Christchurch will remain at alert level 2 despite two new cases of COVID-19 emerging in the city.
COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins says the two cases are not vaccinated and have not regularly been using the QR scanning app. Three households with nine people are being considered close contacts, but the cases have no major exposure points.
One of the cases is a truck driver who has been driving around Christchurch.
What you need to know
- The Ministry of Health said on Thursday morning that two community cases had been found in Christchurch, neither of whom are vaccinated
- Christchurch will remain at alert level 2
- Three households with nine people are being considered close contacts, but the cases have no major exposure points.
- There were 89 new cases on Thursday, with 83 in Auckland, four in Waikato and two in Christchurch
- MIQ stays will be slashed to seven days before three days of home isolation
- Waikato moved to the first step of alert level 3 on Wednesday night, similar to restrictions in Auckland
- The Ministry of Education is looking at a staged return to school for students at alert level 3, with an indicative starting date of November 15
- Click here for all the locations of interest.
These live updates have finished.
9:05pm - The threat of Delta potentially spreading in Christchurch has left locals "worried" and "gutted".
Although the infected pair are now in MIQ, locals are on high alert.
"I personally get the heebie-jeebies when we get into this situation. I now take a lot of vitamin C and herbs," one person tells Newshub.
"I am gutted. Completely and utterly gutted," another says.
Read and watch the full from Newshub's Kaysha Brownlie here.
8:30pm - The New Zealand Film Festival has postponed its Christchurch leg by a week following today's cases.
"We have worked with our venue partners, the Isaac Theatre Royal and Lumière Cinemas, and secured alternative dates - films will remain at the same time and venue, just seven days later than the original session," organisers say.
"Our apologies for any inconvenience and disappointment - especially for people gearing up to go to screenings tomorrow morning! - but we're also so glad that the festival is still able to go ahead at a slightly later date."
7:35pm - Epidemiologist Michael Baker says the Government and South Island leaders could and should have done more to keep COVID-19 out.
"I think there's been very mixed messages from leaders of South Island communities about the benefits of keeping the virus out of the South Island."
Christchurch isn't the first South Island city to have cases of COVID-19 during this outbreak - Blenheim reported one case on Saturday.
"There is no way of guaranteeing that we wouldn't see other cases pop up in other parts of the country," COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins says.
Westland Mayor Bruce Smith has been one southern leader outwardly calling for better protection of the South Island.
"We have been failed and there's no common sense with what's occurred today," he says.
Read and watch the full story from Newshub's Juliet Speedy here.
6:55pm - While home isolation is on the cards for returning Kiwis - but won't be introduced until next year - changes to the MIQ system can't come fast enough for Kiwi Brad Stephenson.
He's on day 13 of his stay at an MIQ facility in Auckland and got a compassionate exemption to see his dying father in Tauranga. But despite returning five negative tests and being double vaccinated, he was only allowed out for two hours, before being carted back to MIQ in Auckland to check out on day 14.
His visit was cut short by two hours because officials seemingly forgot there was a border around Auckland and didn't have the paperwork prepared.
"It's ridiculous," he told Newshub. "But as long as I get to see dad, it's not as bad. If he dies before I see him, well I'll obviously be heartbroken."
Read and watch the full story from Newshub political reporter Jenna Lynch here.
6:20pm - There are three new locations of interest. They are:
- New World Eastridge Mission Bay, October 23 from 1:30pm to 3pm
- West Liquor Westside, October 23 from 4:20pm to 4:40pm
- New World Bishopdale, October 25 from 11:30am to 12:30pm.
6:09pm - A mine worker in Otago is isolating with their partner after they were linked to the Christchurch cases.
OceanaGold said on its Facebook page they were told this morning that the partner of one of their contractors is considered a close contact. The contractor works at the Macraes site in Otago.
"Our priority is the health and wellbeing of our workforce and the communities in which we live and work. The operation has well-established and comprehensive protocols in place to manage this event and immediately commenced a precautionary deep clean of common areas including crib rooms and meeting rooms. The buses used to transport staff to site are also being deep cleaned," the statement says.
"Our contractor and their partner have been advised to test and isolate until the test results are returned. Our operation has been advised to monitor the workforce for any COVID-19 related symptoms. Our operation's health and safety team are working with the Ministry of Health, our contractor and the workforce to ensure their health, wellbeing and safety."
5:37pm - Lesley Gray, a senior lecturer in Primary Health Care & General Practice at the University of Otago says it's surprising Christchurch is remaining in level 2 despite the new cases.
"I am a little surprised that Christchurch will remain in alert level 2 at the moment given these new cases were not regular users of the scan app to keep track of places visited and that at least one of the cases had been active in the community over the last week/up to two weeks and that other contacts have been identified (although at the time of writing test results were not yet known).
"Once we know more about the potential transmission, it may be pertinent for Christchurch to move to a rapid/short lockdown level 3, although I would urge everyone to follow all the usual protection measures – mask up, hand hygiene, scan/Bluetooth/record your movements, take time to think where you have visited in the last week or so and if you have any symptoms, even a ‘scratchy’ throat, please do go get tested for COVID-19."
Gray says the Government should roll out rapid antigen testing in Christchurch.
"That said, I was reassured that wastewater testing showed no new detections (but as a semi-rural owner of a septic tank, I recognise some limitations in the wastewater testing regime)."
5:08pm - Representatives from 17 iwi in the Bay of Plenty are urging Māori to get vaccinated and protect each other in the face of COVID-19.
Te Rūnanga Hauora Māori o te Moana a Toi, the Māori Health Rūnanga who partner with the Board of the Bay of Plenty DHB, has today released a stirring appeal to all descendants of Toi.
Rūnanga Chairperson, Linda Steel and Deputy Chairperson, Kipouaka Pukekura, hope Tikanga Hou will provide a powerful call to action for whānau yet to receive their first shot and those who need to get their second dose to be fully protected.
