All Access. All in one subscription. From $2 per week
Subscribe now

All Access Weekly

From $2 per week
Pay just
$15.75
$2
per week ongoing
Subscribe now
BEST VALUE

All Access Annual

Pay just
$449
$49
per year ongoing
Subscribe now
Learn more
30
Hawkes Bay Today
  • Hawke's Bay Today home
  • Latest news
  • Sport
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Video
  • Death notices
  • Classifieds

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Sport
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Residential property listings
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology

Locations

  • Napier
  • Hastings
  • Havelock North
  • Central Hawke's Bay
  • Tararua

Media

  • Video
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-Editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

Weather

  • Napier
  • Hastings
  • Dannevirke
  • Gisborne

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Hawkes Bay Today

Covid-19 Delta outbreak: 74 cases, Waikato alert level eased, school return plan for November 15

Derek Cheng
By Derek Cheng
Senior Writer·NZ Herald·
27 Oct, 2021 12:48 AM7 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
52CommentsSave

    Share this article

Focus: NZ Delta Outbreak | Wednesday 27th Oct Wrap
There were 74 Covid cases in the community today, as the Government revealed a tentative plan for primary school children to return to classes on November 15. Video / NZ Herald / Getty ...
Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
/
Duration 0:00
Loaded: 0%
0:00
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time -0:00
 
1x
    • Chapters
    • descriptions off, selected
    • captions settings, opens captions settings dialog
    • captions off, selected

      This is a modal window.

      Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.

      Text
      Text Background
      Caption Area Background
      Font Size
      Text Edge Style
      Font Family

      End of dialog window.

      This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button.

      Malachi Subecz murder; energy sector plans | NZ Herald Afternoon Update: July 7, 2025

      UP NEXT:

      Autoplay in
      2
      Disable Autoplay
      Cancel Video
      There were 74 Covid cases in the community today, as the Government revealed a tentative plan for primary school children to return to classes on November 15. Video / NZ Herald / Getty
      NOW PLAYING • Focus: NZ Delta Outbreak | Wednesday 27th Oct Wrap
      There were 74 Covid cases in the community today, as the Government revealed a tentative plan for primary school children to return to classes on November 15. Video / NZ Herald / Getty ...

      There are 74 Covid cases in the community today, as the Government reveals a tentative plan for primary schoolchildren to return to classes on November 15.

      Today's cases include 68 in Auckland and six in Waikato, all in Hamilton and all linked to previous cases.

      Two close contacts of person who travelled to Blenheim from Waikato have returned negative results, two others are awaiting results.

      Waikato alert level eases from midnight

      From 11.59pm tonight restrictions will ease "a little" for Waikato, Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins told today's 1pm briefing.

      All Access. All in one subscription. From $2 per week
      Subscribe now

      All Access Weekly

      From $2 per week
      Pay just
      $15.75
      $2
      per week ongoing
      Subscribe now
      BEST VALUE

      All Access Annual

      Pay just
      $449
      $49
      per year ongoing
      Subscribe now
      Learn more
      30
      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.
      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.

      People can meet in outdoor gatherings from two households and with social distancing. Recreational activities such as golfing will be allowed.

      Early learning services can reopen with a maximum of 10 people in each bubble.

      It's the same restrictions that Auckland is under. People will not be allowed to travel outside Waikato.

      Cabinet will review the alert level on Monday, along with the review on Auckland restrictions.

      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.

      Northland remains at alert level 2, but people in the region should remain "vigilant" and monitor locations of interest and for symptoms, Hipkins said.

      The South Island remains in alert level 2.

      Hipkins said he is pleased to hear positive reports from those who have returned to school this week, who are preparing for NCEA exams.

      November 15 tentative date for school return

      Hipkins said he asked education officials to work with representatives from primary schools over the coming week, on the basis of an indicative start date of November 15 for primary schools opening, subject to "events closer to the time". This relates to Years 1-8.

      It would involve groups of students attending on different days to keep numbers smaller, and outdoor lessons, Hipkins said.

      Also being considered was whether early learning centres could extend numbers from 10 to 20 on November 15.

      The Government was not at the point where it was comfortable for opening primary schools yet. The November 15 date was not "locked in stone", but he said it might be a realistic timeframe for having more primary school students back at school.

      Hipkins said secondary schools would be "pretty full" if they brought back Year 9 and 10 students, but he would like to see them back at school this year if possible.

      There was a lot of parental anxiety about returning students and he could reassure them the Government was considering things "thoroughly".

