The Ministry of Health is reporting 243 new community cases of Covid-19 in New Zealand and ten people in hospital with one case in ICU.

It marks the highest number of daily Covid-19 cases recorded in New Zealand since the pandemic began.

Previously, the highest daily total was 222 cases which was recorded on November 16 last year, during the Delta outbreak.

Friday was also a record day for boosters with more than 66,000 doses given.

There are 26 new cases identified at the border.

Of the new community cases, there are 21 in Northland, 165 in Auckland, 34 in Waikato, one in Lakes, eight in Bay of Plenty, two in Tairāwhiti, six in Hawke's Bay, one in Whanganui, and two in Wellington.

'We are also officially reporting three cases in Nelson Marlborough which were announced by the Ministry yesterday,” says a Ministry of Health spokesperson.

Of the ten people in hospital, two are in North Shore Hospital, three in Middlemore, two in Auckland, two in Rotorua and one in Christchurch Hospital. The average age of current hospitalisations is 60 years.

Bay of Plenty

There are eight cases to report in the Bay of Plenty today, with six linked to a previously reported cases and two are yet to be connected to the outbreak with investigations underway.

Of these eight cases, five are in Tauranga, and three are in the Western Bay of Plenty.

Lakes

The Ministry of Health is reporting one new case in the Rotorua district today. This case is linked to a previously reported case.

Northland

The Ministry of Health is reporting 21 new cases in Northland.

These include 14 cases Kerikeri, two cases in Kaeo, one case in Kaikohe, three cases in Whangārei, and one case in Taipa Bay-Mangōnui.

Auckland

There are 165 cases to report in Auckland today.

Health and welfare providers are now supporting 1,830 people in the region to isolate at home, including 728 cases.

Waikato

The Ministry of Health is reporting 34 cases in Waikato today.

Of these cases, 15 are linked to previously reported cases and the rest remain under investigation for links to previously reported cases.

Nineteen of these cases are reported for Hamilton, five in Ohaupo, two in Te Kuiti, two in Ngāruawāhia, one in Tirau, and the remaining with locations under investigation.

Tairāwhiti

There are two new cases to report in Tairāwhiti today. One of these cases was first announced yesterday.

Both cases remain under investigation to identify links to previously reported cases.

Hawke's Bay

Today the Ministry of Health is reporting six new cases in Hawke's Bay, with all linked to previously reported cases and isolating.

Whanganui

The Ministry of Health is reporting one new case in the Whanganui district today.

The case is a close contact of a previously reported case in another region.

The case was isolating when they tested positive and, at this stage, local public health staff have assessed there are no exposure events associated with this case.

Wellington

The Ministry of Health is reporting two cases in Wellington city today.

Both cases remain under investigation for links to previously reported cases. One case is isolating at home and the other in managed accommodation.

Today, the Ministry of Health is publishing an additional location of interest in the Wellington region.

• Flight Jetstar 252, Wellington-Auckland, Saturday 29 January, 7.59am and 8.59am.

'You are considered a close contact if you were seated in rows 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7,” says a Ministry of Health spokesperson. 'Please self-isolate, test immediately and on day five after you were exposed at this location of interest. Further isolation and testing requirements will be provided by Public Health.”

The continued increase in cases today is a reminder that, as expected, the Omicron variant is spreading in our communities as we have seen in other countries, says a Ministry of Health spokesperson.

'We can all play our part to slow the spread of the virus, help protect our most vulnerable people from being infected, and ensure our health system is able to manage extra demand for services.

This means continuing to do the basics well – staying home if unwell, and wearing a mask, physical distancing and scanning in using the NZ Covid Tracer app when you're out and about.”

The Ministry says all masks are effective when worn properly – fitted snug and close to the face – including three-layer fabric and surgical masks.

Anyone with any cold or flu symptoms that could be Covid-19 is asked to get a test and isolate at home until a negative result is returned.

The most common early symptoms of the Omicron variant are a sore or scratchy throat, and a runny nose.

'Even if you develop a small sniffle, please get a test,” says a Ministry of Health spokesperson.