"As proud descendants of Toi, we know our people will do everything they can to protect their whakapapa.
"The mahi that has already gone into our vaccination drive is starting to show results, but we need everyone to get on board this kaupapa, to protect each other and protect the legacy of Toi."
Toi was an ancient explorer, a pioneering ocean voyager who was one of the first to land at Whakatāne and establish a settlement there.
"We need all our whānau to be rowing this waka together. Now is the time to heed the karanga and come together to protect and nurture each other," Steel said.
Vaccination rates for Māori in the Bay of Plenty sit at 62 percent who have had their first dose, and 41 percent who have their second.
"As we know, we're being asked to reach a 90 percent vaccination rate in the Bay of Plenty to provide the very best protection for all our whānau," Steel said.
"We want Te Tini o Toi (the many descendants of Toi) to be safe this summer and that means having important kōrero with all whānau to make sure no-one gets left behind."
4:41pm - National's Shadow Treasurer Andrew Bayly says Finance Minister Grant Robertson is clueless about how difficult lockdown is for businesses in Auckland.
"Almost 10,000 businesses closed in August and, despite what Grant Robertson tried to claim today, this is definitely not on par with pre-COVID times," Bayly said in a statement on Thursday.
"The Minister has tried to use the number of formal liquidations to mask the reality of the damage being caused by this never-ending lockdown, failing to realise that most businesses that close for good don’t go through a formal liquidation.
"If the Minister is receiving any calls and emails from Auckland businesses desperately asking for help, as I have all too frequently, then he is squarely not listening to them. He has upped the Resurgence Support Payment but only made the increased payment available for application from November 12.
"How many more businesses is he willing to see shut down in the two weeks until that date?"
4:25pm - There are several new locations of interest. They are:
- Train Southern Line from Homai to Britomart, October 12 from 4pm to 5pm
- Pak'nSave Mangere, October 13 from 1:30pm to 2:15pm
- Z Curletts Rd Sockburn, October 18 from 5pm to 5:30pm
- Countdown Mangere East, October 16 from 6:40pm to 7pm
- Hornby Chinese Takeaways, October 18 from 12:45pm to 1:30pm
- Gloucester & Stanmore Corner Dairy Linwood, October 20 from 6pm to 6:30pm
- Train Eastern Line Fleet AM945 Britomart to Orakei, October 20 from 5:46am to 5:52am
- New World Eastridge Mission Bay, October 23 from 2:30pm to 3pm
- Waimairi Takeaway Bryndwr, October 23 from 4:15pm to 5:15pm
- West Liquor Westside, October 23 from 4:35pm 4:40pm
- Countdown Lincoln Road, October 26 from 11:20am to 11:45am
- West Liquor Glendene, October 26 from 2:26pm to 2:31pm
- Manhattan Superette Glendene, October 26 from 2:59pm to 3:05pm
- Hepburn Superette Glendene, October 26 from 3:05pm to 3:10pm.
4:15pm - Professor Nick Wilson, from the University of Otago's Department of Public Health, says New Zealand needs tighter internal border arrangements "urgently".
With cases now in Christchurch, he says it's clear internal borders around Auckland and Waikato where there are community cases need to be tightened.
"It is now a very serious deficit that people crossing these borders are not required to be fully vaccinated and are not required to have a rapid antigen test at the border crossing point," Wilson says.
"The rest of the country needs to avoid COVID-19 outbreaks for as long as possible so that there is time to improve vaccination levels and to vaccinate 5-11-year-olds when that approval is obtained. Fortunately, there is still a reasonable chance that elimination status can be regained for Christchurch (as it has after Delta cases were identified in Wellington, Blenheim and Palmerston North)."
But he says the international border should probably be different for people just returning to Auckland.
"It was somewhat surprising that the Government made no announcement that the MIQ system was to be made much simpler for people returning just to Auckland," he says.
"Given that the goal of COVID-19 control in Auckland is no longer elimination, but rather to just suppress the level of community transmission so as to reduce the burden on the healthcare system, there seems to be a need for a different approach to MIQ for that city."
Wilson suggests that vaccinated people returning from overseas to just Auckland should be able to bypass MIQ completely and go straight to home quarantine for a few days, ideally with testing requirements.
"As perhaps a third of people wishing to return to New Zealand might be wanting to just return to Auckland, this would help a lot in reducing pressure on the MIQ system," he says.
"But for those returning to the rest of New Zealand, the current 14-day stay in MIQ might still be needed for some weeks and months (though less if COVID-19 spreads around the country due to deficient internal border controls)."
3:50pm - National's COVID-19 response spokesperson Chris Bishop says the fact that Chris Hipkins hasn't ordered paediatric doses of the Pfizer vaccine for 5 to 11 year-olds and that Pfizer hasn't yet applied for approval of use in New Zealand should prompt him to move with urgency.
Bishop says vaccinations for 5 to 11-year-olds "can't come quickly enough" since everyone who gets vaccinated raises New Zealand's overall level of protection.
"Chris Hipkins has known about this timeline for weeks but admitted to me in Parliament today that New Zealand has not actually placed orders for vaccines for 5-11 year-olds," Bishop says.
"Our current supply of Pfizer vaccine can't be used for children. The paediatric doses are one-third the dose given to adults and teenagers, and each vial contains 10 doses for the younger age group. The vaccine vials also have a unique label and different colour for the cap."
Bishop says Hipkins told Parliament today that New Zealand's contract with Pfizer allows us to order paediatric doses, but we haven't done so yet.
"To make matters worse, Pfizer has not yet applied for approval to Medsafe for paediatric doses," Bishop says.
"Chris Hipkins needs to jump on the phone to Pfizer straight away during the Parliamentary recess and tell them New Zealand needs supply of paediatric doses and that he wants an application from them in New Zealand as quickly as possible."
3:25pm - Professor Michael Plank, from Te Pūnaha Matatini and the University of Canterbury, says it's good news the two Christchurch cases only had a limited number of contacts during their infectious period and it is "reasonable" for the city to stay at level 2.
