SunLive - Two cases of Omicron in Tauranga

The Ministry of Health is reporting two Omicron cases in Tauranga.

"Both cases are in the same household and are isolating at home," says a statement from the Ministry of Health.

"Case investigations are ongoing but, at this stage, there are a limited number of exposure events associated with these cases."

To date, there are 29 community cases of Covid-19 associated with the January Omicron Cluster, all are in isolation.

"Amongst these cases, today we are reporting an additional 10 community cases."

These include: One case in Nelson Tasman that is a household contact of a previously reported case and was already isolating when they tested positive.

One case in Palmerston North that is a household contact of a previously reported case and was already isolating when they tested positive. As well as the two Tauranga cases mentioned above.

Six Omicron cases in Auckland

All these cases have been linked, directly or indirectly, to a family event and other associated events in Auckland on the weekend of 15 and 16 January, 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.

"In addition, the Ministry wants to thank the Nelson-Tasman family associated with this cluster for coming forward and getting tested when they became symptomatic.

"Their cooperation has been instrumental in identifying locations of interests, additional contacts, and cases, all of which helps slow the spread of Omicron in our communities. At this stage, it is believed the family became infected while in Auckland, not in the Nelson-Tasman region.

"As part of our collective preparations for Omicron, please check your details are up to date with your regular healthcare provider and in the Covid-19 Tracer app.

"We also continue to urge anyone with symptoms, or anyone who has been to a location of interest at the times notified, to isolate immediately and get tested promptly."

Second family event associated with Omicron cases

A case from the January Omicron cluster also attended a second private event in Auckland during their infectious period.

The exposure occurred on the evening of (Sunday) 16 January at the Pukekohe Indian Hall in Auckland. More detail can be found on Ministry of Health Locations of Interest.

Auckland Regional Public Health Service believe a large number of people attended this event. Anyone at this location at the relevant times is asked to get tested immediately, and self-isolate until a negative result has been returned, says the Ministry.

"Please also record your visit online on the Locations of Interest website, or by contacting Healthline for free on 0800 358 5453. Further information, isolation and testing requirements will be provided by contact tracers.

"Further locations of interest have been identified across Auckland and the Nelson Tasman region and will be published on the Ministry's website as they are confirmed. We are encouraging everyone in these regions to check the locations of interest and follow the public health advice.

"There will be people from outside of these regions who may have visited those locations at the same time period, so it is important for anyone who has been in these locations over the past week to check the website and see if they are included in that time the case was there."

It is also a timely reminder to all potential close contacts of a case to either call Healthline on 0800 358 5453 or record their visit online to a location of interest and follow advice from a health professional, as this is advice is specific to an individual and the exposure event.

A reminder that there is a Section 70 notice in place which puts a legal requirement on all people who were at locations of interest at the relevant times to follow the instructions regarding isolation and testing.

Failure to comply can result in a fine of up to $4000 or imprisonment for up to six months.

See below for a full breakdown of today's numbers:

COVID-19 vaccine update

Vaccines administered to date (percentage of eligible people): first doses 3,997,561 (95%); 3,913,001 second doses (93%); 37,159 third primary doses; 1,053,055 booster doses
Vaccines administered yesterday: 1,224 first doses; 1,861 second doses; 469 third primary doses, 14,400 paediatric doses; 56,788 booster doses.
Māori (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 509,673 first doses (89%); 481,252 second doses (84%).
Pacific Peoples (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 275,866 first doses (96%); 267,333 second doses (93%).
Paediatric vaccines administer to date (percentage of 5-11-year olds): 94,976 first doses (20%)

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 (95%); second doses (92%)
Bay of Plenty DHB: First doses (94%); second doses (92%)
Lakes DHB: First doses (93%); second doses (90%)
Hawke's Bay: First doses (96%); second doses (93%)
MidCentral DHB: First doses (96%); second doses (94%)
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 DHB: First doses (96%); second doses (94%)
Canterbury DHB: First doses (99%); second doses (97%)

Hospitalisations

Cases in hospital: 10; North Shore: 5; Auckland: 2; Middlemore: 1, Rotorua: 2,
Vaccination status of current hospitalisations (Northern Region wards only): Unvaccinated or not eligible (1 cases / 14%); partially immunised
Average age of current hospitalisations: 62
Cases in ICU or HDU: 0

Cases

Seven day rolling average of community cases: 29
Seven day rolling average of border cases: 38
Number of new community cases: 25
Number of new cases identified at the border: 37
Location of new community cases: Northland (1), Auckland (18), Bay of Plenty (2), Lakes (2), MidCentral (1), Nelson Marlborough (1)
Number of community cases (total): 11,541 (in current community outbreaks)
Cases epidemiologically linked (total): 8,793
Number of active cases (total): 470 (cases identified in the past 21 days and not yet classified as recovered)
Confirmed cases (total): 15,312

Contacts

Number of active contacts being managed (total): 5,458
Percentage who has received an outbound call from contact tracers (to confirm testing and isolation requirements): 80%
Percentage who has returned at least one result: 78%

Tests

Number of tests total (last 24 hours): 12,687
Tests rolling average (last 7 days): 13,814
Auckland tests total (last 24 hours): 5,713

Wastewater

No unexpected results.

NZ COVID Tracer

Poster scans in the 24 hours to midday yesterday: 2,277,105
Manual diary entries in the 24 hours to midday: 56,950

My Vaccine Pass

My vaccine pass downloads total: 4,909,476
My vaccine pass downloads (last 24 hours): 15,941

Today's cases

We are reporting new community cases in Northland, Auckland, Lakes, Bay of Plenty, MidCentral, and Nelson Marlborough.

Regional updates

The Ministry is continuing to ask anyone in New Zealand with symptoms – no matter how mild – to get tested, even if you're vaccinated. Please stay at home until you return a negative test result. We are also asking people to regularly check the locations of interest as these are regularly updated and to follow the advice provided.

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.

Northland

There is one case to report in Kaitaia, Northland.

The case is linked to a previously reported case.

Auckland

There are 18 cases to report in Auckland today.

Health and welfare providers are now supporting 665 people in the region to isolate at home, including 164 cases.

Lakes

There are two cases in Rotorua to report.

The cases are known contacts of previously reported cases.

Bay of Plenty

There are two cases to report in Tauranga.

Health officials are investigating recent travel to Auckland as the source of their infection, and whole genome sequencing is underway to determine the variant.

MidCentral

There is one case to report in the MidCentral region who is a household contact of previously reported Omicron case.

They were already isolating when they tested positive.

Nelson Marlborough

As outlined in the Omicron update above, the Nelson Tasman case reported today is a household contact of a case that is part of the January Omicron cluster.