The Government will extend the alert level 3 boundary for Waikato as community cases of Covid-19 continue to rise in the district.
Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins made the announcement this afternoon during an update on the Delta outbreak and the use of rapid antigen testing, which will be rolled out to Auckland hospitals within days.
There are 29 new community cases of Covid-19 to report in New Zealand today - 24 in Auckland and five in Waikato. Seven of Auckland's new cases are yet to be linked. All Waikato cases are linked.
Auckland has been under heavy restrictions for the past seven weeks after the first case of highly virulent strain Delta was confirmed and has only recently gone from alert level 4 to a specific alert level 3. The virus has spread to neighbouring Waikato, which moved to the conventional alert level 3 last week. The rest of the country remains at alert level 2.
Waikato alert boundary extended
From 11.59pm today, the Waikato boundary has been extended south to include the Waitomo District, including Te Kuiti, as well as the Waipa and Ōtorohanga districts.
Raglan, Te Kauwhata, Huntly, Ngāruawāhia, Hamilton City and some surrounding areas remain at Alert Level 3.
All these areas of Waikato will be in Alert Level 3 until 11.59pm on Monday, October 11.
Hipkins said the decision was based on an "abundance of caution" and a map would be published on the Covid-19 website today.
Cabinet would review the settings on Monday. The extended boundary will include the Hamilton Airport, and restrictions on air travel will be in place, including requirements for a Covid-19 pre-departure test.
"Police will be out patrolling and the overall message is: if you haven't got a good reason to be travelling ... please stay home."
People in the area should still get testing and vaccinations, Hipkins said. He highlighted Te Awamutu as being a location where there had been lots of travel between areas linked to Covid cases.
Asked why the boundary wasn't extended yesterday, Hipkins said there wasn't time to do it then but it was a decision made out of an "abundance of caution" and the evidence suggested that the outbreak was still relatively contained.
Meanwhile, there are two new cases in managed isolation and quarantine, public health director Dr Caroline McElnay said, bringing the total number of cases in the Delta outbreak to 1448.
There are 10 active sub-clusters in Auckland, down from 12 yesterday. The two previously active are now dormant.
There are 23 people in hospital, including four in ICU or high dependency unit wards.
Rapid testing 'new tool' in kit
Tests that can detect the presence of Covid-19 in 15 minutes could soon become more common in New Zealand as the battle continues to stop the virus from spreading.
The Government has approved a small pilot scheme at Auckland's Middlemore Hospital that will allow businesses to use rapid antigen testing.
The tests will also be used within the next few days at Auckland City and North Shore hospitals, and be used as a point-of-arrival test in the self-isolation pilots in Auckland and Christchurch.
The Government had been previously sceptical of rapid antigen testing, noting it had poorer sensitivity than conventional testing and was inconsistent with the Government's elimination strategy.
But Associate Minister of Health and Research, Science and Innovation Dr Ayesha Verrall today said the Government's position had changed and this was another tool to be used.
"As more people gain protection through vaccinations, our tool box is changing. Testing is critical in identifying cases quickly and responding effectively to any outbreaks, and we want to harness testing innovation amongst the business community to boost our public health response," Verrall said.
Rapid antigen testing, which has already been introduced at Middlemore Hospital, would be rolled out within days to "high-risk" Auckland City and North Shore hospitals, she said.
"While this technology provides a result quickly, rapid antigen testing tends to be less sensitive at detecting cases - especially in asymptomatic people, or those who are either very early in or towards the end of their infectious period.
"That's why we must ensure a robust system is in place so we don't miss cases. Any people who test positive will be verified with further testing, and managed appropriately - including being linked with healthcare."
She said work was under way at the Ministry of Health to consider how rapid antigen testing could be used.
A report on antigen testing was delivered to Cabinet on Monday from Professor David Murdoch, the next vice-chancellor of Otago University, who is leading the Government's testing advisory group.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Murdoch's work would "form the basis of a new, rigorous testing regime that will be central to our strategy to control the virus, going forward".
The fast-result tests will also be used in the Government's at-home isolation trials for returning travellers in Auckland and Christchurch.
Prof Murdoch said the testing technical advisory group was formed only a month ago, and focused on the rapid review of processes and how new tests and innovations are assessed and provided.
"The main purpose of our review was to ensure that Covid-19 testing was agile and fit for New Zealand's Covid-19 response."
He said although PCR will continue to be the main testing option that will be used, more options need to be looked at, including new innovations.
Rapid movement in technological developments on testing has taken place since the Covid-19 pandemic began, and great advancements are hoped for in the sector - including on other diseases - he said.
Testing must be faster, more adaptable: report
The Government had its Covid-19 testing reviewed by the Ministry of Health's Covid-19 Testing Technical Advisory Group, which conducted interviews in late September, and released the report today.
It said while the performance of the laboratory sector had been very good, Covid-19 testing needed to be more adaptable and the introduction of saliva and rapid antigen testing had been relatively slow. The group urged the Government to set up a dedicated approach for innovation and implementation of new testing technology and strategy to improve their uptake.
"Common themes from the review included the need for better future planning; reduction in silos; a scenario-based testing strategy to help laboratories with planning; a clearer process for accreditation and adoption of new tests; and the urgent need for connection with innovators in the community in order to co-design and implement the testing strategy."
It also called for:
- Additional testing leadership roles
- Testing modelling based on various scenarios
- An assessment of laboratory resilience
- A focus on retaining lab staff
- Facilitation of piloting new testing approaches
- Ongoing external reviews of overseas testing systems
- Public communications strategy
- More technological solutions like e-swab orders, apps and databases for testing and reporting processes
Infected person visited City Mission
The Auckland City Mission has been linked to a person with Covid-19.
The mission, on 23 Union St, in Auckland central was visited by a person with the virus three days ago. They were there on Monday from 9am to midday.
Anyone who was there at the same time is being urged to self-monitor for any Covid symptoms for 14 days after being exposed. If symptoms start to show, get a Covid test immediately.
A spokeswoman for the Auckland City Mission said they had been advised by Auckland Regional Public Health Service (ARPHS) that the risk of transmission was low.
The person who has tested positive was outside in a socially distanced queue, waiting for testing at the time of their visit, she said. "The risk to others at this stage is low and the ARPHS has advised us as such."
She said the City Mission had been following Ministry of Health advice prior to being named as a location of interest, which included regular surveillance testing of staff.
- RNZ and NZ Herald