"The close to 70 percent vaccination rate in Canterbury will definitely reduce the potential for the virus to spread. But the two cases were likely infectious from around 16/17 October, so if either of them did pass the virus on at that time, it could have spread to dozens of people since then," he says.
"So, it will be crucial to do lots of testing in the city and if it turns out the virus has spread more widely than one household, an increase in alert level may still be needed. In the meantime, this is a timely reminder that COVID could crop up anywhere and it's really important to use the tracer app to scan in and get tested if you have any symptoms, even if you have been vaccinated."
3:05pm - A new vaccine uptake fund has been announced to support ethnic communities further increase vaccination rates.
The new $1 million vaccine uptake fund is in addition to the $2 million for the ethnic communications fund, which supported 71 initiatives across a broad range of communities throughout the country, Minister for Diversity, Inclusion and Ethnic Communities Priyanca Radhakrishnan says.
"The Ethnic Communities Communications Fund had a huge response, and as a result the funding was doubled from $1 million to $2 million to help boost vaccination rates among our ethnic communities," she says.
"Communities have told us that being able to provide things like transport, interpreters, collateral and venue hire would make a real difference. This new vaccine uptake fund will pay for this sort of activity and make it easier for people to get vaccinated."
Misinformation about vaccines from other countries will be addressed through initiatives using community forums, videos, social media platforms and radio broadcasts.
"Ethnic community organisations understand these diverse needs and are best placed to reach those who need a little additional support to get vaccinated. These two funds are and will continue to support them to be able to do this effectively," Radhakrishnan says.
"I encourage all community organisations who require further support to get vaccination rates as high as possible within our ethnic communities to make an application to the vaccine uptake fund."
Community organisations and individuals can apply for funding now at the Ministry for Ethnic Communities website.
2:45pm - There are several new locations of interest - including the first for Christchurch. They are:
- The Mad Dairy Hornby, October 18 from 12:45pm to 1:15pm
- Burger King Curletts Rd Sockburn, October 18 from 4:30pm to 5:30pm
- Supervalue Fendalton Village, October 18 from 6:45pm to 7:45pm
- Train Eastern Line Fleet AM945 Britomart to Orakei, October 20 from 5:46am to 5:52am
- Try's Bakery Islington, October 20 from 7:30am to 8:30am
- Caltex Blenheim Road Riccarton, October 20 from 5:45pm to 6:15pm
- Pannell Discounter Wainoni, October 22 from 1pm to 1:45pm
- Countdown Lynnmall New Lynn, October 23 from 11am to 12:15pm
- Kim's Corner Dairy Bryndwr, October 23 from 4:30pm to 5:15pm
- New World Bishopdale, October 25 from 11:30am to 12:30pm
- Ken's Takeaways Bishopdale, October 27 from 4pm to 5pm.
2:25pm - ACT also believes the Government hasn't gone far enough with its MIQ changes.
"No amount of logic will make this Government let go of power. It's letting 288 COVID positive people isolate because it's run out of MIQ spaces, but it won't let COVID-free people isolate," says ACT Leader David Seymour.
"COVID Response Minister Chris Hipkins has said there is minimal risk from people who are fully vaccinated and have tested negative, and yet he and Jacinda Ardern are insisting they still go into MIQ, even if it's not for as long.
"Today's announcement means the cruel COVID lottery hunger games continue. This announcement will make little difference to most New Zealanders trying to get an MIQ space."
ACT would let fully vaccinated people who have tested negative self-isolate.
2:20pm - The Chief Justice has confirmed Auckland jury trials will be suspended in November.
"The Chief Justice today announced that in order to provide some certainty to jurors, court participants and the profession, no jury trials will be held for the month of November in Auckland," a statement says.
"Jurors who are summoned to attend court in the Auckland High Court, Auckland District Court and Manukau District Court during November are excused from attending."
No new jury trials will begin in Hamilton during alert level 3.
2:10pm - Dr Dion O'Neale from Te Pūnaha Matatini says it's not unexpected to see a case in the South Island coming from Auckland.
"While the situation in this particular case is unfortunate with the individuals involved being symptomatic for some time before seeking a test, the lack of any kind of ‘post-arrival’ testing requirement for travellers in this sort of scenario is an ongoing cause of concern."
He notes that we require isolation for those coming across the international border in addition to testing because "we know that pre-departure testing is insufficient to detect and prevent movement of infectious individuals".
"For the case of workers who are regularly crossing the Auckland border, the current regime of weekly testing manages to capture a similar effect to the international travel post-arrival testing. However, the lack of post-arrival testing for people making one-off movements between Auckland and the rest of Aotearoa is a gap in testing requirements that could be easily filled."
Dr O'Neale says there is a case for treating those coming and going from Auckland as the same as international travel while Auckland sees community transmission.
"In addition to post-arrival testing for people travelling out of Auckland, this could include expectations for people to have some degree of isolation after travelling from Auckland, at least until they return a negative test.
"While pre-departure tests have a role to play in trying to prevent movement of people who are infectious, the reliance on PCR tests, which are slow to return a result, means that there is an opportunity for people to become infected in the period of up to 72 hours between being tested and when they travel.
"Cases such as this could be better addressed through the use of rapid antigen (or lateral flow) tests for people immediately prior to travel, which will help to pick up people who may have become infectious after having a PCR test but before travelling."
2pm - Here is the latest DHB by DHB vaccination breakdown, including Wednesday's doses. Counties Manukau is still below 90 percent first dose, with 8700 to go.
1:45pm - National has reacted to the MIQ changes, with COVID-19 Response spokesperson Chris Bishop saying it doesn't go far enough.
"Just two fully vaccinated travellers out of 20,000 or so people who have been through MIQ since August 23 have tested positive on day eight or later, indicating MIQ could be reduced immediately to seven days without any real risk," he said.
