There are 126 new cases of COVID-19 to report over the past 48 hours, with 1385 active infections nationwide as of Boxing Day.
In a statement on Sunday, the Ministry of Health confirmed that 80 percent of eligible Māori are now fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Of the 126 new cases this Christmas weekend, 88 have been detected in Auckland, 17 have been detected in Waikato, six have tested positive in Bay of Plenty, 13 have tested positive in Lakes and one new case has been recorded in both Taranaki and Northland respectively.
Forty-seven people are currently in hospital with the virus, seven of whom are in intensive care or high dependency units.
Seven new cases of the Omicron variant have also been recorded at the border this weekend as the highly transmissible strain continues to run rampant overseas. There are now 45 cases of the variant in New Zealand, however it has yet to be detected in the community.
Here is the latest update from the Ministry of Health:
80 pct of Māori now double-dosed; 126 community cases over 2 days; 47 in hospital; 7 in ICU
Eighty percent of Māori are now fully vaccinated against COVID-19, with 454,492 eligible Māori now inoculated with their second dose.
Both the Waikato and Hawke's Bay regions have now vaccinated 90 percent of their eligible populations. In Waikato, 320,537 eligible residents have now received their second dose and in the Hawke's Bay, 130,771 are now fully vaccinated.
Holiday reminder
Season’s greetings from the Ministry of Health - we're asking everyone to play their part to reduce the spread of the virus over the break.
Anyone with any symptoms that could be COVID-19 is asked to get a test and remain where they are until they receive a negative result and are feeling better. For those away on holiday who test positive, you will be contacted regarding your ongoing care.
Testing locations nationwide can be found via Healthpoint.
People who are out and about on Boxing Day are asked to wear a mask and maintain physical distancing in crowded or poorly ventilated indoor spaces, and scan in using the COVID-19 Tracer app.
The vaccine remains our key defence against all variants of COVID-19, including Omicron. We continue to ask everyone who is eligible to get vaccinated, including people who are now eligible for a booster.
COVID-19 vaccine update
Vaccines administered to date (percentage of eligible people): 3,971,765 first doses (94 pct); 3,834,830 second doses (91 pct); 27,948 third primary doses; 273,640 booster doses.
Vaccines administered over past 24 hours (please note vaccination centres closed yesterday for Christmas Day): 5 first doses; 52 second doses; 1 third primary doses and 49 booster doses.
Māori (percentage of eligible people): 498,975 first doses (87 pct); 454,492 second doses (80 pct)
Pacific Peoples (percentage of eligible people): 269,184 first doses (94 pct); 255,887 second doses (89 pct).
Vaccination rates by DHB with active cases (percentage of eligible people)
Northland DHB: First doses (88 pct); second doses (84 pct)
Auckland Metro DHBs: First doses (96 pct); second doses (93 pct)
Waikato DHB: First doses (93 pct); second doses (90 pct)
Bay of Plenty DHB: First doses (93 pct); second doses (89 pct)
Lakes DHB: First doses (92 pct); second doses (87 pct)
Taranaki DHB: First doses (93 pct); second doses (89 pct)
Hawke's Bay DHB: First doses (94 pct); second doses (90 pct)
Tairāwhiti DHB: First doses (91 pct); second doses (85 pct)
Hutt Valley DHB: First doses (95 pct); second doses (92 pct)
Nelson-Marlborough DHB: First doses (95 pct); second doses (91 pct)
Canterbury DHB: First doses (98 pct); second doses (95 pct).
Hospitalisations
Cases in hospital: 47; North Shore: 5; Auckland: 14; Middlemore: 22; Waikato: 2; Tauranga: 4
Vaccination status of current hospitalisations (Northern Region wards only): Unvaccinated or not eligible (16 cases / 42.1 pct); partially immunised <7 days from second dose or have only received one dose (6 cases / 15.8 pct); fully vaccinated at least 7 days before being reported as a case (16 cases/ 42.1 pct); unknown (0 cases / 0 pct)
Average age of current hospitalisations: 55
Cases in ICU or HDU: 7 (2 in Auckland; 3 in Middlemore; 2 in Tauranga).
Cases
Seven day rolling average of community cases: 51
Number of new community cases: 126 over two days
Number of new cases identified at the border: 10 over two days
Number of new Omicron cases identified at the border: 7 new over two days, taking total to 45
Location of new community cases over two days: Auckland (88), Waikato (17), Bay of Plenty (6), Lakes (13), Taranaki (1), Northland (1)
Number of community cases (current community outbreak total): 10,619
Cases epidemiologically linked (total): 7,885
Number of active cases (total cases identified in the past 21 days and not yet classed as recovered): 1,385
Confirmed cases (total): 13,485.
Contacts
Number of active contacts being managed (total): 6,124
Percentage who have received an outbound call from contact tracers (to confirm testing and isolation requirements): 80 pct
Percentage who have returned at least one result: 75 pct.
Tests
Number of tests total (last 24 hours): 10,569
Tests rolling average (last 7 days): 16,758
Auckland tests total (last 24 hours): 11,066.
Wastewater
There has been a new COVID-19 detection in wastewater in Te Puke and in Seaview in the Hutt Valley, in samples taken on December 22 and 23 respectively
A new detection in Whangārei wastewater follows an earlier negative result
Further samples in these areas and others will be collected this week for analysis.
NZ COVID Tracer
Poster scans in 24 hours to midday yesterday: 1,679,572
Manual diary entries in 24 hours to midday: 24,520.
My Vaccine Pass
My vaccine passes issued total: 4,536,795
My vaccine passes issued (last 48 hours): 21,701.
Here are the latest regional updates from the Ministry of Health:
Today's cases
Today, we are reporting new community cases recorded over both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Lakes and Taranaki.
Northland update
There is one new case to report in Hikurangi, Northland. Interviews are underway to determine the source of their infection and identify any contacts.
Testing locations are available via the Northland DHB website.
Auckland
There are 88 new cases to report in Auckland, recorded over the past 48 hours.
Health and welfare providers are now supporting 1492 people to isolate at home, including 414 cases.
Taranaki
There is one new case to report in Eltham, Taranaki.
It is the same case first announced by the Taranaki DHB on Saturday. The individual has been linked to a previously reported case in Eltham.
Gisborne
There are two new cases to report in Gisborne. The cases were initially announced by Tairāwhiti DHB on Thursday afternoon and will be formally added to the official tally on Monday due to issues with Tairāwhiti data reporting.
The infections are linked to a case in Tauranga and both are isolating at home.
