Health officials are urging Kiwis to get their booster shots of the Covid-19 vaccine and be prepared for home isolation, as the Omicron outbreak is expected to "take off".

On Friday, New Zealand had 209 new community cases of Covid - the highest daily case numbers to date in the Omicron outbreak.

Speaking from the new vaccination centre on Auckland's waterfront, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says with the winding down of MIQ and the increasing chances of getting Covid-19, people will not be able to rely on quarantine if they needed to self-isolate.

Home isolation would be the new normal and people living with vulnerable whānau need to have a plan.

Ardern stresses the importance of getting booster shots as the main protection against Covid.

"Don't wait. Once Omicron really takes off, there isn't that same period of time to get the full benefit of your vaccine,” says Ardern.

As of Friday, 92 per cent of people who'd been vaccinated were eligible for their booster shot, after the government reduced the interval between a second dose and the booster shot from four months to three months.

Drive-thru vaccination event at Tauranga Racecourse. Photo: Kate Burrell.

Bay of Plenty health officials are aiming to boost Covid-19 vaccination rates in the district this long weekend.

The Bay of Plenty District Health Board is welcoming the public to vaccination drive-through events which will be held at the Tauranga Racecourse and the Whakatāne War Memorial car park over Waitangi weekend.

Tauranga Covid-19 vaccination drive-through

Tauranga Racecourse, Cameron Road

Saturday 5, Sunday 6 and Monday 7 February

10 am–3.30 pm

Whakatāne Covid-19 vaccination drive-through

Whakatāne Memorial Hall car park, Short Street

Monday 7 February

10 am–3.30 pm

Drive-thru vaccination event at Tauranga Racecourse. Photo: Kate Burrell.

Vaccination rates

Almost 46,000 booster shots were administered on Wednesday, taking the total number of boosters given to date to more than 1.44 million.

Over 4500 paediatric vaccine doses were given on Wednesday, meaning 40 per cent of all children aged 5-11 had received one dose of the vaccine.

Twenty-two per cent of Māori and 29 per cent of Pasifika children aged 5-11 had received a dose of the Covid vaccine.

Nearly 4 million people from the eligible population have received their second dose of the Covid vaccine, taking the total to 94 per cent.

Global toll

Data from Johns Hopkins University shows more than 389 million people have been infected with Sars-CoV-2, and more than 5.7million have died.

Vaccination efforts are continuing with more than 10 billion doses administered around the world.

The United States continues to record the most cases and fatalities - more than 76 million cases and 899,895 deaths.

What should I do?

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

Quarantine-free travel from Australia has been suspended.

People should use the Covid-19 tracer app.
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.