A second case of the new COVID-19 Omicron subvariant BA.4 has been detected in New Zealand in a person returning from overseas.
It comes after the first case was identified on Sunday and the health ministry said both people are isolating in their homes.
Meanwhile, there was a rise in COVID-19 cases on Monday with 6636 new infections and 480 hospitalisations reported.
Another seven COVID-19 deaths were reported, which included people who had died over the previous two days.
What you need to know:
- All of New Zealand is at orange in the COVID Protection Framework.
- New Zealand recorded 6636 new community COVID cases on Monday.
- Seven additional deaths of people with COVID-19 were reported.
- There are 480 people in hospital, 12 of whom are in ICU.
- Location of community cases (PCR & RAT): Northland (141), Auckland (1,956), Waikato (423), Bay of Plenty (215), Lakes (105), Hawke’s Bay (167), MidCentral (266), Whanganui (68), Taranaki (206), Tairāwhiti (77), Wairarapa (71), Capital and Coast (419), Hutt Valley (179), Nelson Marlborough (275), Canterbury (1,120), South Canterbury (98), Southern (784), West Coast (63), Unknown (3).
- Locations of hospitalisations: Northland: 27; Waitemata: 78; Counties Manukau: 64; Auckland: 90; Waikato: 35; Bay of Plenty: 26; Lakes: 1; Tairāwhiti: 3; Hawke’s Bay: 11; Taranaki: 4; Whanganui: 2; MidCentral: 9; Wairarapa: 2; Hutt Valley: 6; Capital and Coast: 11; Nelson Marlborough: 8; Canterbury: 74; South Canterbury: 4; West Coast: 1; Southern: 24.
These live updates are now over.
1:07pm - Here is the latest data from the Ministry of Health on the outbreak and vaccination campaign:
Vaccinations administered in New Zealand
- Vaccines administered to date: 4,026,626 first doses; 3,977,986 second doses; 31,789 third primary doses; 2,630,828 booster doses: 261,619 paediatric first doses and 116,510 paediatric second doses
- Vaccines administered yesterday: 19 first doses; 15 second doses; 0 third primary doses; 458 booster doses; 31 paediatric first doses and 337 paediatric second doses
People vaccinated
- All Ethnicities (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 4,056,287 first dose (96.4%); 4,007,035 second dose (95.2%), 2,626,808 boosted (70.9% of those eligible)
- Māori (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 521,019 first dose (91.2%); 504,047 second dose (88.3%), 234,581 boosted (54.6% of those eligible)
- Pacific Peoples (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 281,873 first dose (98.3%); 276,987 second dose (96.6%), 139,928 boosted (56.9% of those eligible)
- 5 to 11-year-olds all ethnicities: 258,827 first dose (54.3%); 113,756 second dose (23.9%)
- 5 to 11-year-olds - Māori: 40,807 first dose (35.3%); 12,915 second dose (11.2%)
- 5 to 11-year-olds - Pacific Peoples: 23,492 first dose (47.6%); 6,512 second dose (13.2%).
Note that the number for “People vaccinated” differs slightly from “Vaccines administered” as it includes those that have been vaccinated overseas.
