As it happened: Latest on New Zealand's Omicron cases - Friday, December 31

There were 49 new COVID-19 infections in New Zealand on New Year's Eve - but no sign of Omicron in the community, keeping fears over an outbreak of the variant at bay for now.

The risk that UK DJ Dimension's activity in the community over the last week caused an Omicron outbreak is now deemed to be low, the Ministry of Health says.

Meanwhile eligible Pacific peoples and the Hawke's Bay DHB reached the milestone of 90 percent double-vaccinated just before the turn of the year.       

It comes as every area that was at the red setting of the traffic light system - barring Northland - moved to orange overnight. That includes Auckland, Taupō, Rotorua lakes districts, Whakatāne, Kawerau, Ōpōtiki, Gisborne, Wairoa, Rangitīkei, Whanganui and Ruapehu.

What you need to know:

• Auckland and every other area that was at the red traffic light - barring Northland - moved to orange at 11:59pm last night.
• 49 new community COVID-19 cases in New Zealand on New Year's Eve - 22 in Auckland, three in Waikato, 19 in Bay of Plenty, four in Lakes and one in Hawke's Bay.
• 13 new cases in managed isolation and quarantine facilities.
• More test results come back for contacts of UK DJ Dimension and Air NZ crew member who had Omicron - they're all negative.
• Risk of transmission from Dimension's jaunt in community is now deemed to be low.
• 90 percent of eligible Pacific peoples are now double-vaccinated.
• Hawke's Bay DHB reaches 90 percent double-vaccinated.
• More than 300,000 have had a booster shot - about 70 percent of those eligible.
• Investigations still ongoing to determine how a person in Napier contracted COVID-19.
• Click here for all locations of interest.

These live updates have finished.

3:15pm - There is one new location of interest. It is:

• High risk location: Sunglass Style Tauranga Crossing Tauriko, December 26 from 9:35am to 11:20am.

3pm - Australia will be without their leading run-scorer of the Ashes series in Sydney with confirmation Travis Head has tested positive for COVID-19.

The home side lead the five-match series 3-0 and are on track for a whitewash against an England side bereft of confidence and form.

But the urn holders will be minus Head for the fourth test at the Sydney Cricket Ground, as he will remain in Victoria with his partner for seven days of self-isolation.

The remainder of the Australian squad, their families and support staff have undergone PCR tests and are expected to travel to Sydney later on Friday.

Read the full story here.

2:15pm - The United Kingdom recorded 189,213 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday (local time), a daily record, and 332 deaths, government data showed.

Case numbers were up from the previous record of 183,037 on Wednesday, with infections being driven by the new Omicron variant.

While the government has said Omicron may be more mild it is also more transmissible and surging infections have caused widespread disruption, with train companies cancelling services due to a lack of staff and Premier League soccer matches being called off.

Separate data also showed that the number of hospital beds occupied by confirmed COVID-19 patients in English hospitals rose to 11,452. It has risen by more than 4000 in the last week.

The data providers said the daily death figures, which at 332 were up strongly from the 57 reported on Wednesday, included a backlog of deaths from the December 24-29 period that had not been recorded properly during the festive period.

- Reuters

1:20pm - Here's the full Ministry of Health release:

Nationwide, 90% of eligible Pacific peoples have now are now fully vaccinated, with a total of 258,713 having had their second dose.

Meanwhile, Hawke’s Bay DHB has also reached the milestone of 90% of the eligible population being fully vaccinated.

In addition, more than 300,000 people have received a booster, about 70% of those eligible to get their booster (after six months since second dose) in 2021.

Our vaccine rollout remains our key defence against all variants of COVID-19, including Omicron. With 90% of the eligible population now double-dosed, and the booster programme underway, New Zealanders are well protected. We want vaccinations to continue increasing and ask everyone who is eligible to get vaccinated. This is also a timely reminder for people over the age of 18 to get their booster shot if it has been six months since their last vaccine dose.

From 5 January, people only need to wait four months since their last dose and will be able to access a booster through walk in clinics. For a full list of vaccination centres see the Healthpoint website.

Omicron update

There are 10 Omicron cases to report among recent arrivals at the border, taking the total at the border, to date to 88.  

There are no community Omicron cases to report. 

Border-related case of Omicron with community exposures

Regarding the Omicron border case announced on Wednesday, microbiologists have advised that the risk of transmission from this case is low.