"While fully vaccinated travellers with no Covid have been spending 14 days in MIQ, more than 200 people with Covid have been isolating at home in Auckland.
"The tragedy is that these changes could and should have happened much sooner. The Government only started recording the vaccination status of people arriving into MIQ from August 23. Why didn’t this happen sooner? The Government has never given an adequate explanation as to why it didn’t bother to collect the data earlier than August 23."
He wants to see New Zealand quickly move to a situation where fully vaccinated travellers from low-risk places don't have to isolate at all as long as they have negative tests before and after arriving.
"National would introduce this once New Zealand is at 85 per cent fully vaccinated, which is only weeks away. This would mean thousands of travellers from places such as Queensland could be home for Christmas."
1:35pm - A bit more detail on the Christchurch cases - the person who returned from Auckland did so on October 15 and became unwell on October 18. Her partner, the second case, became unwell two days later. They visited households on October 19 and 20 but then stayed at home afterwards as they were unwell.
Dr Bloomfield says the case who visited Auckland is a Māori woman in her 50s, while her partner is in his 40s and is New Zealand European. The woman was in Auckland for five days to help with child care.
Officials will be looking to see if any of the close contacts become positive. Test results will be back on Thursday afternoon. They will also keep an eye on wastewater results.
1:30pm - Here's the key announcements from Hipkins about MIQ changes which begin on November 14:
"The first change we are making is halving the length of time international arrivals will need to stay in MIQ to seven days. Advice is this is the lowest risk change as the vast majority of border cases we pick up within the first seven days.
"The vast majority of COVID-19 cases are picked up within the first three days of MIQ. Positive cases from border arrivals are increasingly rare, at 2 or 3 per 1000, and there's a 1 in 2000 rate of positive test results in MIQ after day seven. In addition, full vaccination will be required for all non-New Zealand travellers from 1 November.
"Arrivals will be tested on day 0/1, day 3, and day 6/7 testing, followed by a short period of self-isolation at home – around three days.
"A rapid antigen test and health checks will be carried out on day seven before a person leaves MIQ, and people will get a PCR test on day 9 of their home isolation and stay at home until the result comes back.
"This evolution of MIQ will initially free up more than 1500 rooms a month. These spaces will enable two things; they'll allow rooms to continue to support the Auckland outbreak and some additional rooms will be available and will add to the vouchers being released next week.
"Shortened stays in MIQ were part of our international reconnecting plan announced shortly prior to the Auckland Delta outbreak. The move to ensure returnees are vaccinated and additional data on Delta have enabled these changes to be bought forward.
"The second stage of our plan will see New Zealand moving towards having more vaccinated people able to self-isolate at home instead of in MIQ.
"This option will be made available to increasing numbers of fully vaccinated travellers in the first quarter of 2022. However our priority at this stage is to safely transition to the new traffic light system first and bed that in before adding the additional risk of international arrivals immediately entering the community.
"When the COVID-19 Protection Framework is bedded in, 90 per cent of eligible New Zealanders will be fully vaccinated so we will have a higher level of confidence than we do right now of allowing international arrivals to go straight into the community.
"A phased approach also gives us time to evaluate the technology that'll be used to monitor home isolation compliance in the business home isolation pilot, which starts at the end of this month.
"Fees, exemption and exception frameworks and isolate at home guidelines will be updated during the next three weeks. From 14 November, the self-isolation period for business travellers in the pilot will also be shortened to 10 days.
1:25pm - Hipkins says he has no announcement to make about requiring people travelling across internal borders to be vaccinated, but it is under consideration.
The main focus at the border is New Zealand citizens and others who can enter the country. The Government will also start considering international students and those who have a clear place to isolate upon arrival. Hipkins says the approach at the border will be different next year to what we have seen for the last 18 months.
A vaccination requirement for domestic travellers would add complexity and potentially slow down supply chains, Hipkins says.
1:20pm - Hipkins says there was no way to ever guarantee COVID-19 wouldn't escape Auckland. The case had a legitimate reason to be in the city.
He says the Government has been looking at requirements for people travelling between regions to be vaccinated. That may not apply to people on essential travel. Hipkins doesn't want to see supply chains cut off or children left without parents to care for them.
Double vaccinated people may be able to enter the country and only isolate at home by the end of the first quarter of next year, Hipkins says.
1:15pm - Hipkins says MIQ has been our first defence against COVID-19 and led to New Zealand having freedoms that have been the envy of other countries.
More than 183,000 people have passed through the system, with just 1350 having COVID-19. Hipkins says we owe border workers a massive thanks.
However, we now need to reconsider the international border, he says, as cases start to decline at the border. With more cases in the community, the risk profile has changed. Many community cases are isolating in MIQ facilities.
This is how it will change: MIQ stays, but falls to seven days with tests at day 0, 3 and six and having a rapid antigen test befor leaving. They then isolate at home for a short period of around three days. They will then have a PCR test, waiting at home until the result comes back.
This will free up about 1500 rooms a month.
The second step allows for the border to reopen to low-risk travellers allowing them to bypass MIQ, starting with low-risk Pacific Island countries. This will start on November 8.
The third step will be available to fully vaccinated travellers in the first quarter of next year after the traffic light system starts. This is a transition to home isolation.
1:10pm - Dr Bloomfield says there was negative wastewater testing in Christchurch on Tuesday. This catchment covers about 300,000 people, ruling out a large number of cases, but it may not detect one or two additional cases. There will be additional testing there, including in Ashburton.
"Auckland public health officials continue to urge residents in Redvale, Rosedale, New Lynn, Wiri, Drury, Manurewa and Henderson to get tested as soon as possible if they have even very mild symptoms that might be COVID-19, even if they are fully vaccinated," the Ministry of Health says.
Three of the four Waikato cases are in Hamilton, and the fourth is in Otorohanga. They are all contacts of existing cases.
"There are now just three cases in Waikato that remain unlinked epidemiologically but they are linked genomically.
