In MIF transmission confirmed as Omicron with clear link to border

The positive case reported yesterday in an Auckland MIQ worker has now been linked to the border through whole genome sequencing. This has provided confirmation that the worker has the Omicron variant.

In response, we are taking a conservative approach, and our objective is to stamp out and contain any onward transmission.

All of the case’s seven household contacts identified have already been contacted, isolated and tested, and returned a negative result.

A further 48 close contacts are in the process of being contacted, asked to isolate and get tested. Fifteen of these contacts have already returned a negative test result, including five contacts in Taupō. Among the close contacts, are 39 people who were on two bus trips with the case. The MIQ worker on the bus trips was wearing their mask throughout both journeys.

At this stage, exposure events have been identified at the MIQ facility, on bus travel to work and a small number of shops.

A number of high-risk locations of interest linked to the case have been published, and we ask anyone who was at any of these locations at the specified time to get tested immediately, self-isolate and then get a further test on day 5 after exposure at the location of interest and then continue to follow any further advice on isolation and testing that will be provided to you by public health officials:

These locations of interest will be highlighted on the Ministry’s website as linked to the Omicron positive case.

The case and one household contact are now isolating in a MIQ facility.  The remaining close contacts are isolating at locations in Auckland and Taupō.

On Friday afternoon, the worker returned a positive result for a routine surveillance test taken on Wednesday afternoon.

The worker is fully vaccinated, up to date with regular surveillance testing and has cooperated fully with health authorities in helping manage any risks. Public Health staff thank them for their assistance.

Auckland health officials are working at pace to identify any further contacts and exposure events.

Whole genome sequencing has linked the MIQ worker to two returnees within the facility who travelled from India who arrived on 8 January and tested positive two days later.

The MIQ worker is deemed to have been infectious from Monday 10 January. 

Auckland Regional Public Health are working with MIQ staff to look for any possible routes of transmission between the returnees and the MIQ worker. MIQ staff at this facility are in the process of having an additional test arranged.

New Zealand’s vaccine rollout remains our key defence against all variants of COVID-19, including Omicron. With 93% of the eligible population now double-dosed, and the booster programme underway, New Zealanders are well protected. We want vaccinations to continue to increase and ask everyone who is eligible to get vaccinated. This is also a timely reminder for people over the age of 18 to get their booster shot if it has been four months since their last vaccine dose.

On Monday, the vaccine will be available for 5 to 11-year-olds to get protected against COVID-19. We encourage all parents with children in this age group to take them to get vaccinated. A full list of vaccination centres can be found on the Healthpoint website.

The Ministry asks anyone who lives in Auckland with symptoms – no matter how mild – to get a test, even if you’re vaccinated and to please stay at home until you return a negative test result.

COVID-19 vaccine update
Vaccines administered to date (percentage of eligible people): 3,988,847 first doses (95%); 3,895,725 second doses (93%); 35,481 third primary doses; 742,123 booster doses
Vaccines administered yesterday: 906 first doses; 1,923 second doses; 256 third primary doses and 22,149 booster doses.
Māori (percentage of eligible people): 506,214 first doses (89%); 475,387 second doses (83%).
Pacific Peoples (percentage of eligible people): 274,363 first doses (96%); 264,945 second doses (92%).
Vaccination rates by DHB with active cases (percentage of eligible people)
Northland DHB: First doses (89%); second doses (86%)
Auckland Metro DHBs: First doses (97%); second doses (95%)
Waikato DHB: First doses (94%); second doses (92%)
Bay of Plenty DHB: First doses (94%); second doses (91%)
Lakes DHB: First doses (92%); second doses (89%)
Hawke’s Bay DHB: First doses (95%); second doses (92%)
Wairarapa DHB: First doses (96%); second doses (93%)
Capital and Coast DHB: First doses (98%); second doses (97%)
Hutt Valley DHB: First doses (96%); second doses (94%)
Canterbury DHB: First doses (99%); second doses (97%)

