During the next three weeks of the Omicron outbreak, it's likely we'll see more climbing case numbers.

However, there is some good news in sight. Auckland's Covid-19 cases may be starting to plateau, epidemiologist Michael Baker says.

The Ministry of Health announced 18,833 new community cases of Covid-19 on Saturday and 597 people with the virus are in hospital. Five more people with Covid-19 have also died in hospital. All five were at Auckland hospitals.

It's a decrease in daily cases, which have consistently been above 20,000 for the past few days.

While Covid infections are now spreading throughout the country, the vast majority of cases have been emerging in Auckland's large population.

According to Michael, the rest of the country is likely two or three weeks behind the city in terms of virus transmission.

'It's going to be a fairly messy pattern across the country for the next three weeks, then see numbers fall away. It's quite marked because Auckland is so dominant in the national total.”

'The message is the level of exposure in the country is rising at the moment. Auckland is on a plateau, but this virus is going to be everywhere in Auckland, even if numbers have dropped.”

Despite the decrease in cases, the ministry expected numbers to jump around, while Covid-19 related hospitalisations were still increasing.

Vaccination rates

More than 2.4 million booster shots have now been given nationally, with more than 16,000 administered on Saturday.

Of the eligible people aged 12 and over, 96 per cent have had their first dose, 95 per cent their second, and 72 per cent have had their booster.

For Māori, aged 12+, 91 per cent have had their first dose, and 87 per cent their second. For Pacific Peoples, aged 12+, 98 per cent first dose, and 96 per cent their second.

Global toll

Data from Johns Hopkins University shows more than 444 million people have been infected with Sars-CoV-2, and more than 5.99m have died. Vaccination efforts are continuing with more than 10.5 billion doses administered around the world.

The United States continues to record the most cases and fatalities - more than 79.2m cases and 958,224 deaths.

What should I do?

During phase 3 we must act as if we have Covid-19, Director General of Health Ashley Bloomfield says.

Free rapid antigen tests can now be ordered online from a new Ministry of Health website. Anyone with symptoms can order a test on the RAT requester site and collect it from 146 sites nationwide.

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. Some helpful tips on using the Covid tracer app can be found here.

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.

Vaccination centres open this weekend:

A vaccincation drive-through in Te Puke and vaccination centres in Tauranga are open on Sunday.

There is a vaccination drive-through in Te Puke at Commerce Lane carpark, behind New World - Sunday 6, from 10 am –3 pm.

In Tauranga, vaccination centres are open from 8am to 3pm at Tauranga Central - Covid Vaccination Centre, at 87 First Avenue, Tauranga, and from 9am to 6pm at Undercover Crossing Carpark at the Crossing Shopping Centre, 2 Taurikura Drive.