We can now confirm that the six close contacts who attended the Hidden Lakes festival have all tested negative for COVID-19. This means there was no public health risk associated with this event.

Contact tracing has now identified 88 close contacts for this case. This includes close contacts identified via case interviews and from locations of interest. 80 of these contacts have been reached, all are isolating and have been tested. All results received to date have been negative. Contact tracers are working urgently to contact the eight close contacts who are yet to be reached.

Air New Zealand flight attendant

All eight close contacts of the border-related Omicron case in the Air New Zealand flight crew member have returned negative tests.

There are no locations of interest associated with this case and therefore the risk to the public has been determined to be low.

Whole Genome Sequencing

With the evolving international data on Omicron and two border-related cases with community exposures, we have amended the prioritisation for undertaking whole genome sequencing on positive cases of COVID-19 in international arrivals and border workers.

Previously we prioritised whole genome sequencing for cases of COVID-19 in international arrivals, in particular where individuals were undertaking three days in self-isolation. However, now that all international arrivals are required to complete a full 10 days in a managed isolation facility and return a negative day nine test before release, the risk of community transmission of the Omicron variant from these cases is deemed to be low. Samples from international arrivals will still be dealt with in a timely manner and tested no later than 48 hours of a sample being received

Furthermore, as we are now assuming all recent arrivals who test positive have the Omicron variant, we will now prioritise whole genome sequencing for any positive cases of COVID-19 in border-related workers and their families. This is where there is the greatest risk of Omicron entering the community. This new approach will help to ensure the risk of any community transmission of Omicron remains low. These samples will be treated as urgent and tested within 12 hours of being received by the laboratory.

As always, it is important to stay at home if you are sick, get tested if you have symptoms of COVID-19 and isolate until you return a negative test.

COVID-19 vaccine update

• Vaccines administered to date (percentage of eligible people): 3,974,357 first doses (94%); 3,850,822 second doses (91%); 28,890 third primary doses; 312,821 booster doses
• Vaccines administered yesterday: 963 first doses; 4,916 second doses; 390 third primary doses and 17,116 booster doses.
• Māori (percentage of eligible people): 500,204 first doses (88%); 460,296 second doses (81%)
• Pacific Peoples (percentage of eligible people): 271,232 first doses (95%); 258,713 second doses (90%)

Vaccination rates by DHB with active cases (percentage of eligible people)

• Northland DHB: First doses (88%); second doses (84%)
• Auckland Metro DHBs: First doses (96%); second doses (94%)
• Waikato DHB: First doses (94%); second doses (90%)
• Bay of Plenty DHB: First doses (93%); second doses (89%)
• Lakes DHB: First doses (92%); second doses (87%)
• Taranaki DHB: First doses (93%); second doses (89%)
• Tairawhiti DHB: First doses (91%); second doses (86%)
• Hawke’s Bay DHB: First doses (95%); second doses (90%)
• Canterbury DHB: First doses (98%); second doses (95%)

Hospitalisations

• Cases in hospital: 46; North Shore: 10; Auckland: 14; Middlemore: 18; Tauranga: 2; Lakes: 2
• Vaccination status of current hospitalisations (Northern Region wards only): Unvaccinated or not eligible (11 cases / 29.7%); partially immunised <7 days from second dose or have only received one dose (9 cases / 24.3%); fully vaccinated at least 7 days before being reported as a case (15 cases / 40.5%); unknown 2 (5.4%)
• Average age of current hospitalisations: 57
• Cases in ICU or HDU: 8 (3 in Auckland; 3 in Middlemore, 2 in Tauranga)

Cases

• Seven day rolling average of community cases: 44.7
• Number of new community cases: 49
• Number of new cases identified at the border: 13
• Location of new community cases: Auckland (22), Waikato (3), Bay of Plenty (19), Lakes (4), Hawke’s Bay (1)
• Number of community cases (total): 10,825 (in current community outbreak)
• Cases epidemiologically linked (total): 8118
• Number of active cases (total): 1,090 (cases identified in the past 21 days and not yet classed as recovered)
• Confirmed cases (total): 13748

Contacts

• Number of active contacts being managed (total): 6040
• Percentage who have received an outbound call from contact tracers (to confirm testing and isolation requirements): 84%
• Percentage who have returned at least one result: 79%

Tests

• Number of tests total (last 24 hours): 15,449
• Tests rolling average (last 7 days): 11,299
• Auckland tests total (last 24 hours): 7,674

Wastewater

• No unexpected detections

NZ COVID Tracer

• Poster scans in 24 hours to midday yesterday: 2,593,981
• Manual diary entries in 24 hours to midday: 51,092

My Vaccine Pass

• My vaccine pass downloads total: 4,599,204
• My vaccine pass downloads (last 24 hours): 17,403

New cases identified at the border 

Today’s cases

Today, we are reporting new community cases in Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Lakes, and Hawke’s Bay.