      Hipkins said we are more likely to see cases emerging outside of Auckland.

      He said the best thing New Zealanders can do is to get vaccinated to enjoy greater freedoms over summer.

      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.

      Hipkins said "stamping the virus out" remained the best course of action for places outside of Auckland until vaccination rates improved.

      Hipkins said cases in Waikato were in a more difficult group of cases to contact-trace, but would not share any more details on what that meant.

      Director general of health Dr Ashley Bloomfield said there were no more cases in Northland, and all close contacts of cases are isolating and none have returned a positive test.

      Some cases are isolating in a refined area in the Far North and local health providers are in regular contact with them, Bloomfield said.

      Hipkins said as soon as advice is received that booster shots are required, the Government is "ready to go" with the rollout.

      Bloomfield said that all going well officials were planning to roll out booster shots to those who were first to receive their vaccine, "this side of Christmas".

      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.

      Hospitalisations 'very manageable'

      Bloomfield said health officials were increasing capacity for home isolation and lots of people could do so safely. He said space is still available in quarantine facilities in Auckland if people need it.

      Bloomfield said hospitalisation numbers are "very manageable" and even dropped over the weekend. Alert level 3 settings are keeping those rates low, he said.

      Around half of the daily cases were Māori, about 30 per cent are NZ European and 20 per cent Pasifika and other ethnic groups.

      US approves Pfizer vaccine for kids aged 5-11

      Bloomfield said health officials were expecting information from Pfizer in first two weeks of November about vaccines for children aged 5-11, and then advice would be given to
      ministers. US health officials today cleared the vaccine for children.

      Pfizer is making an application for a child version of its vaccine, and places in the US have it ready to go should it be approved for use, Bloomfield said. This will affect when the vaccine can roll out here.

      Medsafe was already looking at public data from Pfizer about trials it has carried out on children, but it has not received the formal application.

      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.

      Because it is a new and younger age group being considered for the vaccine, Medsafe will do a thorough process of assessing risks and benefits, and Medsafe may refer it to a an independent advisory group for review, Bloomfield said.

      Ministers are meeting this afternoon to discuss changes to the length of MIQ stays, which will be announced tomorrow, Hipkins said.

      A total of 3 million Kiwis are now fully vaccinated against Covid, the Ministry of Health said in today's update.

      There are four new border cases, three of which are historical.

      The first case flew directly from the United States on October 21 and is isolating in Christchurch.

      The three historical cases flew via Singapore and tested positive on day 6. They are also in Christchurch.

      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.

      The other two also flew from the United States on October 21 and tested positive on arrival. The two are in Auckland.

      There were 12,639 vaccines issued in Auckland yesterday.

      There have been no new wastewater detections.

      Yesterday there were 79 community cases, including four in Waikato - all of which were expected and linked.

      Read More

      • Covid 19 Delta outbreak: When Deputy Prime Minister ...
      • Covid-19 Delta outbreak: The 90% Project - How to enable ...
      • Covid-19 Delta outbreak: See how many jabs your DHB ...
      • Covid 19 Delta outbreak: The 90% Project - Why young ...
      • Covid 19 Delta outbreak: Derek Cheng: Hundreds of cases ...

      Six cases in Waikato remain unlinked, and two bakeries were added as locations of interest in Tokoroa. They were visited by the case who spent the night in Tokoroa before flying to Blenheim from Rotorua Airport.

      Waikato is in its fourth week at level 3.

      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.

      That is likely to be extended unless public health officials believe they have a ring around all of the cases, both detected and undetected.

      Much of that will depend on how likely they think the unlinked cases will be resolved, and whether they believe they already know all of the close contacts.

      Vaccination coverage is also a factor. The first dose coverage of eligible people living in the Waikato DHB region is 85 per cent, while the second dose coverage is 68 per cent.

      Hipkins has previously cautioned about sending Year 1 to 10 students in Auckland back to school, given that most of them cannot be vaccinated because they are under 12.

      That has called into question whether they will return to the classroom at all this year.

      Developmental paediatrician Dr Jin Russell has outlined a number of measures that can reduce the risk of school spread.

      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.

      The greatest risk of transmission is from adult to child, rather than child to child.

      This risk will be reduced with the Government's mandate for education workers to be fully vaccinated, though they have until November 15 to get a first dose, and until January 1 to get a second dose.

      Russell has also stressed the importance of ventilation and filtration in classrooms, noting the use of 51,000 air filters in Victoria.

