105 new community cases, 15 Omicron cases identified

Photo: Getty Images
Photo: Getty Images
There are 105 new community cases of Covid-19 today, with the total number of Omicron cases reported in the community also now at 105.

Today's new daily cases accounts for both Omicron and Delta variants of the virus.

The ministry warned that as New Zealand saw more Omicron cases, an increase in the total number of daily community cases was expected.

The number of confirmed Omicron cases or cases linked to a previously reported Omicron case is also at 105, 15 more than yesterday.

Some of these additional cases have previously been reported as Covid-19 cases and linked retrospectively either through whole genome sequencing or epidemiologically. 

Therefore, some are not included in today’s reported new Covid-19 community cases.

There are active cases being treated as Omicron in Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Taranaki, MidCentral, and Nelson-Tasman.  

The locations of the new community cases are Auckland (76), Waikato (5), Tairawhiti (1), Bay of Plenty (9), Lakes (7), Hawke’s Bay (1), MidCentral (1), Nelson Marlborough (2), Canterbury (3).

There is one new case in Northland and one new case in Bay of Plenty which will be officially added to tomorrow’s case numbers.  

Case numbers announced yesterday after the cutoff time and added to the official tally today include Tairawhiti’s one case, three of today’s Bay of Plenty cases; Nelson-Tasman’s two cases and Canterbury’s three cases.  

Regional cases

Today’s Northland case is a household contact of a previously reported case. They’re based in Whangarei. 

Separately, a new location of interest has been added to the Ministry’s webpage – the Wainui Marae in Kaeo.

There are 76 cases to report in Auckland today.

Health and welfare providers are now supporting 698 people in the region to isolate at home, including 206 cases. 

There are five new cases in the Waikato today.

Four of the cases are linked to previous cases and one is under investigation. Four are from Hamilton and the location of the fifth case is under investigation. 

There are seven new cases in the Lakes DHB area today.

All seven are contacts of previously reported cases and are isolating at home or in managed accommodation. 

There are nine new Covid-19 cases in the Bay of Plenty today.

This includes three cases first announced yesterday, all linked to an early childhood centre in Tauranga.

Today there are an additional five cases linked to this childhood centre. All eight are being treated as Omicron, given their links to confirmed Omicron cases. 

A focus for Toi Te Ora Public Health today is an exposure at a polo event held at on Trustpower Baypark stadium between 1pm and 6.15pm on (Saturday) 22 January. The event was attended by a large number of people, including cases that are suspected to be Omicron. 

The ninth case being reported today is in Western Bay of Plenty and remains under investigation for links to previously reported cases.

In addition, there is another case in the Western Bay of Plenty. This case remains under investigation for links to previously reported cases.

There were 45 new Covid cases detected at the border.

There are currently four people with Covid-19 in hospital; one, in Rotorua, is in ICU or HDU.

The West Coast has become the 17th DHB to fully vaccinate more than 90% of its residents with two doses.

Yesterday 13,112 paediatric doses were administered, bringing the total to 137,301. A further 23,000 doses are booked in and 29% of 5 to 11 year olds have now received their first dose.

Yesterday 46,827 booster doses were administered, bring the total to 1,210,768 – of those due for a booster, 65% of people have now received one.