"Initial test results of two further Tokoroa-based contacts of the Blenheim case are negative. This follows negative initial results from two contacts in the house where the case stayed before travelling to Blenheim. These four people are isolating and will undergo further testing."
Dr Bloomfield says Medsafe has renewed the provisional approval for the Pfizer vaccine for another two years. It must continue to meet certain conditions, including providing data on safety.
Regarding border workers who have returned to New Zealand and may have been vaccinated overseas, the order requiring them to be fully vaccinated now recognises Moderna, AstraZeneca and Janssen vaccines.
1:05pm - There are 89 new community cases, including the two in Christchurch and the one MIQ worker case. Four of the cases are in Waikato.
Christchurch will remain at alert level 2, says Chris Hipkins. The cases have no major exposure events and are being moved to MIQ. All of their close contacts are isolating. Hipkins says the cases live in the Bishopdale area, where more than 70 percent of people are fully vaccinated.
Of the 89 cases, 50 are still to be linked. Of the 74 cases on Wednesday, 38 were infectious while in the community.
There are 37 people in hospital, with five in ICU.
Dr Bloomfield says the Christchurch cases became unwell last week and got tested on Tuesday.
One of the cases is a truck driver and the trucking company is assisting with tracking movements. The person was driving around the Christchurch area, including just out of the city.
There are three households, with nine people, who are close contacts.
12:55pm - You can watch the 1pm press conference above or on Three. We are expecting further details on the Christchurch cases as well as an announcement on changes to MIQ.
12:40pm - A worker at the Grand Millenium isolation hotel has tested positive for COVID-19.
The employee, who was fully vaccinated, received the positive result on Wednesday after a routine surveillance test on Tuesday.
A Managed Isolation and Quarantine spokesperson confirmed officials are trying to determine how the case is linked to the outbreak through genome sequencing.
The spokesperson said it was not clear if the worker was infected while at work.
"MIQ staff are supporting the Auckland Regional Public Health service in their investigation. Following confirmation of this case, work is underway to review staffings logs and CCTV footage in order to map the person's movements within the facility over recent days"
- reporting by Michael Morrah.
12:35pm - Minister for Disability Issues Carmel Sepuloni has announced a new tool to support disabled people get vaccinated.
The Manaakitanga Journey is a graphic online tool packages up key information, such as how to book a New Zealand Sign Language interpreter at clinics and how to arrange transport to and from vaccination appointments.
"Deciding whether to be vaccinated, finding the most appropriate site and place to be vaccinated at and who to contact if you need transport, are all key parts of the journey that can often affect disabled people’s experiences. This makes that process easier," the minister says.
One in four New Zealanders identify as disabled or having an impairment. As of the October 27, of the 30,522 people supported by the Ministry of Health’s Disability Supports Services nationwide, 82 percent have had their first dose, and 67 percent have been fully vaccinated.
12:20pm - A bunch of new locations of interest have dropped, but none in Christchurch. They include a pharmacy in Te Awamutu, a number of train and bus routes in Auckland and supermarkets.
12:15pm - We are currently waiting on locations of interest to be released, potentially including some in Christchurch, but in the meantime, a reminder that we will be livestreaming the 1pm press conference online and on Three.
It will feature COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins and Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield.
12pm - New Zealand businessman Murray Bolton will have an application to isolate at home upon returning from the US reconsidered by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE).
A High Court Judge has directed the respondents of Bolton's case, MBIE's chief executive, the Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield and the COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins, to reconsider his request for a managed isolation (MIQ) exemption.
11:35am - COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins says the Government is "continuing to look at" ways to minimise risk, as the effectiveness of measures for people travelling to and from Auckland are called into question.
It comes after two unvaccinated cases of COVID-19 emerged in Christchurch overnight, one of whom had recently returned from Auckland - the epicentre of New Zealand's Delta outbreak - and the other a household contact.
"I just find it unbelievable that we are allowing unvaccinated people out of Auckland to travel - for whatever reason," said Apisalome Talemaitoga, a Manukau GP and the chair of the Royal College of GPs Pacific chapter. "People should be doubly vaccinated before they can do this.
11:25am - Watercare in Auckland has confirmed a sub-contractor tested positive for COVID-19 last week.
They were working on the Central Interceptor construction site in Māngere and tested positive during routine onsite testing while asymptomatic.
"When the positive result came through, we immediately notified the Ministry of Health and shut down the site," says Shayne Cunis, Watercare Central Interceptor executive programme director. "All workers have been retested, with those in the sub-contractor’s bubble currently self-isolating at home. Work resumed on site on Tuesday."
"More than 90 percent of our Central Interceptor staff, and 90-95 percent of the Ghella Abergeldie JV construction team, are double vaccinated. The sub-contractor with Covid-19 is also double vaccinated."
Cunis said strict safety protocols have been followed, with temperature checks taken before workers enter the site. Workers also operate in bubbles and physically distance. Nurses carry out spot-testing weekly.
11:10am - A student at Newstead Model Country School, just outside of Hamilton, has tested positive for COVID-19 after attending class during alert level 3.
"This evening the Ministry of Health informed me that a student who has been attending Alert Level 3 Bubble School at Newstead Model Country School has tested positive for COVID 19," principal Meg Campbell said in a newsletter on Wednesday night.
"The Board of Trustees have been notified, along with staff and the families of students who are considered close contacts. This group are now being supported by the Ministry of Health team."
She said all students in the child's "red bubble" on Tuesday along with staff who had contact with the student indoors are being considered close contacts. They will isolate for two weeks and be tested. Other students in the "blue bubble" are not considered close contacts and can continue attending school.
"Staff who are not considered close contacts will be available to supervise onsite learning. As we now have minimum staff available for onsite learning, we are not in a position to accept any new students to Bubble School until further notice. Public Health will be in touch with all close contacts to provide further details and advice on isolation and testing."
The school will be closed on Thursday and Friday for onsite bubble learning "due to the impact of staff needing to isolate and/or get tested".
