Covid 19 Omicron outbreak: Eight new cases in BOP, one in Rotorua

There are eight new cases of Covid-19 in the Bay of Plenty and one in Rotorua today.

And people in five rows of a flight from Wellington to Rotorua last week are instructed to isolate.

Of the eight Bay of Plenty cases, two are in Tauranga and six are in the Western Bay of Plenty, all linked to previous cases.

The Rotorua case has links established to a previously reported case.

There are 126 cases in New Zealand with eight in hospital.

Locations of interest

People seated in rows 7, 8, 9, 10, or 11 of flight NZ8238 from Wellington to Rotorua on Thursday are being advised to isolate and get tested for Covid-19 immediately.

The passengers are considered close contact from 8.30am to 9.40am. They should have a second test five days after being exposed and record their visit with contact tracers online or by calling Healthline.

It is among several flights around New Zealand listed today as high-risk.

Rotorua Airport has also been named a location of interest for the same day from 9.54am to 10am.

In Tauranga, the Polo in the Bay event at Baypark last Saturday continues to be a location of interest. Patrons of the Polo Lounge Bar from 2pm-4pm, and the Good George Gin Caravan from 2pm to 4.30pm, are considered close contacts and must isolate and test.

All other attendees of the event from 12.57pm to 6.15pm should monitor their condition and get tested if symptoms develop. The event was first listed as a location of interest on Friday.

Yesterday, the Ministry of Health said Omicron was now the "dominant" variant being detected and because of this the specific variant of the virus would no longer be reported alongside case numbers.

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

If you have these symptoms, please get a test, and stay at home until you get a negative result and symptoms are resolved, the ministry said.

Testing and vaccination centre locations can be found on the Healthpoint website.

There are several new locations of interest for the region.

Teacher tests positive at Mount Maunganui early childcare centre

A teacher has tested positive for Covid-19 at an early childcare centre in Mount Maunganui.

BestStart in MacDonald St in Mount Maunganui is now closed after the teacher tested positive for the virus on late Thursday. It is believed to be the Omicron variant, but this has not been confirmed, company deputy chief executive Fiona Hughes said.

The centre was closed on Friday morning and would remain closed until it received further advice from the local district health board and the Ministry of Education. The centre had also been cleaned.

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