Posted: 10:30am Sat 19 Mar, 2022
Covid update here and around the globe
.jpg)
File photo.
New Zealand's Covid-19 death toll has risen considerably as Omicron continues to sweep across the country.
On January 23, when the country's first community transmission of Omicron was reported, 52 people had died with the virus since the pandemic began almost two years prior.
As of Friday, that figure stands at 156. The seven-day rolling average of deaths reported each day – a metric many scarcely could have imagined using prior to Omicron – is eight.
Meanwhile, National Party leader Christopher Luxon is pressing the Government to ease up on the Covid-19 restrictions.
The Opposition would like to see a shift to a five-day isolation period and for vaccine mandates, the traffic light framework, and pre-departure testing to be scrapped once the border opens to Australia in April.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has said that, while an end to vaccine passports may be in sight, New Zealand will still need to retain tools like the traffic light framework and QR codes to deal with future Covid-19 outbreaks.
Speaking to media in Auckland on Thursday, Ardern said the Covid-19 settings are to be reviewed, as Auckland appears to be moving past its Omicron peak.
The outcome of these reviews won't be known until next week.
Vaccination rates
Over 2.5 million eligible New Zealanders, 72.8 per cent, have received their booster shot of the vaccine. Excluding five-11-year-olds, 94 per cent of the population is double vaccinated and 96 per cent has had a single shot.
Over 10,000,000 doses have now been given to those aged 12 and above.
Just under 20,000, or four per cent, of 5 to 11-year-olds are now double dosed after becoming eligible on Monday.
Of all the District Health Boards, Northland remains the only one still to reach 90 per cent fully vaccinated. Of its eligible population, 90 per cent have had their first dose administered, and 87.8 per cent have had their second.
The total number of vaccinations administered on Friday was 6177, bringing the overall total number to 10,568,763.
Global toll
According to Johns Hopkins University, there have been 466,664,021 confirmed cases of the virus and just over 6 million deaths.
Over the previous 28 day period, South Korea has been the world's most infectious country with over 6 million residents testing positive for the virus. In that same time period, 4,499 people have lost their lives.
The country's total number of cases sits at 8.6 million, and its death toll has reached 11,782.
Germany, Vietnam, Russia and France are following closely behind with similarly high infection rates. Of the five countries, France continues to have the highest total number of cases, tallying 24,046,213.
As of Saturday morning, there have been 10,761,427,371 vaccines administered across the world.
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.
0 comments
Leave a Comment
You must be logged in to make a comment.