As it happened: Latest on COVID-19 community outbreak - Wednesday, December 8

The number of new cases recorded each day is trending downwards, indicating that New Zealand's high rates of vaccination are working to slow the spread of COVID-19.

But leading epidemiologist Michael Baker warns a sudden upswing in infections will likely be seen towards the end of the week as the new 'traffic light' system, or COVID-19 Protection Framework, beds in. Under the new framework, the fully vaccinated are able to enjoy a 'new normal', their My Vaccine Pass unlocking pre-pandemic freedoms. 

"I think we would expect to see cases go up with the traffic light system because there is a lot more mixing going on," Baker told the New Zealand Herald. "Our biggest risk will be private parties with unvaccinated people, which could be difficult to contain during the festive season."

Ninety new cases of COVID-19 have been recorded on Wednesday, 71 of which are in Auckland. Seventy-four patients with the virus are currently receiving treatment in hospital.

What you need to know:

• There are 90 new cases of COVID-19 to report on Wednesday - three in Northland, 71 in Auckland, nine in Waikato, five in Bay of Plenty, one in Lakes and one in Nelson-Tasman.
• Seventy-four people are in hospital, six of whom are in intensive care or high dependency units.
• Auckland's border will open on Dec 15, allowing fully vaccinated Kiwis to travel to and from the region. People can also present a negative test received within 72 hours prior to departure.
• Workers covered by the My Vaccine Pass mandate - staff working at businesses that are required to use jab certificates to fully operate - must be fully vaccinated by Jan 17.
• Fiordland National Park's Green Lake Department of Conservation hut has been added to the Ministry of Health's list of locations of interest.
• Christopher Luxon has called for Auckland's border to be lifted 'tonight' after the emergence of previously unreleased public health advice.
• A worker at Mangere East's Bupa David Lange Care Home has tested positive for COVID-19
• The Ministry of Health suspects there is "at least one undetected case" in Gisborne after a third wastewater sample tested positive for COVID-19.
• Keep up-to-date with the latest locations of interest here.

These live updates have finished.

7:10pm - Multiple investigations are underway after a Canterbury doctor was filmed issuing COVID vaccine medical certificate exemptions to anti-vaxxers.

This is despite the fact official exemptions need to go through the Ministry of Health to be assessed and issued. Intentional breaches can lead to fines or a prison sentence for up to six months.

Registered GP Dr Jonie Girouard runs a weight loss clinic in Kaiapoi. After Newshub learnt she was issuing medical certificate exemptions to the vaccine to anti-vaxxers, a highly-experienced journalist went in undercover using a hidden camera.

Newshub recorded her giving out medical certificate exemptions to people who don't want the vaccine and coaching them on how to use them to get past employers affected by mandates. She even boasted that one of her certificates has been used to evade international border control.

Newshub can confirm authorities investigating include the Ministry of Health (MoH), WorkSafe, and the Health and Disability Commissioner - and government sources tell Newshub the Police could become involved too.

The MoH told Newshub it is "aware of this situation and it is under investigation".

"The intent of the Order is to protect the most vulnerable in our communities from COVID-19 and to limit the spread of the virus," a spokesperson said.

"The exemptions process is designed to support people with genuine reasons for an exemption on medical grounds and the Ministry of Health takes its role in assessing and issuing medical exemptions very seriously."

Read and watch the full story from Newshub national correspondent Patrick Gower here.

6:30pm - A staff member at Bupa David Lange Care Home in Mangere East has tested positive for COVID-19.

A spokesperson confirmed to Newshub the Auckland Regional Public Health Service informed them last night of the infection.

The worker is fully vaccinated and asymptomatic and they hadn't been at work since December 2. They are a household contact of a confirmed COVID-19 case.

The care home is now closed to all visitors and Bupa says it has stood up additional infection prevention control measures.

Surveillance testing was done onsite on Wednesday.

"We know this news will cause our residents their families and our people, some stress and anxiety, but we would like to assure them that we are well prepared and have robust infection prevention control measures in place," says Carolyn Cooper, managing director of Bupa.

"Under the Government's COVID-19 Protection Framework, in Red, we have already been operating with infection prevention control measures in place, including appropriate use of PPE, hygiene and cleaning protocols, health declaration requirements, surveillance of COVID-19 symptoms, and contract tracing."

Bupa says it is working closely with public health to assist with contact tracing and testing for all those who may have been in contact with the employee who has tested positive. To support this process Bupa has made available to public health the data from its own EVA app, which all employees, visitors and contractors or suppliers must sign in to, alongside the Government's COVID-19 tracer app.

"While it is early days, please be assured that Bupa will continue to provide the best quality care we can for our residents," Cooper adds.

6pm - It's time for Newshub Live at 6pm for the latest on the COVID-19 outbreak. Watch online here or on Three.

5:30pm - There is one new location of interest. It is:

• Mitre 10 Mega Tauranga, December 5 from 8:45am to 10am.

5:10pm - The Government's decision to ignore some Ministry of Health advice about the new traffic light system was Christopher Luxon's ammo in his second standoff with Jacinda Ardern.

An affidavit to the Waitangi Tribunal reveals Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield advised the Government to drop the Auckland border in mid-December and to only move Auckland and Northland into the most restrictive 'red' setting.

But the Government has decided to maintain some requirements for Aucklanders leaving the city from December 15 - proof of vaccination, or a negative test result for the unvaccinated. It also decided to move several regions into 'red'.

The Government was more liberal, however, when it came to shifting to the new traffic light system. The Ministry of Health advised waiting until all three Auckland DHBs had reached 90 percent double vaccination which is yet to be achieved, but the Government decided to move to the traffic light system on December 3.

Luxon, National's new leader, asked Ardern in Parliament on Wednesday why she ignored advice from Dr Bloomfield that there was "no public health justification to maintain a boundary around Auckland around the COVID Protection Framework".

"What does she say to the thousands of Kiwis who have been kept from their family members saying goodbye to loved ones because of her decision to ignore health advice and instead maintain a hard Auckland border?"

Ardern responded: "What is fair to point out is when we changed that boundary, Health said we could simply lift it; our view was that the rest of New Zealand would appreciate additional measures to stop the spread of COVID-19.

"But Mr Speaker, it would be keeping with the member's 'let it rip' strategy with COVID."

Read the full story here.