      Hipkins has previously said it's not viable to install air filters in 35,000 classrooms in New Zealand because it would cost millions of dollars. In some circumstances, open doors and windows would achieve the same results.

      He has previously said he expected more face mask use in educational settings, at least in the short term.

      Parts of Waikato have been in alert level 3 for just over three weeks, after cases filtered out of Auckland and infected people in Hamilton, Raglan and Te Awamutu.

      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.
      Covid
      Save

        Share this article

      52

      Comments

      All Access. All in one subscription. From $2 per week
      Subscribe now

      All Access Weekly

      From $2 per week
      Pay just
      $15.75
      $2
      per week ongoing
      Subscribe now
      BEST VALUE

      All Access Annual

      Pay just
      $449
      $49
      per year ongoing
      Subscribe now
      Learn more
      30

      Latest from Hawkes Bay Today

      Hawkes Bay Today

      Teen killer found after escaping custody by fleeing health centre with cast on arm

      Hawkes Bay Today

      The council with just one candidate as deadline for nominations looms

      Hawkes Bay Today

      Date set for new Puketapu Bridge to open: 'It means so much to our community'


      Sponsored

      Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.

      Recommended for you

      Young woman jailed for Connor Boyd's death to be released on parole
      New Zealand

      Young woman jailed for Connor Boyd's death to be released on parole

      'A lot of fast food': Mum who stole $500k from employer blew most on takeaways
      New Zealand

      'A lot of fast food': Mum who stole $500k from employer blew most on takeaways

      Indonesia ferry fire kills three, more than 500 rescued
      World

      Indonesia ferry fire kills three, more than 500 rescued

      'Love you moko': Grieving grandma vows justice for 20yo killed after birthday celebration
      Waikato Herald

      'Love you moko': Grieving grandma vows justice for 20yo killed after birthday celebration

      'Gamechanger': New clinic brings 'hope' to children with neurological disorders
      Rotorua Daily Post

      'Gamechanger': New clinic brings 'hope' to children with neurological disorders

      Businessman dies after fishing trip on Fiordland National Park lake
      New Zealand

      Businessman dies after fishing trip on Fiordland National Park lake



      Latest from Hawkes Bay Today

      Teen killer found after escaping custody by fleeing health centre with cast on arm
      Hawkes Bay Today

      Teen killer found after escaping custody by fleeing health centre with cast on arm

      'Immediate review' will be carried out, Hawke's Bay Regional Prison says.

      21 Jul 03:29 AM
      The council with just one candidate as deadline for nominations looms
      Hawkes Bay Today

      The council with just one candidate as deadline for nominations looms

      21 Jul 02:56 AM
      Date set for new Puketapu Bridge to open: 'It means so much to our community'
      Hawkes Bay Today

      Date set for new Puketapu Bridge to open: 'It means so much to our community'

      21 Jul 01:25 AM


      Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
      Sponsored

      Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

      06 Jul 09:47 PM

      NZ Herald
      • About NZ Herald
      • Meet the journalists
      • Newsletters
      • Classifieds
      • Help & support
      • Contact us
      • House rules
      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms of use
      • Competition terms & conditions
      • Our use of AI
      Subscriber Services
      • Hawke's Bay Today e-edition
      • Manage your print subscription
      • Manage your digital subscription
      • Subscribe to Herald Premium
      • Subscribe to the Hawke's Bay Today
      • Gift a subscription
      • Subscriber FAQs
      • Subscription terms & conditions
      • Promotions and subscriber benefits
      NZME Network
      • Hawke's Bay Today
      • The New Zealand Herald
      • The Northland Age
      • The Northern Advocate
      • Waikato Herald
      • Bay of Plenty Times
      • Rotorua Daily Post
      • Whanganui Chronicle
      • Viva
      • NZ Listener
      • Newstalk ZB
      • BusinessDesk
      • OneRoof
      • Driven Car Guide
      • iHeart Radio
      • Restaurant Hub
      NZME
      • NZME Events
      • About NZME
      • NZME careers
      • Advertise with NZME
      • Digital self-service advertising
      • Book your classified ad
      • Photo sales
      • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
      All Access. All in one subscription. From $2 per week
      Subscribe now

      All Access Weekly

      From $2 per week
      Pay just
      $15.75
      $2
      per week ongoing
      Subscribe now
      BEST VALUE

      All Access Annual

      Pay just
      $449
      $49
      per year ongoing
      Subscribe now
      Learn more
      30
      TOP
      search by queryly Advanced Search