Vaccination rates for all DHBs*
- Northland DHB: first dose (90.1%); second dose (88%); boosted (67.6%)
- Auckland DHB: first dose (99.2%); second dose (98.3%); boosted (72.9%)
- Counties Manukau DHB: first dose (96.2%); second dose (95%); boosted (65.8%)
- Waitemata DHB: first dose (96.5%); second dose (95.6%); boosted (70.7%)
- Waikato DHB: first dose (95.1%); second dose (93.6%); boosted (66.5%)
- Bay of Plenty DHB: first dose (95.1%); second dose (93.4%); boosted (65.8%)
- Lakes DHB: first dose (93.2%); second dose (91.4%); boosted (66.2%)
- MidCentral DHB: first dose (96.4%); second dose (95.2%); boosted (72%)
- Tairāwhiti DHB: first dose (93.1%); second dose (91%); boosted (65.8%)
- Whanganui DHB: first dose (91.9%); second dose (90.4%); boosted (71.4%)
- Hawke’s Bay DHB: first dose (97.2%); second dose (95.6%); boosted (69.6%)
- Taranaki DHB: first dose (94.6%); second dose (93.3%); boosted (68%)
- Wairarapa DHB: first dose (96.4%); second dose (95%); boosted (72.8%)
- Capital & Coast DHB: first dose (98.5%); second dose (97.8%); boosted (79.3%)
- Hutt Valley DHB: first dose (96.6%); second dose (95.7%); boosted (74.8%)
- Nelson Marlborough DHB: first dose (96.4%); second dose (95.2%); boosted (73.2%)
- West Coast DHB: first dose (92.7%); second dose (91.3%); boosted (71.4%)
- Canterbury DHB: first dose (99.7%); second dose (98.9%); boosted (74.3%)
- South Canterbury DHB: first dose (94.7%); second dose (93.7%); boosted (74.3%)
- Southern DHB: first dose (98.5%); second dose (97.4%); boosted (73.1%)
*Partially and second doses percentages are for those 12+. Boosted percentages are for 18+ who have become eligible 3 months after having their second dose or 16 and 17 year olds who have become eligible 6 months after having their second dose.
Hospitalisations
- Cases in hospital: total number 480: Northland: 27; Waitemata: 78; Counties Manukau: 64; Auckland: 90; Waikato: 35; Bay of Plenty: 26; Lakes: 1; Tairāwhiti: 3; Hawke’s Bay: 11; Taranaki: 4; Whanganui: 2; MidCentral: 9; Wairarapa: 2; Hutt Valley: 6; Capital and Coast: 11; Nelson Marlborough: 8; Canterbury: 74; South Canterbury: 4; West Coast: 1; Southern: 24
- *Average age of current hospitalisations: 59
- Cases in ICU or HDU: 12
- Vaccination status of current hospitalisations (Northern Region only, excluding Emergency Departments): Unvaccinated or not eligible (41 cases / 16%); partially immunised <7 days from second dose or have only received one dose (7 cases / 3%); double vaccinated at least 7 days before being reported as a case (73 cases / 29%); Received booster at least 7 days before being reported as a case (125 cases / 50%); unknown (5 cases / 2%)
*Please note the average age of current hospitalisations is for the Northern Region admissions only at this stage. This data is recorded and extracted from the same source as the vaccination status of patients in Northern Region hospitals.
We are currently working on a data solution which would include the average age of current hospitalisations from additional DHBs.
Cases
- Seven day rolling average of community cases: 7,553
- Seven day rolling average (as at same day last week): 8,355
- Number of new community cases: 6,636
- Number of new community cases (PCR): 161
- Number of new community cases (RAT): 6,475
- Location of new community cases (PCR & RAT): Northland (141), Auckland (1,956), Waikato (423), Bay of Plenty (215), Lakes (105), Hawke’s Bay (167), MidCentral (266), Whanganui (68), Taranaki (206), Tairāwhiti (77), Wairarapa (71), Capital and Coast (419), Hutt Valley (179), Nelson Marlborough (275), Canterbury (1,120), South Canterbury (98), Southern (784), West Coast (63), Unknown (3)
- Number of new cases identified at the border: 90
- Number of active community cases (total): 52,860 (cases identified in the past 7 days and not yet classified as recovered)
- Confirmed cases (total): 940,151
Please note, the Ministry of Health’s daily reported cases may differ slightly from those reported at a DHB or local public health unit level. This is because of different reporting cut off times and the assignment of cases between regions, for example when a case is tested outside their usual region of residence. Total numbers will always be the formal daily case tally as reported to the WHO.