Hospitalisations
Cases in hospital: 22; North Shore: 5; Auckland: 8; Middlemore: 8; Tauranga: 1.
Vaccination status of current hospitalisations (Northern Region wards only): Unvaccinated or not eligible (6 cases / 30%); partially immunised <7 days from second dose or have only received one dose (6 case / 30%); fully vaccinated at least 7 days before being reported as a case (7 cases / 35%); unknown (1 case / 5%).
Average age of current hospitalisations: 51
Cases in ICU or HDU: 2; Middlemore: 1; Tauranga: 1

Cases
Seven day rolling average of community cases: 24
Seven day rolling average of border cases: 32
Number of new community cases: 25
Number of new cases identified at the border: 43
Location of new community cases: Northland (1), Auckland (15), Waikato (2), Bay of Plenty (3), Lakes (2), Hawke’s Bay (1)*, Wellington (1)
Number of community cases (total): 11,306 (in current community outbreak)
Cases epidemiologically linked (total): 8587
Number of active cases (total): 554 (cases identified in the past 21 days and not yet classified as recovered)
Confirmed cases (total): 14,694

Contacts
Number of active contacts being managed (total): 4,800
Percentage who has received an outbound call from contact tracers (to confirm testing and isolation requirements): 80%
Percentage who has returned at least one result: 80%



Tests
Number of tests total (last 24 hours): 13,816
Tests rolling average (last 7 days): 15,200
Auckland tests total (last 24 hours): 7655
Wastewater
No unexpected results.

NZ COVID Tracer
Poster scans in the 24 hours to midday yesterday: 2,572,508
Manual diary entries in the 24 hours to midday: 36,867
My Vaccine Pass
My vaccine pass downloads total: 4,796,633
My vaccine pass downloads (last 24 hours): 9,527

Today’s cases
We are reporting new community cases in Northland, Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Lakes, Waikato, Hawke’s Bay, and Wellington.

*One of the cases being reported in Hawke’s Bay was first announced by the DHB yesterday, and a second case being announced today will be officially included in the numbers tomorrow.

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.  We are also asking people to regularly check the as these are regularly updated and to follow the advice provided.

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

Please also continue to check for any updated Locations of Interest and appropriate health advice, updated regularly at Contact tracing locations of interest.

Northland
There is one new case to report in Whangārei today.

The case is still under investigation for any links to previously reported cases.

There are currently five active cases in Northland.

Auckland
There are 15 cases to report in Auckland today.

Health and welfare providers are now supporting 892 people in the region to isolate at home, including 188 cases.

Bay of Plenty
There are three new cases in Western Bay of Plenty to report.

Two of these cases are close contacts of previously reported cases and the other remains under investigation for links to previously reported cases.

Lakes
There are two community cases to report in Rotorua today.

Investigations are underway to determine any links to previously reported cases.

Waikato
There are two new cases in the Waikato today, one in Hamilton and one in Ngāruawāhia.

One of these cases has been linked to a previously reported case and one remains under investigation.

In the Waikato, Public Health, primary care and manaaki providers are supporting 24 cases to isolate at home.

Hawke’s Bay
There are two new community cases to announce in Hastings today.

One was first announced by the district health board yesterday and is included in today’s numbers. The other case was notified after the daily cut-off for reporting and will be officially included in tomorrow’s number.

The first case is being investigated for links to previously reported cases, and the second case is household contact of the first.

Locations of interest linked to this case have been published on the Ministry of Health website already and people who have spent time in the area are asked to check the website for any new locations, which will be added as they are confirmed.

Both cases are now isolating with public health and welfare support.

Wellington
There is one case to report in Wellington City today.

The case is a close contact of a previously reported case in Auckland and was already isolating when they tested positive.

The Wellington region has 12 active cases, including five in Wellington, three in the Hutt Valley and four in Wairarapa.

출처: 1월 16일 보간부 보도자료