4:40pm - National's COVID-19 response spokesperson Chris Bishop says the Government should "front up and be honest" about which regions health officials said could be in green at the start of the traffic light framework.

"Chris Hipkins ducked and dived to avoid answering this question in Question Time today but places like Wellington and the South Island deserve to know if the officials' preliminary view was that they could enter the traffic light framework at green, which is far less restrictive than red or orange," he says.

"Dr Bloomfield has provided an affidavit to the Waitangi Tribunal saying that 'our preliminary view was that various regions could enter into the CPF [COVID Protection Framework] on Green'.

"People in Canterbury - currently at 92 percent double vaccinated and rising - will rightly wonder what on earth it would take for them to be at green. The same applies for the Southern DHB region (90 percent double vaccinated), and Capital and Coast (93 percent)."

Bishop says Hipkins "almost certainly knows" which regions officials said could be at green, but he "didn't want to tell Parliament" this afternoon.

"The Government is not following its own traffic light framework criteria. Red is meant to be for when hospitalisations are at unsustainable levels. In the Prime Minister's own words, Auckland is tracking well but yet it remains at red. Moreover, the public has no idea what the trigger is for orange and green settings," he says.

"What is very clear is that the Government just makes things up as they go. There was no plan for Delta, no back-up plan if elimination failed and the messy last six months has been the result."

4:10pm - There are five new locations of interest. They are:

• Mitre 10 Te Kuiti, December 1 from 7am to 5:30pm
• MIDAS Tauranga, December 3 from 7:45am to 8:30am
• Kwangchow Restaurant Mount Maunganui, December 3 from 11:30am to 10:15pm
• Mitre 10 Te Kuiti, December 4 from 8:30am to 3pm
• Kwangchow Restaurant Mount Maunganui, December 4 from 11:15am to 10:15pm.

3:40pm - Ruapehu Mayor Don Cameron says Taumarunui is well prepared for its first positive case of COVID-19 that was confirmed this afternoon.

Local providers including the Waikato DHB, Kokiri Trust, Te Taumarutanga iwi collective comprising Ngāti Hāua, Ngāti Tūwharetoa and Ngāti Maniapoto, the pharmacy together with other NGOs, government agencies, and the council have been preparing for this moment, he says.

"It was only a matter of time before COVID-19 reached Ruapehu with the virus having been in neighbouring regions for a while and a lot of preparation has gone into getting ready," he says.

Anyone displaying cold or flu-like symptoms is asked to immediately isolate at home and arrange to get tested, even if they are vaccinated.

For people in Taumarunui, a testing site is in place at the Miriama Club, with entry from Katarina Street, operating from 9am to 3:30pm on Thursday.

"Confirmation of Taumarunui's first case highlights the importance of being disciplined about using the COVID-19 tracer app or keeping a note of your movements, along with mask wearing, regular hand washing and social distancing," Cameron adds.

3:15pm - There are six new locations of interest. They are:

• Mitre 10 Te Kuiti, November 28 from 8:30am to 2:30pm
• Mitre 10 Te Kuiti, December 1 from 7am to 5:30pm
• Mitre 10 Te Kuiti, December 2 from 7am to 5:30pm
• MIDAS Tauranga, December 3 from 7:45am to 8:30am
• MIDAS Tauranga, December 3 from 10:45am to 11:30am
• Mitre 10 Te Kuiti, December 4 from 8:30am to 3pm.

3pm - Here is the latest data on vaccination rates in Waikato:

2:45pm - Dr Andrew Chen, a research fellow at the University of Auckland's Koi Tū Centre, is also warning for New Zealanders to be prepared for a spike in cases after Auckland's hard border lifts on December 15.

He says it's imperative that people are using the NZ COVID Tracer app to document their movements in the event of an outbreak.

"As the Auckland boundary lifts and people start to travel around the country more freely, we should expect to see more cases appear in other parts of the country. It is all the more important that people keep track of their own movements, preferably using the NZ COVID Tracer app. This is so that if COVID-19 appears in your community, then you will be better prepared to respond to contact tracers. When COVID-19 is already in a community, contact tracing is a key step to help identify potentially infected persons and stop them from passing the virus onto others," Dr Chen said on Wednesday.

"If you use the NZ COVID Tracer app, the data stays on your device only and is not transmitted to the Government or anyone else unless you voluntarily provide it as part of contact tracing processes. The data is also now legally protected with legislation passed a few weeks ago and cannot be used for any purpose other than contact tracing."

2:30pm - Leading epidemiologist Professor Michael Baker has described the opening of Auckland's boundary on December 15 as "probably the single most consequential COVID-19 response change" before the end of 2021.

He said the lifting of the regional boundary will likely cause "widespread" transmission of the virus, but hopefully any outbreaks will be "well controlled" due to the high rates of vaccination. However, he noted there will "almost certainly" be cases of serious illness and death - particularly when the virus creeps into communities with lower uptake of the vaccine.

"Given the relatively high levels of SARS-CoV-2 virus circulating in Auckland, people leaving Auckland in large numbers over the Christmas-New Year period are likely to disseminate the virus widely across New Zealand," Baker said on Wednesday.

"This process will probably not result in large outbreaks initially, as the measures now in place across New Zealand (relatively high vaccination coverage, continuing testing and contract tracing, and restrictions on indoor gatherings in hospitality venues) will limit the size of outbreaks. However, there will almost certainly be infections and cases of serious illness and deaths, particularly when the virus is introduced into poorly vaccinated families and communities where it will spread easily."

Baker acknowledged that the restrictions on domestic travel - presenting proof of vaccination or a negative test received prior to departure - are markedly less than those applied at the international border.

"Even under the more relaxed requirements that are proposed for international travellers entering New Zealand starting in January next year, all travellers will need a minimum of full vaccination, a pre-departure test, a test on arrival, seven days of self-isolation, and a further test at that point," he said.

Baker suggested some measures that could reduce the risk of widespread dissemination following Auckland's reopening:

• Encourage or require people to get tested in addition to being vaccinated - families with children under 12 may be particularly vulnerable to taking the virus with them. They should consider getting children tested prior to leaving Auckland. For those flying into New Zealand there is a requirement for testing children down to the age of 2.
• Encourage Aucklanders to avoid visiting or staying with unvaccinated or vulnerable family and friends - It would be a real tragedy to take this virus with you, and infect family and friends who are either unvaccinated or particularly vulnerable to infection. Now is the time to have those conversations about vaccination with the people you will be visiting and socialising with. There is still time before Christmas for people to have a jab or booster if they are eligible.
• Ensure the vigorous enforcement of vaccine and testing requirements for those leaving Auckland - it is important that the likelihood and consequences of leaving Auckland without meeting vaccination or testing requirements are sufficiently high to act as an effective deterrent.

