Covid 19 Delta outbreak: Person with Covid-19 dies in Tauranga, seven new cases in BOP, one in Rotorua

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A patient with Covid-19 has died at Tauranga Hospital, the country's 48th Covid-related death.

The Ministry or Health said in their 1pm statement: "The family has requested that no further details be released and, out of respect for those wishes, we will be making no further comment at this time.
 
"Our thoughts are with the patient's whānau and friends at this deeply sad time."

In regards to Covid-related deaths, the ministry includes all cases that died who were classified as an active case of Covid-19 at the time of death. In some of these cases, the underlying cause of death may have been unrelated to Covid-19.

There are seven new Covid-19 community cases in the Bay of Plenty and one in Rotorua today. All the Bay cases are in Tauranga.

Four of the Bay cases are linked to a previously reported case, while the other cases are still being investigated for potential links.

Contacts are being identified and will be contacted for testing and isolation advice.

The Rotorua case is still being investigated.

There are 74 new cases in New Zealand with 61 in hospital, including four in ICU.

There is one case in Tauranga Hospital.

There are several new locations of interest for the region. Click here.

Auckland border lifted

After four months locked behind the Auckland border, residents of New Zealand's biggest city are finally free to flee the region's boundary from today.

It is the first time the borders around the city have been lifted since the country was plunged into level 4 lockdown on August 17, with thousands of people expected to flood out by air and by road.

The new-found freedom to travel in and out of Auckland has made Christmas merrier for some Bay of Plenty families.

Among those in the exodus south will be Chelsea Cain, who will visit her parents at the weekend.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has previously warned more cases are expected to pop up around the country once Auckland's border lifts.

The traffic out of Auckland this morning was relatively free-flowing, but the roads are expected to get busier as schools finish for the year and Christmas draws near.

The Government has also launched an advertising campaign asking people to come up with an isolation plan in case a family member does contract the virus.

Taranaki cluster

Aucklanders have spread their wings and are now free to head into all corners of the country as new cases continue to emerge outside the city.

Taranaki DHB has today confirmed there are "a number of positive Covid-19 infections" linked to the Eltham case at the weekend.

There are 11 Covid cases in one small South Taranaki school as the region battles a burgeoning outbreak.

It comes after two new cases were revealed in Eltham and Hāwera last night.

Where to get tested

Rotorua Covid-19 Community Testing Centre, Copthorne Hotel, Entrance off Ward Avenue, Rotorua. Open Monday to Sunday. 8.30am to 3pm.

Taupō Covid-19 Community Testing Centre, 79 Miro St, Taupō. Open Monday to Sunday. 8.30am to 3pm.

For Bay of Plenty testing locations click here.