The head of the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners is calling for a 'change in mindset” in how the country lives with Covid-19 – and to also 'focus on other health issues and illnesses that are waiting in the wings”.

Wellington doctor Bryan Betty, who is medical director of the Royal college, says with Covid unlikely to disappear from our lives any time soon, it needs to become something Kiwis learn to live with – while not forgetting about other illnesses.

Bryan says with winter on the way, influenza was a 'big concern” because lockdowns and border closures had reduced the public's exposure.

He also says more attention needed to be given to non-Covid child immunisation rates, else falling jab rates could trigger outbreaks of whooping cough and measles.

Experts are projecting either a long tail, or a second wave of infections after cases peak.

Covid-19 Modelling Aotearoa, a group that includes both Prof Michael Plank and Prof Shaun Hendy, has released a new tranche of omicron projections that speak to what might happen if people hunker down in response to the outbreak, or carry on with 'normal behaviour”.

Friday's 1929 cases from 32,894 PCR swabs means 5.9 per cent of people tested were confirmed as having Covid-19. This is now the highest Covid positivity rate to date, surpassing Monday's positivity rate of 5.7 per cent.

In the face of growing cases, businesses are calling for more access to rapid antigen testing (RATs) so that employees can self-test regularly for Covid-19. The Government will be providing RATs to essential services, and Covid-19 response minister Chris Hipkins said he hoped to get the tests on supermarket shelves soon.

Vaccination rates

On Friday, 37,818 vaccine doses were given out across the country . Of those, 483 were first doses, 1265 were second doses and 35,902 were booster doses.

So far 46 per cent of children between five and 11 have had their first dose of the paediatric dose of the vaccine.

Nationally, 96.4 per cent of New Zealand has had one dose , 94.8 per cent of people have had two doses, and 64.5 per cent have had their booster dose.

Global toll

Data from Johns Hopkins University shows nearly 421 million people have been infected with Sars-CoV-2, and more than 5.86m have died. Vaccination efforts are continuing with more than 10.3 billion doses administered around the world.

The United States continues to record the most cases and fatalities - more than 78.3 million cases and 933,154 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.