"Not following these requirements could be seen as comparable to drunk-driving as both of these behaviours have the potential to cause serious harm and death to others. This is not the time to let people off with a warning. The consequences of breaking the law in this situation should include fines and also being required to return to Auckland (until fully vaccinated or tested)," he said.

2:10pm - There are two new latest locations of interest as of 2pm - WINZ, Hamilton East and Work and Income, Hamilton Central. Click here for the relevant dates, times and public health advice.

1:50pm - In case you missed it, a Dunedin City Councillor has been issued a trespass notice after attempting to attend a council meeting without his My Vaccine Pass.

Lee Vandervis was declined entry to the council's first in-person meeting under the new traffic light system as he refused to present proof of vaccination, delaying the meeting.

"He was asked to leave, but declined, and as a result has been issued with a trespass notice served by police," a spokesperson for Dunedin City Council (DCC) told Newshub.

Read more here. 

1:40pm - An expert is advising New Zealanders to get into the habit of communicating about expectations and intentions during the festive season to ensure family and friends are on the same page regarding testing, mask use, vaccination and gathering settings.

Dr Amanda Wallis, a research lead at Umbrella Wellbeing - a provider of mental health services - said people should be preparing for upcoming events by "establishing their intentions" ahead of time.

"Consider messaging family members or friends a few days prior to the event and let them know you plan on wearing a mask, for example, and create a psychologically safe discussion around how you might keep each other safe," she advised.

"Try to centre the focus of this conversation on COVID-19 as the threat, rather than each other. For example, 'I know this is new territory for all of us but I'm quite scared about catching COVID-19 - do you mind if we catch-up outside to play it safe?'"

She said the new 'traffic light' system may create some uncertainty as Kiwis are forced to determine their own comfort levels with newfound freedoms, such as mingling with others, travelling, and using public spaces.

"When socialising with loved ones, for example, choosing in the moment whether to mask up, physically distance, and meet inside or outdoors may be cognitively taxing, as well as potentially costly to our own wellbeing. Social norms inform our behaviour to a large extent, and research shows that navigating public health measures may contribute to feelings of social anxiety through fear of norm violation," she explained.

1:25pm - Here's a recap of Wednesday's key developments:

• There were 24,142 vaccine doses administered on Tuesday, including 4387 first doses and 10,093 second doses. To date, 94 percent of eligible people in New Zealand have had their first dose and 88 percent are fully vaccinated.
• There are 74 people in hospital, including six cases still being assessed. Six are receiving treatment in the ICU or HDU.
• There are 90 new cases of COVID-19 to report - three in Northland, 71 in Auckland, nine in Waikato, five in Bay of Plenty, one in Lakes and one in Nelson-Tasman.
• The one new case in Northland is a person from the Bay of Plenty, who tested positive in Kaitaia. Two cases first announced on Tuesday have now been added to today's tally - both are linked to known cases.
• A staff member at Ellerslie Gardens Aged Residential Care facility in Auckland has tested positive for COVID-19 and testing of staff and residents is underway.
• Of the nine new cases in Waikato, six are in Te Kūiti, one is in Ōtorohanga, and two locations remain under investigation. 
• All five of the new cases in Bay of Plenty are in Tauranga. Public health staff are currently interviewing the cases to determine any links to existing infections and contacts are being identified.
• The one new case in the Lakes DHB region is in Rotorua - investigations are continuing today to determine any links to existing cases and locations of interest.
• The new case in Nelson-Tasman is linked to an existing case and takes the number of active cases in the area to 20 - one case has recovered.
• One case reported in the Southern District on Tuesday remains under investigation following a negative repeat test. Public health staff have identified 14 close contacts including a household member. All contacts are currently isolating and will be tested. The Green Lake Hut remains the only location of interest.
• A third wastewater sample taken in Gisborne on December 6 has tested positive for COVID-19. The virus was also detected in samples taken on December 1 and 2. Two additional samples will be collected this week.
• Public health officials are not aware of any recovered cases in the region who may be shedding the virus. A third detection strongly indicates there is at least one undetected case in the community, the ministry said.

1:10pm - There is one new location of interest as of 1pm - Rebel Sports in Te Rapa, Hamilton. Click here for the relevant dates, times and public health advice.

12:57pm - Here are the regional updates from the Ministry of Health:

Tairāwhiti/Gisborne wastewater

The virus has been detected again in a wastewater sample taken in Tairāwhiti/Gisborne on December 6. This follows positive detections on December 1 and 2. Two further samples will be collected this week.

Public health officials are not aware of any recovered cases in the region who may be shedding the virus. A third positive detection strongly indicates that there is at least one undetected case in the community.

Anyone living in the region with any symptoms that could be COVID-19 – no matter how mild – is encouraged to get a test.

Testing is available this week at the drive-through at 110 Peel Street:

• Today until 4pm

• Thursday 9 December (9am to 12pm)

• Friday 10 December (9am to 12pm).

Today's cases

Today, we are reporting new community cases in Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Lakes and Nelson-Tasman.

There are no new cases to report in Hawke's Bay, MidCentral, Whanganui or Canterbury.

A border-related case remains under investigation in the Southern DHB area.

Regional updates

We are continuing to ask anyone in New Zealand with symptoms – no matter how mild – to get tested, even if you're vaccinated. Please remain isolated until you return a negative test result.

If you are not vaccinated, now is the time, as vaccination is your number one defence against COVID-19. Your DHB or local health provider will have plenty of opportunities to make this happen.

Testing and vaccination centre locations nationwide can be found on the Healthpoint website.

Northland

Today we are reporting one new case, a person from the Bay of Plenty who returned a positive test in Kaitaia. This case has been transferred to Bay of Plenty DHB and will be recorded in their case numbers once interviews have been completed.

Two further cases announced on Tuesday are counted in today's numbers. They have both been linked to known cases.

Please keep checking for new locations of interest. Testing and vaccination sites open in Northland can be found on the Northland DHB website.