11:05am - Westland District Mayor Bruce Smith says cases in Christchurch are not "unexpected" and believes the virus will now filter its way through the South Island.
He told Newshub it was "disappointing" the cases hadn't been using the COVID Tracer application and also said they highlight issues with people travelling from hotspots to the South Island.
"It reinforces that feeling that we have had that the controls just haven't been in place. It is really unfortunate that the person has been allowed to enter the South Island even."
If Christchurch was to go into lockdown, that would have a flow-on effect for his part of the country, Smith said.
"It will be very, very negative for our economy. Nearly 40 percent of the people who come to the Coast come from Canterbury for whatever reason, whether they are travellers or whether they are tourists or whether they have a bach or whatever. That will stop. Add that to the second biggest market, Auckland, which has been out now for a couple months, it's pretty difficult."
He said it's now too late to separate the South Island from the North Island as it is for road blocks from Canterbury to the West Coast. He said there were large numbers of Cantabrians there for the long weekend and it's clear the "horse has bolted".
Smith expects the island will now have to live it and stresses people need to get vaccinated.
10:50am - There are three new locations of interest:
- Chemist Warehouse Albany - Friday, October 22 between 1:30pm and 2pm
- Pak'nSave Clarence St, Hamilton - Thursday, October 21 between 9:30am and 11:30am
- Countdown Grey Lynn - Monday, October 25 between 10am and 12pm.
10:45am - The High Court has directed MBIE to reconsider businessman Murray Bolton's request for an exemption to MIQ when he returns to New Zealand from an important meeting in the United States. Bolton wants to self-isolate at his gated home.
Justice Venning says MBIE must consider Bolton's need to travel, his right to freedom of movement and to enter New Zealand without unreasonable limitations, and his need to avoid the risk of getting COVID-19 at a MIQ facility.
That must be balanced against "the degree of risk to the community of further spread of COVID-19 involved in the applicants’ isolating or quarantining at a place other than an MIQ facility". It must take into account precautions Bolton will take, his vaccination status and other circumstances in the community.
10:40am - The Northern Region Health Coordination Centre says 288 COVID-19 cases are isolating at home across Auckland, a model described as "one of our first steps towards how we will sustainably manage COVID-19 cases in the future".
"Under the home isolation model, people who test positive for COVID-19 are allowed to isolate at home when they have been assessed as safe to do so by a Medical Officer of Health, and their home situation has been deemed appropriate.
"They receive tele-health check-ins by staff at Healthline. Health indicators are checked, as well as general welfare questions to determine if a person requires assistance or clarification on how to proceed if the household has questions or concerns. All households will receive a pulse oximeter device with instructions on how to use it to help with monitoring health."
Criteria to isolate at home includes whether the cases live somewhere that allows for safe isolation away from others, have phone and internet access, can travel safely to testing centres, and have enough supplies.
"If a person or household’s ability to meet these criteria change at any time, then public health reassess the suitability of home isolation for the case or their contacts."
10:30am - It was big news earlier when it was announced two case of COVID-19 had been detected in Christchurch. The AM Show spoke to the minister in charge to find out what Kiwis need to know.
10:15am - Here is the case summary including Wednesday's data. This doesn't include the Christchurch cases announced on Thursday morning. Those will be included in the 1pm update.
10:05am - The Government is no longer giving itself the power to delay local elections, with the COVID-19 Response Minister admitting it's "unlikely to be justified".
The COVID-19 Response (Management Measures) Legislation Bill, a wide ranging law nearing its final stages of debate, originally included the flexibility to delay local elections by up to six weeks under emergency circumstances.
It faced swift backlash from National MPs earlier this month, who said the Government needed to "urgently explain why it wants to give itself the power to delay next year's local body elections limitless times through to 2023".
9:55am - Dr Apisalome Talemaitoga, a GP in Manukau and the chair of the Pasifika GP network, says it is "unbelievable" that unvaccinated people are allowed out of Auckland "for whatever reason".
"People should be doubly vaccinated before they can do this. This highlights the delay and 'dragging the chain' with rapid antigen testing. The fact we are still relying on a negative PCR test 'before leaving Auckland' sounds so 'old hat'.”
COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins told The AM Show on Thursday morning that the Government was always looking at ways to reduce risk, but there was never any guarantee that COVID wouldn't find its way out of Auckland. The Government has been facing questions all week on this issue, but is yet to make any commitment in the area. National's Chris Bishop has suggested it's because vaccine certificates are not yet set up.
9:45am - Dr Andrew Chen, a research fellow at Koi Tū – Centre for Informed Futures at the University of Auckland, says the Christchurch cases not using the COVID Tracer app has "made the job of contact tracing that much harder", especially given their potential two-week infectious time in the community.
"Every hour or day that contact tracers are delayed in their efforts to find potentially exposed people is another hour or day where an infectious person could be unknowingly spreading the virus," he says. "It may seem like a bit of a hassle, but we’ve all done a lot more for a lot less."
9:35am - Regarding the anti-lockdown hīkoi, police say there were no "significant issues" in relation to protesters at the southern checkpoint overnight.
"Up to 75 people remained at the scene overnight and there was no disruption to traffic flow through the checkpoint, which was light. The group remain at the site this morning. No protestors are present at the Northern SH1 checkpoint.
"Police will continue to monitor this group throughout the day to ensure the safety of everyone involved, including other members of the public travelling through the checkpoint."
9:25am - There is at least one new case in Waikato, with Ōtorohanga Mayor Max Baxter confirming an infection in the town. It is already under alert level 3 restrictions.
"Please make the most of the opportunity to get tested. The testing station is still at the Island Reserve," he says.
"If you have not already, please get vaccinated. With cases now appearing in Christchurch now is the time. We want and need the people of our district to stay safe.
"The positive case is already in isolation. Also don't forget there is vaccinations at St Davids church in Ōtorohanga with the Maniapoto Whanau Ora team."
