Covid-19: Eight new Rotorua cases, eye clinic and bus route locations of interest

There were eight new cases of Covid-19 in Rotorua and none in the Bay of Plenty Health Board region on Friday.

Seven of the Rotorua cases are linked to previously reported cases, and the remaining case is still being investigated to determine any links.

All cases are isolating at home or in managed accommodation.

There are 23 new community cases in New Zealand and 18 in hospital and one in ICU.

There are several new locations of interest for the region.

Locations of interest

An eye clinic and a bus route are among new locations of interest for Rotorua.

The Rotorua Eye Clinic is a location for January 11 between 1.37pm and 2.27pm.

The Route 11 [Bus numner 1278] from McKee Ave Fenton Park to Arawa St is listed for 12.54pm to 1.10pm.

Two Rotorua bars and a citizens club have also been added to the list of "high risk" locations of interest.

Anyone at the following locations at these times should self isolate and test immediately and on day five after being exposed.

Kasper's Sports Bar (Gaming Room) on January 18 between 7.30pm and 8.30pm, as well as 6.30pm and 8pm; Rotorua Citizens Club on January 15 between 9am and 4pm, and Vault Bar on January 13 between 5.40pm and 12.45am.

Two popular Rotorua recreational areas have also been announced as new locations of interest.

The Ministry of Health advised anyone who was at the Rotorua Lakefront on January 13 between 6.15pm and 9.30pm and January 15 between 10am and 2pm to self-monitor for Covid-19 symptoms for 10 days after they were exposed.

If symptoms develop, get a test and stay at home until you get a negative test result.

Also anyone who was at Lake Tarawera on January 13 between 3pm and 6pm or January 15 between 2.30pm and 5pm should also self-monitor.

A Ministry of Health spokesperson said Lake Tarawera was added as a location of interest "out of an abundance of caution".

This was due to the large number of people who were at the lake at the time, the amount of time the case spent there, and the general movement of people at the lake.

"Anyone who was at Lake Tarawera at the specified time is asked to self-monitor for symptoms for 10 days from January 13."

This advice does not include people who were on boats that did not have contact with any people they did not know.

There are several new locations of interest for the region.

Omicron confirmed

The Ministry of Health has confirmed the Palmerston North Covid case reported yesterday has the Omicron variant.

Covid has also been detected in wastewater in Tairāwhiti despite no cases in the region as a Palmerston North supermarket becomes the latest potential exposure site for an assumed Omicron case.

It is understood the ministry will also announce changes to self-isolation.

Read more here.

Change to isolation requirements

The ministry said to help address the increased infectiousness of Omicron, as an interim measure, the isolation time for all Covid-19 cases is being extended to 14 days. It was previously 10 days.

Isolation periods for cases and close contacts remain under review and are planned to change as part of the response to an Omicron community outbreak.