Auckland

Today, there are 71 new cases to report in Auckland. 

A staff member at Ellerslie Gardens Aged Residential Care facility in Auckland has tested positive for COVID-19. Auckland Regional Public Health Service and Auckland DHB are supporting the residents and staff at the privately owned facility. Testing is underway.

There continues to be a daily review of testing numbers and locations to ensure good coverage of at-risk areas.  

Health and welfare providers are now supporting 3112 people to isolate at home, including 813 cases. 

Waikato

There were nine new cases confirmed in the Waikato overnight - six in Te Kūiti, one in Ōtorohanga, and two locations remain under investigation. All are being investigated for links to previous cases.  

There are 11 pop-up and dedicated testing sites operating across Waikato today in Hamilton, Ngāruawāhia, Ōtorohanga, Piopio, Thames, Taumarunui, Tokoroa, Putāruru and Te Kūiti.

There is one COVID-positive patient in Waikato Hospital's intensive care unit.

Health and welfare providers are now supporting 109 people to isolate at home.

Bay of Plenty

Today we are reporting five new cases in Bay of Plenty - all are in the Tauranga area. Public health staff are currently interviewing the individuals to determine links to existing cases. Contacts are being identified.

If any locations of interest linked to the new cases are identified, they'll be updated on the Ministry's website. People are reminded to please check this website regularly if they live in or have visited the region recently.

Bay of Plenty DHB has added additional testing capacity in Tauranga and is urging anyone in the area who may have any symptoms to get tested. Updated locations and times of testing sites will be available via Healthpoint.

Lakes

There is one new case to report in the Lakes DHB region, a person in Rotorua. Investigations are continuing today to determine any links to existing cases and any locations of interest.

Nelson-Tasman

There is one new case to report in Nelson-Tasman today. The person has been linked to an existing case.

The new infection takes the number of active cases in the Nelson area to 20 - one case has recovered.

Locations of interest are regularly added to the Ministry's website and people living in Nelson-Tasman are asked to check the list for any updates.

Several pop-up testing sites are open in Nelson-Tasman today:

• Saxton Fields carpark, Suffolk Rd, Stoke, 9am to 6pm
• Richmond Showgrounds, 359 Lower Queen St, 9am to 6pm
• Motueka Recreation Centre: Old Wharf Rd, Motueka, 9am to 3pm.

Southern

There are no new cases to report in the Southern district today. The one case reported on Tuesday remains under investigation after returning a negative repeat test.

Public health staff have identified 14 close contacts, including a household member. All contacts are currently isolating and will be tested.

The Green Lake Hut remains the only location of interest - details of this visit are on the Ministry's webpage.

12:55pm - There are 90 new cases of COVID-19 to report on Wednesday. Here's the full update from the Ministry of Health:

88 pct of eligible people now fully vaccinated; 90 community cases; 74 people in hospital, 6 in ICU

There were 24,142 total vaccine doses administered on Tuesday, including 4387 first doses and 10,093 second doses. To date, 94 percent of eligible people in New Zealand have had their first dose and 88 percent are fully vaccinated.

Today's statement is streamlined and slightly shortened to reflect the changing nature of the response.

* There have been four case reclassifications, one MIF case and three community cases, therefore the net increase in total cases is 88.

12:50pm - Dunedin City Council's (DCC) first full meeting under the new 'traffic light' framework is now proceeding after a delay caused by one Councillor refusing to produce their My Vaccine Pass.

Under the DCC's new COVID-19 Protection (Vaccination) Policy, elected members are required to show their vaccine passes to attend in-person meetings in DCC facilities.

Those who cannot produce a pass can instead attend remotely, using a Zoom link provided to all Councillors, allowing them to fully exercise their roles as elected members.

Unfortunately, Councillor Lee Vandervis, who failed to provide evidence of vaccination, attempted to attend Wednesday's meeting in person, a DCC spokesperson confirmed to Newshub.

Vandervis was asked to leave, but declined, and as a result has been issued with a trespass notice served by police.

DCC chief executive Sandy Graham says the decision to issue the trespass notice has not been taken lightly, but the council has a duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act to protect its staff, the wider public and elected members.

12:40pm - There is no press conference today at 1pm. Instead, the Ministry of Health will provide the latest updates in a statement. 

12:30pm - The country is preparing for another major shift in how it manages COVID-19, with travel in and out of Auckland resuming next week for the first time in four months.

Dr Dion O'Neale, principal investigator at Te Pūnaha Matatini and a lecturer at the University of Auckland, says experts are expecting hundreds-of-thousands of travellers to make the most of Auckland's reopening.

"During a typical (pre-COVID) week, we would expect to see about 150,000 trips per week into Auckland and about 200,000 trips per week originating in Auckland and travelling outside the region. These numbers decreased a bit once COVID reached Aotearoa in 2020, but during periods where the country was at alert level 1, we still saw over 100,000 trips per week to, and 200,000 trips from Auckland. This is without accounting for the summer holiday surge in travel when trips outside of Auckland typically double," he said on Wednesday.

"Removing regional travel boundaries will mean that we would expect to see cases distributed much more around the rest of Aotearoa."

Although requiring people to be vaccinated, or to test negative for COVID-19 in the 72 hours prior to travel, is expected to slightly reduce the chance of the virus spreading dramatically outside of Auckland, there are a number of reasons why these measures might not be as effective as we would hope, O'Neale said.

"In the current outbreak, about 24 percent of cases have been in children who are too young to be vaccinated and who aren't required to have a negative test. Related to this, although vaccination significantly reduces the chance that you will be infected (and reduces the chance that you will transmit COVID further if you have a breakthrough infection), it does not remove that risk. Similarly, a negative test in the three days before travel is not going to mean that adults are still non-infectious when they travel," he explained.

"And while vaccination is great at preventing transmission in general, it can make it trickier to prevent spread outside of a region since it can reduce the symptom severity of breakthrough infections sufficiently that people may not realise that they are infectious when travelling. There is a role here for easily accessible and affordable Rapid Antigen Tests which can help to quickly detect infections in people during the period when they are most infectious.

"One factor that is in our favour at the moment is the relatively low daily cases numbers we are seeing in Auckland. However even a period of only 100 daily detected cases means that there will be around 1500 active known cases.

