6 Feb 2022

Covid-19 update: Number of new community cases in NZ drops to 208

1:19 pm on 6 February 2022

The number of Covid-19 cases in the community has dropped from yesterday's record high, with 208 new cases reported today.

Samples of the coronavirus (Covid-19) PCR gargle test are pictured before further examination in the LifeBrain laboratory in Vienna on February 1, 2022.

Photo: AFP

In a statement released this afternoon, the Ministry of Health said today's new cases were in Northland (7), Auckland (128), Waikato (49), Rotorua (1), Bay of Plenty (11), Hawke's Bay (5), Wellington (3), Nelson Marlborough (3) and South Canterbury (1).

The 49 new cases in Waikato include 23 which have been linked to previously confirmed cases. Twenty of the cases are in Hamilton, two in Ohaupo, one in Cambridge, one in Huntly, one in Matamata, one in Walton, and the remaining under investigation.

Today's case with a South Canterbury address is currently in a managed isolation and quarantine facility in Christchurch, and their Timaru-based household contacts are all isolating and have tested negative. The Ministry said no Timaru locations of interest are expected from this case.

A record 243 community cases were reported yesterday, the highest one-day number since November.

There are 12 people in hospital, with one in ICU. Two are in Waikato, two in Rotorua, one in Christchurch and the rest are in Auckland hospitals.

There were also 19 new cases identified at the border today, with travellers arriving from Pakistan, Italy, UAE, Singapore, Hong Kong, India, Australia, USA, Brazil and Qatar.

There have now been 17,397 cases in New Zealand since the pandemic began.

There were 48,947 booster doses given yesterday, with a total of 1,561,837 given in New Zealand so far. There were also 560 first doses; 1101 second doses and 4,807 paediatric doses given yesterday.

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