Tests
- Number of PCR tests total (last 24 hours): 2,426
- Number of Rapid Antigen Tests reported total (last 24 hours): 11,668
- PCR tests rolling average (last 7 days): 3,310
- Number of Rapid Antigen Tests dispatched (last 7 days as of 2 May 2022): 1.6 million.
1:06pm - The Ministry of Health has provided an update on the COVID-19 related deaths:
Today we are sadly reporting the deaths of seven people with COVID-19. The deaths being reported today include people who have died over the previous two days.
These deaths take the total number of publicly reported deaths with COVID-19 to 757 and the 7-day rolling average of reported deaths is 11.
Of the people whose deaths we are reporting today, three people were from Auckland; one from Waikato; one from Bay of Plenty; one from Wairarapa and one from Canterbury.
One person was in their 40s; one in their 50s; three in their 80s and two were aged over 90.
Of these people, one was a woman and six were men.
Out of respect, we will be making no further comment.
1:05pm - The Ministry of Health has provided an update on the border case with Omicron BA.4 variant:
A second person who has travelled from overseas to New Zealand has been confirmed as having the BA.4 variant of Omicron.
Both identified cases are currently isolating at their homes.
BA.4 has been reported in southern Africa and Europe, and in New South Wales. The arrival of this sub-variant in New Zealand is not unexpected. At this stage, the public health settings already in place to manage other Omicron variants are assessed to be appropriate for managing BA.4 and no changes are required.
1:02pm - The Ministry of Health has revealed COVID cases have risen in New Zealand with 6636 new infections and 480 people in hospital.
The health ministry also said seven people have died with COVID-19 on Monday taking the total number of publicly reported deaths with COVID-19 to 757 and the 7-day rolling average of reported deaths is 11.
They also announced a second case with the Omicron BA.4 variant in New Zealand.
Of the new community cases, Northland (141), Auckland (1,956), Waikato (423), Bay of Plenty (215), Lakes (105), Hawke’s Bay (167), MidCentral (266), Whanganui (68), Taranaki (206), Tairāwhiti (77), Wairarapa (71), Capital and Coast (419), Hutt Valley (179), Nelson Marlborough (275), Canterbury (1,120), South Canterbury (98), Southern (784), West Coast (63), Unknown (3)
The ministry announced there are 480 people in hospital with 12 in ICU or HDU.
Of the 480 people in hospital: Northland: 27; Waitemata: 78; Counties Manukau: 64; Auckland: 90; Waikato: 35; Bay of Plenty: 26; Lakes: 1; Tairāwhiti: 3; Hawke’s Bay: 11; Taranaki: 4; Whanganui: 2; MidCentral: 9; Wairarapa: 2; Hutt Valley: 6; Capital and Coast: 11; Nelson Marlborough: 8; Canterbury: 74; South Canterbury: 4; West Coast: 1; Southern: 24
There are 90 new COVID cases recorded at the border in Managed Isolation and Quarantine.
12:55pm - There is no press conference planned for Monday, so we are just waiting on a statement with all the data. We'll bring that to you the moment we get it.
12:50pm - Here's the most recent information provided by the Ministry of Health about what the COVID-19 situation looked like after Sunday's figures:
12:45pm - Air New Zealand chief executive Greg Foran has called for the Government to axe COVID-19 pre-departure testing.
Foran said it "adds friction" requiring people to have COVID-19 tests to come to New Zealand and he would like the Government to remove the requirement.
"I wouldn't say it quite as clear cut as saying that pre-departure test is a complete handbrake on people travelling," he told AM host Melissa Chan-Green.
"We are seeing people, certainly very keen to get out and travel and reconnect with friends and family. There is no doubt it does add some friction and that friction is both an inconvenience in having to get something else completed before you travel and then obviously the cost.
"We would much prefer if we didn't have pre-departure testing, either for countries that people are flying to and that isn't in New Zealand's control, but definitely coming into New Zealand, which is in our control."
Read the full story here.
12:39pm - Kia ora, good afternoon and welcome to Newshub's live updates of the COVID-19 outbreak for Monday.