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 stay at home until you return a negative test result.

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

Auckland

Today, there are 22 new cases being reported in Auckland. 

Health and welfare providers are now supporting 1257 people to isolate at home, including 333 cases.

Waikato

There are three new cases in the Waikato today, all in Ātiamuri.

All have been linked to previous cases.

For details of dedicated testing sites operating over the holiday period, please visit the dedicated DHB page or DHB Facebook page.

There were 821 tests processed in the Waikato yesterday and 557 vaccinations delivered.

In the Waikato, Public Health, primary care and manaaki providers are supporting 59 cases to isolate at home.

Bay of Plenty

There are 19 new cases to report in Bay of Plenty today. 

Of the cases, 17 are in Tauranga and two are in Western Bay of Plenty.

Ten are linked to previously reported cases, with the remaining still being investigated for potential links.

All cases are isolating at home or in managed accommodation.

Lakes DHB

There are four new cases to report in Lakes DHB today.

Two of the cases are in the Rotorua area and two are in Taupo.

Two of today’s cases are linked to previously reported cases and two are still being investigated for potential links.

All cases are isolating at home or in managed accommodation.

Case that travelled from Wellington to Gisborne

Locations of interest published yesterday afternoon are linked to a case that travelled from Wellington to Gisborne on 23 December.

These include Atrium Towers Apartment Wellington Central, Caltex Westlow Dannevirke, and Rydges Pipitea Wellington.

Further details of these locations and times can be found at locations of interest.

This case has been previously reported and is included in Tairāwhiti case numbers.

Hawke’s Bay

There is one COVID-19 case to report in Napier today, first announced by the DHB yesterday.

Investigations continue into links to any previous cases.

While public health officials continue investigations, all known close contacts of the cases have been identified and are now isolating and being tested for COVID-19.

Investigations continue as to how the cases contracted COVID-19 and any new locations of interest associated with the cases with be published on the Ministry of Health website.

In addition, the Ministry received notification of a second case in Hawke’s Bay which is a close contact of the first. This case was notified after the reporting cut-off and will be included in tomorrow’s figures.

1:18pm - The Ministry of Health has released its latest figures.

Crucially, there are no new Omicron cases in the community to report, though there are 10 new cases of the variant at the border.

1:12pm - There are 49 new cases of COVID-19 in the community and 13 in MIQ.

We're still waiting to receive a breakdown of where they are and further details about any Omicron threat.

12:35pm - Another summer, another COVID anthem starring Dr Ashley Bloomfield.

The Director-General of Health has once again starred in a music video - this time reminding Kiwis to 'mask, scan, pass' - set to heavy electronic music.

This time he's supported by COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins, whose infamous 'spread your legs' faux pas is incorporated.

11:45am - Two new locations of interest have been added to the Ministry of Health website, both in Tauranga.

The first is SKIN Dermatology Institute Tauranga South (between 7:38am and 9:30am on Tuesday, December 21) and the other Fifth Avenue Family Practice (between 10:10am and 10:45am on Wednesday, December 22).

People who were at either of these locations at these times are advised to self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms for 10 days after exposure. If symptoms develop, get a test and stay at home until you get a negative test result.

11:05am - A huge daily COVID-19 case number tally in Omicron-ravaged New South Wales.

The Australian state has just recorded a massive 21,151 new infections on New Year's Eve, along with 763 people in hospital, 69 in ICU and six deaths.

10:20am - We are just a few hours away from today's COVID-19 update.

A number of mysteries still remain - the most pressing being whether British DJ Dimension's jaunt in the community before getting a day 9 test result back will culminate in an Omicron outbreak.

We're also set to find out if an Air NZ crew member with Omicron's last remaining close contact has tested positive, and more details on how a community case ended up in Napier.

9:50am - A little reminder that everywhere that was under the red setting of the traffic light system yesterday is at orange today - except for Northland.

Those settings will be reviewed again in just under three weeks.