"Because many of the regions that Aucklanders like to travel to for holidays have lower vaccination rates, we hope that a good number of people make the choice to stay in town for the holiday period, possibly delaying their trip until vaccination rates in other areas have caught up with those in the major cities."

12:15pm - Bank of New Zealand (BNZ) has announced vaccination requirements for staff, contractors, suppliers and customers who visit Partners Centres and BNZ corporate sites beginning January 17, 2022.

There will be no change for customers wishing to visit a branch for over-the-counter services, but customers who want to have a face-to-face appointment with a banker for services like lending, advice, and opening new accounts will need to provide their My Vaccine Pass.

"Vaccination is the best way to keep our people and everyone we work with safe. For customers, there's no change in how we serve them. All over-the-counter banking can still be done in branch regardless of vaccination status, but for longer in person appointments we will require customers to be fully vaccinated," BNZ CEO Dan Huggins said on Wednesday.

"Customers can continue to contact us on the phone or online to do most of their banking including discussing their lending needs, just as they have since the pandemic began."

In branches, BNZ requires customers to wear a mask and sign in with the NZ COVID Tracer app or tracing form. The bank ensures physical distancing and has sneeze guards.

BNZ staff, contractors, and suppliers will need to be fully vaccinated and present their My Vaccination Pass to access any BNZ site from January 17, 2022.

12pm - There is one new location of interest as of 12pm - Tumble Laundromat in Tauranga on Tuesday, November 30. There are two separate potential exposure events - between 3:45pm and 5:15pm and between 6:05pm and 7:20pm. Click here for public health advice.

11:45am - British drugmaker GSK (GSK.L) said on Tuesday (local time) its antibody-based COVID-19 therapy with US partner Vir Biotechnology (VIR.O) is effective against all mutations of the new Omicron variant, citing new data from early-stage studies.

The data, yet to be published in a peer-reviewed medical journal, shows that the companies' treatment, sotrovimab, is effective against all 37 identified mutations to date in the spike protein, GSK said in a statement.

Last week, another pre-clinical data showed the drug had worked against key mutations of the Omicron variant. Sotrovimab is designed to latch onto the spike protein on the surface of the coronavirus, but Omicron has been found to have an unusually high number of mutations on that protein. 

"These pre-clinical data demonstrate the potential for our monoclonal antibody to be effective against the latest variant, Omicron, plus all other variants of concern defined to date by the WHO," GSK chief scientific officer Hal Barron said.

GSK and Vir have been engineering so-called pseudoviruses that feature major coronavirus mutations across all suspicious variants that have emerged so far, and have run lab tests on their vulnerability to sotrovimab treatment.

- Reuters

11:30am - In case you missed it, the Omicron variant of the coronavirus can partially evade the protection from Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine, according to the research head of a laboratory at Africa Health Research Institute in South Africa - despite the World Health Organization saying on Wednesday there is "no reason" why existing vaccines should fail to protect against the new variant, according to reports.

Alex Sigal, a professor at the Africa Health Research Institute, said on Twitter there was "a very large drop" in neutralisation of the Omicron variant relative to an earlier strain of COVID-19. The lab tested blood from 12 people who had been vaccinated with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, according to a manuscript posted on the website for his lab. The preliminary data in the manuscript has not yet been peer reviewed.

Blood from five out of six people who had been vaccinated, as well as previously infected with COVID-19, still neutralised the Omicron variant, the manuscript said.

The Omicron variant, first detected in southern Africa last month, was classified by the World Health Organization on November 26 as a "variant of concern", but the agency said there was no evidence to support the need for new vaccines specifically designed to tackle the variant's many mutations. New reports on Wednesday quoted the WHO as saying there is "no reason" to expect the existing vaccines to fail against the strain.

Sigal did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. 

11:20am - The World Health Organization says there is no indication the Omicron variant causes more severe illness than the Delta strain, according to reports.

The agency also says there is no reason to expect existing COVID-19 vaccines will fail to provide protection against the new variant. 

11:15am - The Ministry of Health is releasing data on Māori vaccination rates, but has not made it explicitly clear what data they are committing to making available. 

A spokesperson told Newshub the ministry previously reached an agreement with the Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency to share individual Māori health data for the following North Island DHB regions: Waikato, Auckland metro (Auckland, Waitemata, and Counties Manukau DHBs), Taranaki, Tairawhiti, Midcentral and Capital Coast and Hutt Valley DHB regions.

"We are now working through the process for data relating to the remaining regions of the North Island (Northland, Lakes, Hawkes Bay, Bay of Plenty, Whanganui and Wairarapa DHB areas) and will complete our process within three working days as requested by the Court," the spokesperson said.

11:05am - One new location of interest has been added as of 11am - Countdown, Fairy Springs, Rotorua, on Tuesday, November 30 between 6pm and 9pm.

Here's a recap of the latest locations of interest identified by the Ministry of Health:

10:50am - We will get out of this pandemic, says Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, the COVID-19 technical lead of the World Health Organization (WHO). The question is how fast - and if the world will take what it's learned from the past two years and apply it to the next emerging pathogen.

In conversation with TED Talks current affairs curator Whitney Pennington Rodgers, Van Kerkhove provides insights on the Omicron variant, details a pandemic preparedness protocol under development at WHO, and shares what we all can do to bring the pandemic to a speedy end.

"Remain vigilant," Van Kerkhove says. "Everything you do... will either get us closer to ending this pandemic - or it will prolong it."

You can watch the TED Talk below.

10:40am - Testing is ramping up in Tauranga following the news that a student at Maungatapu Primary School has tested positive for COVID-19.

In a statement posted to the school's Facebook on Tuesday, principal Tane Bennett confirmed the child was infectious at the primary on Friday, December 3.

"Those that were in close contact with the case have been provided the appropriate public health advice including testing and isolation requirements," Bennett said.

"Based on international and local evidence and experience, the risk of COVID-19 transmission within school settings is considered low... Maungatapu School is staying open at this time."

In a post on Wednesday morning, the school said testing will be available from 12pm at the local Rangataua Rugby and Sports Club in Maungatapu.

10:25am - David Seymour has come out all guns blazing against plans for police and iwi to manage checkpoints at Northland's border, calling on the Government to scrap the roadblocks.

