7 Feb 2022

Covid-19 update: 188 new community cases, 27 in MIQ

1:39 pm on 7 February 2022

There are 188 new community cases of Covid-19 being reported today - 20 fewer than yesterday.

Many coronaviruses, cause of Covid-19, 3d illustration. (Photo by CHRISTOPH BURGSTEDT/SCIENCE PHOT / CBR / Science Photo Library via AFP)

Photo: 123rf.com

In a statement, the Ministry of Health said the new cases are in Northland (16), Auckland (117), Waikato (15), Tairāwhiti (1), Lakes (12), Bay of Plenty (20), Hawke's Bay (1), Mid Central (1), Hutt Valley (2) and Canterbury (3).

That brings the total number of current community cases to 13,266 - 9681 of those are epidemiologically linked.

The total number of active cases is 1865.

In total there have been 17,612 confirmed cases.

There are 14 people in hospital, with one in ICU. One is in Waikato, two in Rotorua, one in Christchurch and the rest are in Auckland hospitals.

The average age of the current hospitalisations is 62.

In Northland, seven of the 16 new cases today were first announced in yesterday's update.

Of the nine remaining cases, six are in Kerikeri and three are in Whangārei. The nine cases are under investigation to determine whether they are linked to existing cases, the ministry said.

In Auckland, health and welfare providers were now supporting 2495 people in the region to isolate at home, including 997 cases.

In Waikato, 12 of the new cases are linked to previous cases and three under investigation.

Of these new cases, there are nine in Hamilton, one in Ohaupo, one in Te Kūiti, one in Huntly, one in Waimiha, and locations for the remaining three are under investigation, the ministry said.

In Tairāwhiti, the one new case is a household contact of an existing case and was already isolating when they tested positive.

In Lakes, 11 of the 12 new cases are linked to known cases and one is under investigation. Two cases are in Taupō and 10 are in Rotorua.

In the Bay of Plenty, 13 of the 20 new cases are linked to known cases and seven are under investigation; one of which is likely to be reclassified as historical, the ministry said.

"Eighteen of these cases are in Tauranga and two cases are in the Eastern Bay of Plenty."

The one new case in the Hawke's Bay remains under investigation.

In Mid Central, the one new case remains under investigation for links to a previously reported case but had recently returned to the city after travelling outside the region, the ministry revealed.

It said at this stage, it is believed there are only a small number of close contacts associated with this case, who will be contacted directly. The case is isolating at home.

The two new cases in Hutt Valley are currently under investigation.

And in Canterbury, the three new cases are close contacts of known cases and were already isolating when they tested positive.

The ministry said the number of active contacts being managed in total is 5183 - 79 percent of those received an outbound call from contact tracers.

On Covid-19 vaccinations, 24,935 booster doses were administered yesterday on Waitangi Day - taking the total to date to 1,586,950. Also, 1706 paediatric doses were given yesterday, bringing the total to 199,174, the ministry said.

It said with Omicron in New Zealand, one of the best things people can do is get their booster as soon as it is due.

"Boosters lower your chances of getting very sick and being hospitalised. Being boosted also helps slow the spread of the virus. If you're over 18 and your booster is due, please get it now."

The ministry said the most common early symptoms of the Omicron variant are a sore or scratchy throat, and a runny nose.

There are no unusual detections to report from wastewater testing.

Several new locations of interest were added to the Ministry of Health's website today, including Air New Zealand flights, a Wellington restaurant, a cafe in Taupō and a mosque in Hamilton.

Meanwhile on Saturday, a record 243 community cases were reported - the highest one-day number since November. Yesterday the numbers dropped slightly to 208.

Epidemiologist Professor Michael Baker believes the daily case numbers may not reflect the true extent of community spread.

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