Unite Against COVID-19 have produced the below graphic to explain what life looks like with the relaxed restrictions.

9:20am - French government officials are condemning an apparent anti-vaccine attack that saw the car and garage of an MP set on fire and an adjacent wall scrawled with graffiti.

The suspected protest at the home of Pascal Bois comes as the government prepares to tighten legislation on COVID-19 shots amid soaring infection numbers.

"Such criminal acts of intimidation are not acceptable in a democracy," Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said on his Twitter account on Thursday, adding that police had opened an investigation.

9am - The Omicron variant has fuelled thousands of new COVID-19 hospitalisations among US children within weeks, raising new concerns about how the many unvaccinated Americans under the age of 18 will fare in the new surge.

The seven-day-average number of daily hospitalisations for children between December 21-27 is up more than 58 percent nationwide in the past week to 334, compared to around 19 percent for all age groups.

Fewer than 25 percent of the 74 million Americans under 18 are vaccinated, according to the CDC.

Read more about how a COVID-19 hospitalisation surge among US children is spurring new Omicron concerns here.

8:40am - ACT leader David Seymour has lashed out at the Government over My Vaccine Pass, which is being updated after a flaw within the app was exposed this week.

Seymour pointed out that if you delete the vaccine pass from your phone's wallet and reinstall it, the end date resets until June 1, 2022.

"The expiry date is meaningless. It's not linked to your vaccination date and immunity levels, just when you downloaded the pass," he explained on Twitter.

"The truth is, the Govt has no plan so just set an arbitrary date. It's failing to get the basics of the vaccine rollout right, despite being among the last in the world to do it. As the costs of COVID-19 start to mount, we need a Govt that asks so much of Kiwis to do better."

8:15am - Remember this time last year, when we we were enjoying our Christmas holidays smug in the knowledge that we'd conquered COVID-19?

Fast-forward to the end of 2021, where we now know there were more threats to come - including the arrival of Delta and Omicron on our shores.

Read Mark Quinlivan's piece on how everything changed this year - including our once globally hailed elimination strategy.

8am - Tributes are flowing for late Chinese COVID-19 whistleblower, Li Wenliang, on the anniversary of the day when he learned of the virus and shared the information with fellow doctors.

Li, an ophthalmologist at a hospital in Wuhan where the Sars-CoV-2 virus outbreak was first detected, was reprimanded by local police in early 2020 after information about it was shared on social media.

On January 12 that year he went to hospital, having been infected with the virus that causes COVID-19, and died less than a month later.

His death led to an outpouring of grief on social media at a time when people were on edge about the virus and authorities were under fire over a perceived lack of transparency and a hardline approach taken to whistleblowers like Li.

Read more here.

7:45am - Investigations are continuing today after Hawke's Bay DHB confirmed a person in Napier tested positive for COVID-19.

It's the first case in the city since a man moved from Auckland to Napier in mid-November. Medical Officer of Health Dr Nick Jones said the case is isolating at home and is getting appropriate support.

All known close contacts of the case have been identified, are isolating and are being tested for COVID-19.

People in the region who are experiencing cold or flu symptoms are urged to get tested.

7:30am - COVID-19 records have tumbled in Europe, where Italy and Greece have recorded their highest daily case numbers ever, Turkey's experiencing a surge and the UK struggles to cope with an influx of hospitalisations.

In the US, experts are warning it could be a tough month ahead of an announcement that vaccines are safe for 12-15-year-olds.

Elsewhere Israel is unveiling a fourth vaccine shot and Russia has overtaken Brazil to become the country with the world's second-highest death toll from COVID-19.

Read all about it here.

7am - Forgotten what the difference is between the red and orange light? Let us jog your memory.

The main change is at orange, tight gathering limits can be relaxed.

There will be no limits on hospitality, gatherings, events, close contact business, gyms so long as vaccine passes are used. However without the use of passes, limits will be applied and some businesses won't be able to operate at all.

An explainer on the other differences between the traffic light colours can be found here.

6:45am - Auckland and many other areas moved from the red setting of the traffic light system to orange at 11:59pm on Thursday, December 30.

Taupō, Rotorua lakes districts, Whakatāne, Kawerau, Ōpōtiki, Gisborne, Wairoa, Rangitīkei, Whanganui and Ruapehu all joined the region in adopting loosened COVID-19 restrictions.

Northland is the only red region that didn't change its settings, owing to its comparatively low vaccination rate.