9:20am - Here is the latest DHB by DHB vaccination breakdown, with doses up to Tuesday night included.
Note that Canterbury is on 89 percent first dose and 68 percent second dose.
9:10am - A group of principals will meet online with Government officials on Thursday to discuss what needs to happen for primary schools to reopen in Auckland next month.
Education Minister Chris Hipkins said primary and intermediate schools and kura could reopen on November 15, depending on COVID-19 case numbers.
That's just 12 home-school days away, and Auckland Primary Principals' Association and Pt Chevalier School principal Stephen Lethbridge said there was a lot of preparation to do.
8:50am - National's Chris Bishop suggests one reason the Government isn't requiring all people crossing the Auckland boundary to be fully vaccinated is because vaccination certificates have yet to be set up. It reflects a similar point made by Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel to RNZ, when she said there is no "easy mechanism" yet to prove someone has been vaccinated.
COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins was asked on The AM Show on Thursday morning about whether the Government may require travellers to be vaccinated, but said nothing would guarantee COVID didn't flow out of Auckland. He said the Government was always looking at ways to minimise risk.
8:40am - Stuff reports Chris Hipkins as saying one of the two new Christchurch cases may have been infectious in the community for just under two weeks.
8:30am - Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel has told RNZ the cases are the "wake-up call we have all been dreading" and a reminder to be vigilant by scanning QR codes. The cases hadn't been regularly scanning.
"It is extremely disappointing to hear that and also disappointing to hear that both were unvaccinated," she said.
The mayor is hoping a lockdown is not necessary. She hopes the person hasn't been out and about unwell.
Dalziel says it is positive that first doses in Canterbury are at 89 percent, and that means it could be 90 percent double dosed in the next few weeks.
She believes there needs to be stronger requirements on people coming to the South Island from places under alert level restrictions.
8:15am - On the question of whether people leaving Auckland should be double vaccinated, Hipkins says the Government is continuing to look at how to minimise risk and, regardless of how tight the boundary is, it's impossible to guarantee no cases will flow out of Auckland.
Hipkins says the Government will set out on Thursday "markers" on the easing of restrictions at the border. There won't "be one giant leap", but a series of steps. Newshub understands MIQ will be halved to seven days before a short period of isolation at home.
On whether primary students will return to school this year, Hipkins says he is aware that would create a high concentration of people in a confined space. More information will be available in the coming weeks. He says vaccination rates among adults will be a factor.
It would be difficult to reopen if there is an explosion of cases, Hipkins says. But schools could open if cases are stable or declining.
8:10am - Chris Hipkins tells The AM Show alert level 4 in Christchurch is unlikely, but he won't rule out anything.
He says the cases came to light on Wednesday night, they are both unvaccinated, one case had a negative test before leaving Auckland for Christchurch, and had been in Christchurch for a week before testing positive.
There is also one other household where there are close contacts. Whether they interacted while the case was unwell is unknown, Hipkins says.
Information is limited on the extent of their movements and the cases haven't been regularly using the QR code scanning app.
The case who was in Auckland was there on an "authorised trip" to do with the care of a child, the minister says.
It's impossible to eliminate all risk, Hipkins says, which shows the value of having the South Island at alert level 2. It's impossible to completely seal Auckland off, he says.
8:05am - Occupants of a car and a bus deliberately parked to obstruct traffic on State Highway 1 only moved out of the way on Wednesday afternoon after "lengthy engagement with police".
Police officers were continuing to monitor protesters remaining at the southern boundary checkpoint in Auckland after a day of disruptions.
Officers at the southern checkpoint at Mercer had been dealing with a group of protesters, including the occupants of a car and a bus deliberately parked to obstruct traffic on SH1.
7:50am - The Prime Minister attended the virtual East Asia Summit overnight, a forum for leaders to discuss issues in the region, one of which is obviously COVID-19.
"It was important that we raised with leaders the range of health, economic and security issues facing the Indo-Pacific region - including the ongoing management of COVID-19, the economic recovery, international rules and human rights, and climate change," Jacinda Ardern said in a statement.
"These challenges are too big for any nation alone to solve, and it’s clear that only together can we continue to make progress where we need it most."
She said the summit "provided a further opportunity to emphasise to other regional leaders that the need for taking collective action to combat these challenges is greater than ever, and that countries should resist going down a path of isolationism and nationalism".
"New Zealand continues to be a staunch supporter of the international rules-based order which has been the bedrock of our region’s prosperity and security."
7:35am - Gerry Brownlee, a National Party MP in Christchurch, has told RNZ it is a pretty "serious situation" in the city. He hopes the ministry is "sensible" when considering alert levels and encourages locals to use the QR code scanning app, wear masks and physically distance.
He wants to know more about the cases' movements before saying whether he would support a move to alert level 3. The MP says he's not comfortable with the "total devastation, economically and socially, those lockdowns bring" but if it's the only way to avoid a widespread outbreak, then that might be what's needed.
It's "slightly concerning" one of the cases tested negative before leaving Auckland and then testing positive days later.
Brownlee says the vaccine rollout started out slow down in the region, but it's doing well now.
7:25am - How is Canterbury doing well with its vaccine rollout?
The latest Ministry of Health data shows that 89 percent of the region's eligible population has had their first dose, with 5087 more people needing to get their first shot to hit 90 percent. The ministry says 68 percent have had two doses.
7:20am - Speaking to RNZ earlier, Hipkins says there are no other contacts in the cases' household. But one other household they have been in contact with has been identified. The nature of their wider contacts will be established throughout the morning, the minister says.
They have been unwell "for a while" and could have been infectious for "a period of time" in Christchurch, he says.
The individuals are being cooperative, the minister tells RNZ.
7:15am - Professor Baker has just been on The AM Show. He tells host Ryan Bridge there is potential for others to be exposed as the cases have been in the South Island for a few days. He expects a standard contact tracing effort and then a risk assessment to understand how widespread the infection may be.
