2 Feb 2022

Covid-19 update: 142 new community cases in New Zealand today, 54 at the border

1:12 pm on 2 February 2022

There are 142 new cases of Covid-19 in the community and 54 at the border, the Ministry of Health is reporting today.

3D render of a medical background with abstract Covid 19 virus cell with faded effect

Photo: 123rf.com

The new community cases are in Northland (11), Auckland (103), Waikato (12), Rotorua (2), Bay of Plenty (5), Taranaki (3), Hawke's Bay (1),Nelson Marlborough (2), Canterbury (3).

Nine of the 11 new Northland cases are in Kerikeri.

In a statement, the Ministry of Health said six people are in hospital with the virus. None are in intensive care.

Today's 54 cases in MIQ arrived in New Zealand from India, Germany, Iran, USA, South Africa, Australia, UAE, Egypt, Singapore, Italy, Sri Lanka, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon and Pakistan.

Yesterday there were 126 new community cases reported and 79 cases in MIQ.

There have now been 16,442 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in New Zealand.

There were 1218 first vaccine doses; 2248 second doses; 8636 paediatric doses and 38,332 booster doses given yesterday.

Earlier the government announced the Arts and Culture Event Support Scheme would be boosted by $70.7 million from its current $22.5m allocation.

Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson said yesterday a total of 123 million rapid antigen tests had been ordered through to June, and the government had enough on order to deal with a widespread outbreak.

In a statement, Associate Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall said modelling suggested that during the peak of the Omicron outbreak as many as nine million rapid antigen tests will be used each week.

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