Whole genome sequencing has now detected a further four cases of Omicron in recent international arrivals. There are now a total of eight cases with the Omicron variant isolating in MIQ facilities, none have been in the community.

Whole genome sequencing for two other passengers on the international flight with New Zealand’s first Omicron case has confirmed they have the Omicron variant of COVID-19.

Two additional cases we are announcing today arrived on separate flights from Singapore.

One case travelled on a flight from Singapore to Auckland on 13 December and the second case was on a flight from Singapore to Christchurch on 15 December.

Of the eight Omicron cases, two are in a bubble but the other six cases are unrelated to each other suggesting no cross-contamination or cross-infection either in-flight or within MIQ facilities.

We are carrying out whole genome sequencing on all new border cases of COVID-19 to rapidly identify any new cases of the Omicron variant.

As a precautionary interim measure, all passengers on flights with Omicron cases are required to complete all ten days at a managed isolation facility – rather than spending the last three days of their isolation period in self-isolation.

Our health and MIQ teams around the country have been planning for Omicron cases at the border and will continue to manage all arrivals cautiously.

We are well placed to manage Omicron cases with isolation and testing requirements for all new arrivals, robust infection and prevention control and PPE measures at airports and MIQ facilities, and frequent surveillance testing of staff who have any contact with recent international returnees.

Please note today’s figures do not cover a full 24 hour period due to the change in reporting times to a midnight-to-midnight cycle from 9am-to-9am.

COVID-19 vaccine update

• Vaccines administered to date (percentage of eligible people): 3,961,764 first doses (94%); 3,791,509 second doses (90%); 24,355 third primary doses; 205,979 booster doses
• Vaccines administered yesterday: 2,039 first doses; 7,600 second doses; 832 third primary doses and 11,024 booster doses.
• Māori (percentage of eligible people): 495,279 first doses (87%); 440,400 second doses (77%)
• Pacific Peoples (percentage of eligible people): 267,999 first doses (93%); 251,330 second doses (88%)

Vaccination rates by DHB with active cases (percentage of eligible people)

• Northland DHB: First doses (88%); second doses (82%)
• Auckland Metro DHBs: First doses (95%); second doses (93%)
• Waikato DHB: First doses (93%); second doses (89%)
• Bay of Plenty DHB: First doses (93%); second doses (87%)
• Lakes DHB: First doses (91%); second doses (85%)
• Taranaki DHB: First doses (93%); second doses (87%)
• Hawke’s Bay DHB: First doses (94%); second doses (88%)
• Nelson-Marlborough DHB: First doses (94%); second doses (89%)
• Canterbury DHB: First doses (97%); second doses (94%)

Hospitalisations

• Cases in hospital: 49; North Shore: 8; Auckland: 24; Middlemore: 12; Waikato: 2; Tauranga: 3
• Vaccination status of current hospitalisations (Northern Region wards only): Unvaccinated or not eligible (24 cases / 59%); partially immunised <7 days from second dose or have only received one dose (6 cases / 15%); fully vaccinated at least 7 days before being reported as a case (9 cases/ 22%); unknown (2 cases / 5%)
• Average age of current hospitalisations: 53
• Cases in ICU or HDU: 5 (1 in North Shore; 2 in Auckland; 2 in Middlemore)

Cases

• Seven day rolling average of community cases: 76
• Number of new community cases: 39
• Number of new cases identified at the border: 10
• Location of new community cases: Auckland (25), Bay of Plenty (11), Lakes (2), Taranaki (1).
• Number of community cases (total): 10,168 (in current community outbreak)
• Cases epidemiologically linked (total): 7,509
• Number of active cases (total): 1,993 (cases identified in the past 21 days and not yet classed as recovered)
• Confirmed cases (total): 12,996

Contacts

• Number of active contacts being managed (total): 6,645
• Percentage who have received an outbound call from contact tracers (to confirm testing and isolation requirements): 83%
• Percentage who have returned at least one result: 76%

Tests

• Number of tests total (last 24 hours): 19,902
• Tests rolling average (last 7 days): 23,324
• Auckland tests total (last 24 hours): 8,743

Wastewater

• No unexpected detections to report

NZ COVID Tracer

• Poster scans in 24 hours to midday yesterday: 3,519,836
• Manual diary entries in 24 hours to midday: 44,081

My Vaccine Pass

• My vaccine pass downloads total: 4,368,166
• My vaccine pass downloads (last 24 hours): 32,526

Today’s cases

Today, we are reporting new community cases in Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Lakes and Taranaki.

Please note today’s figures do not cover a full 24 hour period due to the change in reporting times to a midnight-to-midnight cycle from 9am-to-9am.

Regional updates

We are continuing to ask anyone in New Zealand with symptoms – no matter how mild – to get tested, even if you’re vaccinated. Please stay at home until you return a negative test result.

Testing and vaccination centre locations nationwide can be found on the Healthpoint website.

Auckland

Today, there are 25 new cases being reported in Auckland. 

Health and welfare providers are now supporting 2,042 people to isolate at home, including 555 cases.

Bay of Plenty

There are 11 new cases being reported in the Bay of Plenty today. Of those eight are in Tauranga and three are in the Western Bay of Plenty. Following initial investigations, the Western Bay of Plenty cases and three of the Tauranga cases appear to be linked to existing cases. Interviews with the remaining cases to determine any possible connections are ongoing.

Lakes

There are two news cases being reported in the Lakes region today, both are in Rotorua. Both have potential links to existing cases.

Taranaki

There is one new case being reported in Taranaki today. They are linked to the Eltham cluster.

Testing is available today and tomorrow at:

• Taranaki Base Hospital testing centre, 9am – 3pm
• Hawera Hospital testing centre, 10am – 2pm

Media releases over the Christmas break

Over the Christmas break there will be regular COVID-19 updates published and tweeted each day apart from:

• Saturday 25 December,
• Saturday 1 January, and
• Saturday 8 January.