He's not surprised about the cases as it's easy for people to travel to the South Island, even from areas under restrictions. It will be difficult to stop spread over the next few weeks, he says, but wants to see that delayed as much as possible until vaccination rates get up.
There's "huge health and economic benefits" in delaying the spread, Prof Baker says. He believes the Government should look at limiting travel to the double vaccinated and those who are tested. That would also limit transmission on flights.
It would be good to get those down to the age of five vaccinated as well, he says.
7:10am - Hipkins tells Newstalk ZB officials don't yet have the information to make an alert level decision yet, but are gathering that.
Any cases outside of alert level areas do worry him, he says. As one of the cases was unwell, they may have already been isolating at home.
They are unvaccinated, Hipkins says, and one other household has been identified as having close contacts.
7am - RNZ reports that Chris Hipkins says one case has been in Christchurch for up to a week. They tested negative for COVID-19 before travelling to the South Island city and got a second test when they became symptomatic. The cases had not been regularly using the QR code scanning app.
He would not rule out a snap lockdown in Christchurch, but investigations are underway.
6:50am - Speaking to RNZ, epidemiologist Michael Baker says the cases in Christchurch are "probably expected, but obviously quite a shock".
"Some people felt there was inevitability about this virus in this outbreak spreading all around the country, including the South Island."
Professor Baker said if the cases were confined to one household, then contact tracing should work well, but the question is how many other cases are incubating in the South Island.
If the outbreak is "well defined", meaning its limited to one household, Prof Baker doesn't expect an alert level shift. But again he thinks the main thing to consider is "how many cases are now incubating in the South Island".
He said there are a lack of measures to detect cases amongst travellers going into the South Island and advocates for pre-departure testing.
6:40am - The two cases in Christchurch come less than a day after Hipkins told reporters it was just a matter of time before the virus spread around the country.
"It should be clear to everybody now that despite everybody's best efforts - and they have been huge - we are more likely to see cases emerging outside of Auckland," he said.
"No country has been able to stamp out Delta once it's taken hold and that's likely to be the same for us. So it's not a question of 'if' cases will emerge outside of Auckland, it is a question of 'when'.
"That might sound stark, but as one of my colleagues said last week, Delta is now on your doorstep."
He emphasised the need for everyone, no matter where they lived, to be vaccinated.
6:35am - COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins will on The AM Show at 8:10am. We will ask him for the latest details on the Christchurch cases and bring you any other updates that come in throughout the morning.
6:25am - The Ministry of Health says two cases of COVID-19 have been found in Christchurch in the same household. The ministry became aware of this on Wednesday evening.
"One member of the household had recently returned to Christchurch from Auckland.
"The local public health unit is gathering information from the cases to identify close contacts and exposure events, including any locations of interest. The Ministry will undertake a public health risk assessment of the situation this morning and a further update will be provided after that."
6:20am - Sailing great Sir Russell Coutts has hit out at the "erosion of our freedom of choice" in New Zealand in a Facebook post attacking the Government and media.
He says media are "promoting fear" in New Zealand and suspects Kiwis would be surprised if they were to look overseas and see other countries living with COVID-19.
"Although some people, perhaps many, rightly remain cautious, life has largely returned to normal in many places," Sir Russell writes. "But that is not what we are being told here in New Zealand."
"The erosion of our freedom of choice, freedom of speech and the loss of precious time with family and friends and all the other negative aspects of a lockdown should be balanced against the health risk of COVID.
"Imagine if we had invested the 1 billion plus spent each week on lockdowns on improving our health system, education or roading (we had 8 road deaths in NZ last weekend)."
He says it is "totally insane" that double vaccinated people are "terrified of meeting unvaccinated people".
"Is that how it's going to be for the rest of our lives? What about the people that have health issues and can't get vaccinated? Are they going to be banished from society? (for the record I'm double vaccinated)".
Sir Russell then lambastes the Government's 90 percent double dose target across DHBs and that some people may be restricted from travelling over Christmas. The Government is yet to make announcements in that area, but has hinted that those wanting to cross the Auckland boundary may need to be double vaccinated and have a negative test.
"It's also total nonsense and contradictory that double vaccinated people that have negative covid tests are being locked down for 14 days in MIQ whilst people with COVID are being allowed to self isolate in the community.
Changes are expected in this space soon, with Newshub understanding a shift to seven days in MIQ and then three days in home isolation will soon be announced.
"How New Zealand, a country where it's people greatly valued freedom off choice," Sir Russell said. "How we even got to this stage of blindly accepting this sort of unilateral rule, power and dictatorship from our government is deeply troubling indeed."
6:15am - Kia ora, good morning and welcome to Newshub's live updates for Thursday.
Those in Waikato under alert level 3 settings will on Thursday be allowed to head outdoors for a picnic with 10 others between two households. The change in restrictions reflects a move to the first step of the alert level 3 roadmap, same as what Auckland is following.
"Recreational activities will be expanded to include golf, hunting, boating, fishing, and scuba diving, also with a maximum of 10 people," COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said on Wednesday. "However people must stay within the Alert Level 3 boundary."
"Face-to-face appointments with a number of healthcare providers can restart and early learning centres can reopen, with a maximum of 10 children in each bubble."
Six new cases were recorded in the region on Wednesday, all in Hamilton, taking the total there to 97.
Hipkins believes it is still possible to stamp the outbreak out there but warned it had a "long tail" and that the cases were people who were difficult to contact trace. He wouldn't say why that was despite questioning from reporters.
"The Government has followed public health advice. Waikato cases are predominantly confined to one network and there have not been any major exposure events.
"We’re not, however, comfortable enough yet to drop settings any lower while we continue to see new cases emerge.
"More than 15,000 tests have been completed over the past five days, which is extremely encouraging and shows residents are doing the right thing by getting tested, but the situation in the area is not fully contained and we can’t say at this point when that is likely to be. At this stage we remain committed to stamping COVID-19 out."
