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Home / New Zealand

Covid-19 Delta variant: 34 new community cases today

NZ Herald
26 Dec, 2021 09:51 PM5 mins to read

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There were 34 new cases of COVID-19 in the community on Monday, with low testing on Boxing Day. Video / Dean Purcell / Jed Bradley / Michael Craig / Getty

There are 34 new cases of Covid-19 in the community today.

Among the new cases, 21 are in Auckland, seven in Waikato, two in Bay of Plenty, three in Lakes and one new case in Canterbury.

There are now 41 people in hospital, including eight people in intensive care units.

Auckland's Middlemore Hospital has the most patients at 21, Auckland Hospotal has 15 and Tauranga has five.

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In addition, there have been four new cases of the highly infectious Omicron variant detected at the border.

The total number of Omicron cases at MIQ facilities now stands at 49.

Overall, there were 10 cases detected at the border over the past 24 hours.

They included six arrivals in Auckland and four who are staying at MIQ facilities in Christchurch.

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Four of the people who tested positive at the border arrived from the United States on Christmas Eve, while three others arrived from Australia on the same day.

In addition, there was an arrival from the United Arab Emirates on December 21 who tested positive after the routine day 3 test and an arrival from Singapore on Christmas Eve.

One person who arrived on Christmas Day from Egypt, with a layover in United Arab Emirates, has also tested positive.

In Auckland, health and welfare providers are now supporting 1495 people who are isolating at home. Of them, 418 have tested positive.

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In Waikato, four of the new community cases are in Te Kūiti, two are in Hamilton and one is in Te Kauwhata. Four were known contacts of previous cases and a fifth case has also been linked, health officials have reported. The other cases remain under investigation.

Both of today's new Bay of Plenty cases are in Tauranga, including a known contact of a previous case. The epidemiological link for the other case remains under investigation.

All three of the new Lakes cases are known contacts of previous cases and are located in Rotorua.

The Canterbury case is also a contact of an existing case. Of the region's two active cases, both are isolation, according to the Ministry of Health.

There have been no concerning wastewater testing results over the past 24 hours.

Across the nation, there were only 5716 Covid-19 tests administered, 2249 of which were in Auckland. Health officials, however, say the low numbers are likely attributable to Boxing Day falling on a Sunday when many testing centres were closed.

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Ninety-four per cent of the eligible population has now received a first jab, while 91 per cent are double-jabbed nationwide.

However, there were only 96 first doses yesterday, along with 740 second jabs, eight third primary doses and 903 booster shots.

The low vaccination numbers are also reflective of vaccination centres being closed on Boxing Day, officials said.

Health officials will be hoping for stronger vaccination numbers tomorrow - especially in Hawke's Bay, which is just 192 doses short of reaching its 90 per cent double-jabbed milestone.

Ministry of Health officials have again reminded people the importance of getting tested, even for those who are on holiday.

"Anyone with any symptoms that could be Covid-19, is asked to get a test, and remain where they are until they receive a negative result and are feeling better," officials said today in the daily update. "For those away on holiday who test positive you will be contacted regarding your ongoing care."

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Health officials have also renewed their request that people wear masks and maintain physical distance when out and about in crowded or poorly ventilated indoor spaces.

Earlier today

After taking a brief break for Christmas - lumping two days worth of new Covid-19 cases into one report yesterday - the Ministry of Health's daily report is set to return to normal this afternoon.

Today's 1pm release comes in the wake of 126 new community cases announced on Boxing Day, as well as a warning from health officials that attendees of a South Auckland Christmas party last week need to get tested.

Yesterday's two-day total included 88 community cases in Auckland, 17 in Waikato, six in Bay of Plenty, 13 in Lakes, and one each in Taranaki and Northland.

There were also seven new cases of the highly infectious Omicron variant detected at the border, bringing the total Omicron cases in MIQ facilities to 45.

As of yesterday, 47 people were battling Covid-19 in hospital, with seven of them in an intensive care or high dependency unit. Most of the patients were at hospitals in the Auckland region, but there are two in Waikato and four in Tauranga.

Health officials also turned their focus yesterday to a Christmas party on Thursday in Ōtara. A guest at the party, held at East Tamaki Community Hall, has since tested positive for Covid-19.

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Everyone who attended the gathering between 4pm and 11pm is now considered a close contact.

As such, health officials are asking them to self-isolate and get tested immediately, as well as on day 5, which will be tomorrow.

Yesterday's report saw barely a trickle of Covid-19 jabs - not entirely surprising as vaccination centres were closed for Christmas Day.

Five people got their first jab and 52 got their second, while 49 got a booster and one had a third primary dose, according to the Ministry of Health.

However, there was still a major vaccination milestone to report, with 80 per cent of eligible Māori now fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

As of yesterday, 454,492 Māori had received their second dose.

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Both the Waikato and Hawke's Bay regions have also now reached the 90 per cent goal for eligible residents who are double-vaxxed.

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