Earlier on Wednesday, the New Zealand Herald revealed that the Director-General of Health, Dr Ashley Bloomfield, had advised the Government in November to remove Auckland's regional boundary when the country transitioned to the COVID-19 Protection Framework, which came into effect on December 3. Instead, the Government set the date of Auckland's reopening for December 15.

In a statement on Wednesday, Seymour, the leader of the ACT Party, said the revelation proves that checkpoints at Northland's border are not required.

"The public health advice to Jacinda Ardern that we no longer need the Auckland border proves the controversial Northland roadblocks are not needed," he said. "Ashley Bloomfield has given advice that the borders are no longer needed.

"There are not enough cops in Auckland city. There have been ram-raids, robberies, burglaries and muggings because [criminals] know that police are busy on the border."

Earlier on Wednesday, Police Association president Chris Cahill said the roadblocks are an "absolute waste" of police time and resources, noting that the 300 officers being deployed to the border are being taken away from important work in their own districts. 

"Now that the Director-General of Health says there is no public health reason and the Police Association say they're a bad idea, police should scrap them," Seymour said.

"The public don't want these roadblocks, health officials don't want these roadblocks and the Police Association don't want these roadblocks. It's time to let Kiwis get on with summer and put 300 Police back on the beat where they belong."

10:15am - The Omicron variant of the coronavirus can partially evade the protection provided by the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday (local time), citing the research head of a laboratory at Africa Health Research Institute in South Africa.

Its evasion is not complete and a booster shot could provide additional protection, according to the report, citing researcher Alex Sigal.

The Omicron variant, first detected in southern Africa last month, has triggered international alarm as more than two dozen countries report cases of the new stain. The World Health Organization on November 26 classified Omicron as a "variant of concern", but said there is no evidence to support the need for new vaccines specifically designed to tackle the variant's many mutations.

Sigal did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. 

- Reuters

10:05am - Whangārei Mayor Sheryl Mai is looking forward to an influx of people into Northland, despite local iwi and community leaders' aversion to Aucklanders arriving en masse from next week. 

"We've got bookings galore," Whangārei Mayor Sheryl Mai told Newshub. "I think people are so keen to get away and start their holidays - and what better place to come than to Northland?"

However, some prospective travellers may be put off by plans to establish checkpoints at the region's border. Police and iwi will work together to man the roadblocks, ensuring all holidaymakers are fully vaccinated before entering Te Tai Tokerau.

Mai acknowledged that the deployment of roughly 300 officers to the border over a month's time could have consequences for other communities. 

"I'm sure there are other priorities for our police force to be working on, but they are required to implement the public health orders and they are responding appropriately. I noted that there are officers who will be coming from other parts of New Zealand - I do hope it doesn't impact the work they're able to provide for those communities," she said.

"It puts added pressure onto them at a busy time of year."

Read more here.

9:55am - Here's a recap of Tuesday's numbers:

• Total vaccines administered to date (percentage of eligible people): 7,762,793: 3,931,284 first doses (93 percent); 3,699,719 second doses (88 percent); 17,589 third primary doses; 114,201 booster doses
• Cases in hospital: 66 (including one being assessed): North Shore (14); Auckland (25); Middlemore (22); Waikato (2); Tauranga (1); Nelson (1)
• 98 new community cases: Auckland (74), Waikato (10), Bay of Plenty (8); Taranaki (1); Nelson Marlborough (5).

9:40am - Des Gorman, an emeritus professor of medicine at the University of Auckland, says the daily case numbers will "bounce around a bit" as the new COVID-19 Protection Framework beds in.

Some experts have expressed concern that the new framework, or 'traffic light' system, will lead to a spike in infections as New Zealand enjoys a return to relative normality. Under the system, fully vaccinated Kiwis are rewarded with freedom - as long as they present their My Vaccine Pass. However, regions in the 'Red' setting, such as Auckland, are still required to follow a number of restrictions, such as caps on customers. 

The increased interaction under the framework will likely lead to a rise in cases, epidemiologist Michael Baker said, telling the New Zealand Herald that the impact of freedom will become evident by the end of the week.

Gorman told Newshub he is expecting some variance in the number of cases, but the increase will not be as significant as some might think.

"I think the numbers will bounce around a bit, but they won't become alarming," he said.

9:25am - ACT leader David Seymour is echoing calls for the Government to reopen Auckland's regional border on Wednesday after it was revealed that the Director-General of Health had advised Cabinet that the hard border could have been lifted on December 3, when the country transitioned to the COVID-19 Protection Framework.

Earlier on Wednesday, National Party leader Christopher Luxon responded to the emergence of the previously unreleased public health advice, revealed by the New Zealand Herald, by urging the Government to lift Auckland's border on Wednesday. Seymour has now backed that call.

"Jacinda Ardern should today implement the public health advice she received – that the Auckland border should be lifted," he said in a statement.

"We are all paying the cost. People are missing funerals because they can't leave Auckland. One of them was on Friday, December 3, when Ashley Bloomfield told Jacinda Ardern that the Auckland border had 'served its purpose'."

Seymour also addressed plans for police and iwi to man checkpoints at Northland's border in a bid to protect the region from unvaccinated travellers. Over a month, roughly 300 police officers will be deployed from across the country to operate the roadblocks, a move that was panned by Police Association president Chris Cahill as "an absolute waste" of police resources.

Cahill said he hopes the roadblocks will be quickly disestablished once it becomes clear that the vast majority of Aucklanders - and the majority of people attempting to travel into Northland - are fully vaccinated.

"Three-hundred police are being sent to Northland to enforce borders that are not necessary, while crime gets out of control in Auckland, because the Prime Minister has made people more afraid of Aucklanders travelling than they needed to be," Seymour said.

9:15am - Previously unreleased public health advice, revealed by the New Zealand Herald on Wednesday morning, shows the Government was initially advised to allow some regions to enter the 'traffic light' system at the Green setting - a suggestion that was later adjusted. 

Currently, regions across the country are either in Red, the most restrictive setting, or Orange. 

According to the Herald, the advice was later modified due to concerns regarding low vaccination rates, particularly among Māori, and cases continuing to crop up outside of Auckland. 

"The final recommendation was that regions should be placed at Orange, except for Northland and Auckland metro DHBs, which should enter at Red. This adjustment was based on a precautionary approach and should be viewed as an interim measure for the coming weeks."

