kaitaia area. All are contacts of previously reported cases in Kaitaia.

In addition, one case reported last week has been admitted to hospital.

Auckland

There are 13 cases to report in Auckland today.

Health and welfare providers are now supporting 676 people in the region to isolate at home, including 157 cases.

Summerset by the Park Rest Home Flat Bush

Residents and staff of an Auckland aged residential care facility have been tested for Covid-19 after a worker who tested positive was linked to the current Omicron outbreak.

The resthome is now closed to visitors.

Anyone who visited the rest home since Tuesday, January 18 is asked to monitor for Covid-19 symptoms for 10 days after exposure. If symptoms develop, get a test, and stay at home until you return a negative test result.

Test results for residents and staff are currently being processed. The test results returned so far have been negative.

Whole genome sequencing is being carried out however the ministry is treating this as an Omicron case.

Waikato

There are four new cases in the Waikato today, which are all linked to previously reported cases. Two are from Hamilton, one if from Atiamuri and one with location under investigation.

Pop-up testing sites are operating in Te Kūiti, Ngāruawāhia, Huntly, Taumarunui, Tokoroa, Putāruru and Hamilton today.

There were 480 tests processed in Waikato yesterday and 1882 vaccinations given.

In the Waikato, Public Health, primary care and manaaki providers are supporting 19 cases to isolate at home.

Lakes

There is one new case to report in the Rotorua District, linked to a previously reported case.