'And finally, one of the best steps you can take is getting your booster dose as soon as it is due. Boosters lower your chances of getting very sick and being hospitalised. Being boosted also helps slow the spread of the virus. If you're over 18 and your booster is due, please get it now.”

Friday was a record day for boosters, with 66,864 booster doses administered taking the total so far to more than 1.5 million.

As of today, Saturday February 5, more than 90 per cent of Hawke's Bay's Māori population have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Twelve DHB regions now have more than 90 per cent of Māori partially vaccinated.

Waitangi weekend reminder

'We are reminding you that if you are going away this Waitangi weekend, you should have plans in place in the event you are identified as a close contact, get Covid-19 symptoms, or find out you have Covid-19,” says a Ministry of Health spokesperson.

'You are likely to need to self-isolate wherever you become a close contact or test positive, so there may be extra costs involved in paying for additional accommodation and changing your travel plans.”

COVID-19 vaccine update

• Vaccines administered to date (percentage of eligible people): 4,046,832 first doses (96%); 3,971,743 second doses (94%); 1,511,766 booster doses (49%)
• Vaccines administered yesterday: 876 first doses; 1,780 second doses; 4,440 paediatric doses; 66,864 booster doses.
• Māori (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 514,182 first doses (90%); 488,653 second doses (86%).
• Pacific Peoples (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 278,038 first doses (97%); 270,434 second doses (94%).
• Paediatric vaccines administered to date (percentage of 5-11-year-olds): 192,661 first doses (40%)
• Māori (percentage of eligible people aged 5-11): 26,008 first doses (23%)
• Pacific Peoples (percentage of eligible people aged 5-11): 14,859 first doses (30%)

Vaccination rates for all DHBs (percentage of eligible people aged 12 +)

• Northland DHB: First doses (89.9%); second doses (87%)
• Auckland Metro DHBs: First doses (97%); second doses (96%)
• Waikato DHB: First doses (95%); second doses (93%)
• Bay of Plenty DHB: First doses (95%); second doses (92%)
• Lakes DHB: First doses (93%); second doses (91%)
• MidCentral DHB: First doses (96%); second doses (94%)
• Tairawhiti DHB: First doses (93%); second doses (89.6%)
• Whanganui DHB: First doses (92%); second doses (89.6%)
• Hawke's Bay: First doses (97%); second doses (94%)
• Taranaki DHB: First doses (95%); second doses (92%)
• Wairarapa DHB: First doses (96%); second doses (94%)
• Capital and Coast DHB: First doses (98%); second doses (97%)
• Hutt Valley DHB: First doses (97%); second doses (95%)
• Nelson Marlborough DHB: First doses (96%); second doses (95%)
• West Coast DHB: First doses (93%); second doses (90%)
• Canterbury DHB: First doses (99%); second doses (98%)
• South Canterbury DHB: First doses (95%); second doses (94%)
• Southern DHB: First doses (98%); second doses (96%)

Hospitalisations

• Cases in hospital: 10; North Shore: 2; Middlemore: 3; Auckland: 2; Rotorua: 2; Christchurch: 1
• Average age of current hospitalisations: 60
• Cases in ICU or HDU: 1
• Vaccination status of current hospitalisations (Northern Region wards only): Unvaccinated or not eligible (1 case / 20%); partially immunised

Cases

• Seven day rolling average of community cases: 148
• Seven day rolling average of border cases: 44
• Number of new community cases: 243
• Number of new cases identified at the border: 26

Contacts

• Number of active contacts being managed (total): 5,243
• Percentage who has received an outbound call from contact tracers (to confirm testing and isolation requirements): 76%
• Percentage who has returned at least one result: 72%
• Tests
• Number of tests total (last 24 hours): 21,471
• Tests rolling average (last 7 days): 19,600
• Auckland tests total (last 24 hours): 9,687

Wastewater

• No unusual detections to report.

NZ COVID Tracer

• Poster scans in the 24 hours to midday yesterday: 2,536,350
• Manual diary entries in the 24 hours to midday:  42,450

My Vaccine Pass

• Total issued to date: 5,043,716
• Total yesterday: 14,024

New cases identified at the border