In the end, the Government decided to place a number of regions under the Red restrictions, including Gisborne, Whanganui and Taupō and Rotorua Lakes, to offer some greater protection.

The Government said its decisions were based on a "cautious" approach.

COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins told the Herald that Cabinet's decision not to relax the boundary when the traffic light system came into play "was to give regions a bit more time to get their vaccination rates up", and to allow the Government a "two-week period to review the framework settings".

Read more here.

9:05am - The Breast Cancer Foundation will deliver a petition to the Government this week after breast screening was suspended during the latest lockdown, putting women at risk.

The petition, signed by 10,500 people, is calling on the Government to ensure women can access lifesaving mammograms after breast screening was put on hold during New Zealand's lockdowns. It's also urging the Government to keep its promise to extend free screening to the age of 74.

The Breast Cancer Foundation's modelling shows at least 133 women currently don't know they have breast cancer as they couldn't get a mammogram during the latest lockdown, with the rate of breast screening dropping to its lowest level in 10 years. The Ministry of Health has admitted that after two years of lockdowns, the backlog for breast screening is as high as 50,000.

Since launching its petition in October, the charity has heard from hundreds of women who have been unable to reschedule their mammogram following a postponement. The Foundation's chair Justine Smyth and chief executive Ah-Leen Rayner will be joined by women directly affected by the screening backlog when they hand over the petition on Thursday.

8:55am - NZ Post's cut-off dates for sending Christmas presents domestically are fast approaching, with Kiwis urged to send any parcels via Economy by December 16 and any via courier by December 20. The deadline for sending presents overseas in time for Christmas has already passed. 

NZ Post's chief operating officer Brendon Main says the postal service is currently experiencing its busiest Christmas ever, and has made the decision to bring forward the deadlines for sending Christmas presents domestically to give Kiwis the best chance of having their parcels arrive in time for the holiday.  

"We have brought on as much extra capacity as we possibly can, and our teams are working flat out to get parcels under the tree in time. We're currently delivering about 2.4 million parcels every week, breaking the record for the busiest Christmas in NZ Post history," Main said on Wednesday.

"Our message to Kiwis is to send now, if you haven't already. The new Christmas cut-off dates are quickly approaching. Economy parcels should be sent by Thursday, December 16, and courier parcels by Monday, December 20, to give parcels the best chance of being with loved ones by the big day."  

NZ Post began to see record numbers of parcels in August when the country first went into lockdown, but those volumes have only increased in the lead-up to Christmas.  

"The busiest day for us so far was Cyber Monday, when we received over 535,000 parcels to deliver on just that one day alone - we're expecting to see parcel volumes at those heights this week. That's why it is so important for people to send their parcels as soon as they can.

"Our teams have been working incredibly hard to deliver these huge numbers of parcels for Kiwis. We've brought on hundreds of extra people, we've extended our operating hours and are processing 24/7, and we've re-designed our Auckland network to get parcels where they need to be as fast as we can. It's been wonderful to see so much patience, kindness and gratitude from Kiwis as our people are out and about delivering."

More information about sending deadlines for Christmas, as well as any updates on delays, can be found at nzpost.co.nz.

8:40am - A man who killed his wife and three young children before taking his own life had faked a vaccination certificate and feared his children would be taken away from him when the forgery was discovered, a German prosecutor said on Tuesday (local time).

Police found two adults, both 40, and three children aged four, eight and 10 dead from gunshot wounds in a family home in Koenigs Wusterhausen, south of Berlin, on Saturday.

In a farewell note found by police, the man said he had forged a vaccination certificate for his wife. Her employer had found out, prompting the couple to fear they would be arrested and lose their children, prosecutor Gernot Bantleon told Reuters.

Police were called to the property after being alerted by witnesses who had seen the lifeless bodies, police and prosecutors said on Saturday.

The grisly case comes as German officials tighten up restrictions to try and stem a fourth wave of COVID-19. From November, employees have been required to show proof of vaccination, recovery, or a negative test.

German authorities agreed last week to bar the unvaccinated from access to all but the most essential businesses such as grocery stores, pharmacies and bakeries. There are also plans to make vaccination mandatory for some jobs.

- Reuters

8:30am - Just two motel units have been set aside in Queenstown for people who might need help to isolate with COVID-19 - despite tens of thousands of Aucklanders set to arrive in the holiday hotspot.

Mayor Jim Boult is concerned the units will not be enough.

Mini managed isolation and quarantine facilities are being set up across the country in case people are not able to isolate where they live or in their accommodation.

Boult said two motel units are clearly not enough for Queenstown. He has asked the Southern District Health Board to get a larger facility on-board - especially with an influx of Aucklanders set to arrive in about a week's time. 

Most people with COVID-19 now isolate at home if they are well enough, but that is not always possible if their house is too crowded or they are in their last couple of days at a campground, motel or Airbnb.

Boult said many hoteliers have expressed concern about what they need to do if a guest contracts COVID-19.

"Obviously they can't get in an aeroplane and fly back to Auckland, so they need to be isolated," he said.

Read more here.

8:20am - Mandatory vaccination against COVID-19 is a last resort, the head of the World Health Organization's Europe division, Hans Kluge, told reporters on Tuesday. Meanwhile, early indications suggest the Omicron variant is more transmissible than the earlier, and highly infectious, Delta strain, Prime Minister Boris Johnson told his top team of Cabinet ministers.

Britain will not require stricter domestic restrictions in the run-up to Christmas as widespread vaccination has put the country in a more resilient position than a year ago, Justice Secretary Dominic Raab said.

The new Omicron variant has spread across Denmark, its authorities said on Tuesday, after large outbreaks of the variant were registered in the east and west of the country.

In Germany, it has been reported that a man who killed his wife and three young children before taking his own life had faked a vaccination certificate, and feared his children would be taken away from him when the forgery was discovered.

In the US, New York City expanded its array of COVID-19 mandates on Monday, setting vaccine requirements for children as young as five and for workers at all private-sector companies as the highly transmissible Omicron variant creeps across more state lines. 

Here's the latest on the pandemic from around the world overnight. 

8:10am - A major British study into mixing COVID-19 vaccines has found that people had a better immune response when they received a first dose of AstraZeneca or Pfizer-BioNTech, followed by Moderna nine weeks later, according to the results on Monday.

"We found a really good immune response across the board... in fact, higher than the threshold set by Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine two doses," Matthew Snape, the Oxford professor behind the trial, dubbed Com-COV2, told Reuters.

The findings supporting flexible dosing will offer some hope to poor and middle-income countries which may need to combine different brands if supplies run low or become unstable.

"I think the data from this study will be especially interesting and valuable to low- and middle-income countries where they're still rolling out the first two doses of vaccines," Snape said.

"We're showing... you don't have to stick rigidly to receiving the same vaccine for a second dose... and that if the programme will be delivered more quickly by using multiple vaccines, then it is okay to do so."

If the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine is followed by a Moderna or Novavax shot, higher antibodies and T-cell responses were induced versus two doses of AstraZeneca, according to researchers at the University of Oxford.

The study of 1070 volunteers also found that a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine followed by a Moderna shot was better than two doses of the former.

Pfizer-BioNTech, followed by Novavax, induced higher antibodies than the two-dose Oxford-AstraZeneca schedule - although this schedule induced lower antibody and T-cell responses than the two-dose Pfizer-BioNTech schedule.

No safety concerns were raised, according to the Oxford University study published in the Lancet medical journal.

Read more here.

8am - National Party leader Christopher Luxon is calling on the Government to open Auckland border's on Wednesday night rather than the planned date of December 15.

Public health officials suggested in November that Auckland's regional boundary should be lifted when New Zealand shifts into the new 'traffic light' system, the New Zealand Herald revealed on Wednesday morning.

Although the previously unreleased public health advice suggested the border around Auckland should have been removed when the country transitioned into the COVID-19 Protection Framework (CPF), which officially came into force at 11:59pm on December 2, the Government decided to ignore that advice and set the date of Auckland's reopening for December 15.

Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield explained the advice in an affidavit to the Waitangi Tribunal looking into the COVID-19 response. The advice was part of a paper on November 24, two days after the Prime Minister announced the 'traffic light' system would come into play on December 3.

Dr Bloomfield is quoted by NZ Herald as saying the border could be lifted as "there will be no public health justification to maintain a boundary around Auckland under the CPF".

He believed the new system, with increasing vaccination rates, would minimise the chance of serious illness and death in and out of Auckland. Keeping the boundary up would also take testing capacity away from other tasks, such as quick turnarounds for close contacts, the NZ Herald reports Dr Bloomfield as saying.

Reacting to that advice, Christopher Luxon told The AM Show on Wednesday that it was "unusual" the Prime Minister "hasn't listened to Ashley Bloomfield". 

"If the public health advice is that frankly Auckland doesn't need a border, because we've got very high vaccination rates, I can tell you now Aucklanders, having been an Auckland-based MP, having been in lockdown, having seen people up close and personal around their businesses, their mental health, I think that border should be released."

He encouraged the Prime Minister to lift the border on Wednesday night.

"If the public health advice is saying that the board is not needed, we've got Ashley Bloomfield telling us we've got very high levels of vaccination, we're well over 90 percent, what's the justification for it?"

Read more here.

7:50am - Police Association president Chris Cahill is hoping the roadblocks in Northland will quickly fall through once it's realised that the majority of people hoping to travel into the region are fully vaccinated.

He says the checkpoints are a waste of resources, noting that the deployed officers could be doing work back in their own communities. 

"The Government passed a law that gave iwi the impression they'll be involved with checkpoints. The iwi wanted to set them up, if police hadn't got involved and [iwi had] done it by themeslves, that could've caused a lot more frustration - it's better police are involved to try and get things to run smoothly," Cahill told The AM Show on Wednesday morning.

"I just hope at the end the common sense that actually, we're not finding unvaccinated [people] at these stops, will see them disbanded quickly. At the moment [the roadblocks] are set to go for a month, which is an absolute waste of those resources - victims would rather see police in their own districts."

7:40am - Police Association president Chris Cahill says plans for police and iwi to man checkpoints at the Northland/Te Tai Tokerau border is not a good use of resources, taking officers away from important work in their own districts.

From next week, police and iwi will work together to establish checkpoints at Northland's border to ensure only fully vaccinated travellers are able to enter the region, which is battling to boost its flagging vaccination rates.

Over a month, 296 police officers from across the country will be deployed to man the checkpoints, in conjunction with local iwi. Seventy-four will initially be deployed next week.

Speaking to The AM Show on Wednesday morning, Cahill said his staff are "not very pleased".

"In reality is, they don't think it's a good use of resources," he said. "These are officers that should be back in their districts doing the busy work that happens at this time of year, Christmas and New Year policing, family harm... not stopping vehicles of people that are already vaccinated. It's just not going to achieve what the aim is."

He says with a number of police missing from the line of duty, crime may increase in understaffed areas.

"Something has to give. I'm certainly hoping that after a few days, the reality that you're not stopping unvaccinated people leaving Auckland will be proven, and the [roadblocks] will be shut down. I understand the concerns of the iwi around the risk for their whānau in Northland, but when 92 percent of people in Auckland are vaccinated, that's who you're going to be stopping. 

"I think their resources would be much better [used] getting that vaccination rate up."

Cahill says the high rates of vaccination in Auckland should give concerned Northlanders some peace of mind, noting that the vast majority of people at the checkpoints will be fully vaccinated.

7:30am - Private parties with unvaccinated attendees are one of the main risks heading into the festive seasons, says epidemiologist Michael Baker. 

Transmission is more likely to occur in indoor settings. According to University of Auckland aerosol chemist Dr Joel Rindelaub, the evidence indicates someone is roughly 20 times less likely to transmit COVID-19 in open-air, outdoor environments.

"Our biggest risk will be private parties with unvaccinated people, which could be difficult to contain during the festive season," Baker told the New Zealand Herald.

Another concern is the virus continuing to creep throughout the country after Auckland's regional boundary is reopened on December 15, allowing two-way travel in and out of the region to resume after almost four months.

"We are entering uncharted tertiary, it's unpredictable what will happen next," he said.

Aucklanders are urged to take precautions before embarking on interregional travel this summer, such as getting tested prior to departure, including children, and ensuring everyone is vaccinated. 

"Try to get at least one family member tested, maybe one of your children under 12 who isn't vaccinated," he suggested.

"Please do everything you can not to take the virus with you."

7:20am - Kia ora, good morning, and welcome to Newshub's live coverage of the COVID-19 outbreak for Wednesday, December 8.