Almost half-a-million New Zealand children are now eligible to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
As of Monday, Kiwi kids aged five to 11 can now receive a special paediatric dose of Pfizer-BioNTech's vaccine - a third of the dose administered to adults. The Ministry of Health recommends an eight-week interval between the two jabs to reduce the chance of possible side effects.
Meanwhile, a worker at a managed isolation and quarantine facility tested positive for the highly infectious Omicron variant on Sunday, with several locations of interest already identified throughout Auckland. Experts have expressed concern that New Zealand is not in a good place to cope with an outbreak of Omicron, noting that the vaccination of tamariki has only just begun and the booster roll-out is still in its early stages.
No new cases of the variant have been detected in the community so far, the Ministry of Health and Jacinda Ardern confirmed on Monday afternoon. Of the worker's 67 close contacts, 43 have already returned negative results, as well as their seven household contacts - which is a "very encouraging sign", Ardern said.
What you need to know
- An Auckland MIQ worker tested positive for the highly infectious Omicron variant on Sunday
- A number of high-risk locations of interest have been identified in Auckland
- The worker is deemed to have been infectious from Monday, January 10
- Of the worker's 67 close contacts, 43 have returned negative results, as well as their seven household contacts - a "very encouraging sign", Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Monday
- Sixteen new community cases of COVID-19 have been recorded on Monday, as well as 42 infections at the border
- Thirty people are in hospital with COVID-19, two of whom are in the ICU
- Close to half-a-million tamariki aged five to 11 are now eligible to receive a special paediatric dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
These live updates have now finished.
1:50pm - Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has received her booster shot of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Sharing the moment to her social channels, Ardern joked, "Just taking a quiet moment to get my booster" - the photo showing her surrounded by media personnel.
"Roughly half of eligible kiwis have now had their booster, make sure you’re one of them! You can book online at https://bookmyvaccine.covid19.health.nz or you can visit one of the many walk in clinics around the country," she wrote.
"Sadly, we know it’s a case of when, not if, Omicron reaches us. But thankfully evidence tells us that a booster provides good protection again severe illness and hospitalisation. So please, if you received your second dose of the COVID 19 vaccine four or more months ago, then add a booster to your to do list today."
1:35pm - Here's a recap of Monday's key updates:
- The paediatric version of the Pfizer vaccine is now available for five to 11-year-olds at centres throughout New Zealand, including walk-ins, drive-throughs, hauora providers, community pharmacies and general practices.
- All seven household contacts of the Omicron-infected MIQ worker have returned one negative test result, with further tests to be taken. Of the case's 67 close contacts identified, 43 have already returned negative results.
- Auckland Regional Public Health is continuing to work with MIQ staff to look for any possible routes of transmission between returnees at the Stamford Plaza and the MIQ worker. Additional testing is being arranged for MIQ staff at this facility.
- From today, people over the age of 18 are now able to book their booster shot online if they received their last vaccine dose at least four months earlier.
- Thirty people are currently in hospital with COVID-19, two of whom are in the ICU.
- Forty-two new arrivals have tested positive for COVID-19 at the border.
- There are 16 new community cases of COVID-19 to report on Monday - seven in Auckland, six in Lakes, one in Hawke's Bay (first reported on Sunday), one in Wairarapa and one in West Coast (historical).
- The six new cases in the Lakes DHB region are all in the Rotorua District - three are linked to previously reported cases, with the remaining still being investigated for potential links.
- The new case in South Wairarapa is a contact of previously reported cases and was already isolating when they tested positive - the Greater Wellington region now has 13 active cases, including five in Wellington, three in the Hutt Valley and five in Wairarapa.
1:18pm - Here are the latest regional updates from the Ministry of Health:
Today's cases
We are reporting new community cases in Auckland, Lakes, Hawke's Bay, Wairarapa and West Coast.
We first reported the Hawke's Bay case in Sunday's statement. It has officially been added to our case tally on Monday.
Today we are reporting a case on the West Coast. Upon investigation this case has been deemed historical.
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.
Please also continue to check for any updated Locations of Interest and appropriate health advice, updated regularly at contact tracing locations of interest.
Auckland
There are seven cases to report in Auckland today.
Health and welfare providers are now supporting 841 people in the region to isolate at home, including 190 cases.
Lakes
There are six new cases to report in the Lakes DHB region today.
All of these cases are in the Rotorua District.
Three of today's cases 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.
Wairarapa
There is one case to report in South Wairarapa today.
The case is a contact of previously reported cases and was already isolating when they tested positive.
The Greater Wellington region has 13 active cases, including five in Wellington, three in the Hutt Valley and five in Wairarapa.
1:17pm - Here is the latest data from the Ministry of Health on the outbreak and vaccination roll-out:
COVID-19 vaccine update
Vaccines administered to date (percentage of eligible people): 3,989,422 first doses (95 pct); 3,896,820 second doses (93 pct); 35,552 third primary doses; 751,839 booster doses
Vaccines administered yesterday: 563 first doses; 1,088 second doses; 71 third primary doses and 9,635 booster doses.
Māori (percentage of eligible people): 506,403 first doses (89 pct); 475,726 second doses (83 pct).
Pacific Peoples (percentage of eligible people): 274,434 first doses (96 pct); 265,102 second doses (92 pct).
Vaccination rates by DHB with active cases (percentage of eligible people)
Northland DHB: First doses (89 pct); second doses (86 pct)
Auckland Metro DHBs: First doses (97 pct); second doses (95 pct)
Waikato DHB: First doses (94 pct); second doses (92 pct)
Bay of Plenty DHB: First doses (94 pct); second doses (91 pct)
Lakes DHB: First doses (92 pct); second doses (89 pct)
Hawke's Bay DHB: First doses (96 pct); second doses (92 pct)
Wairarapa DHB: First doses (96 pct); second doses (93 pct)
Capital and Coast DHB: First doses (98 pct); second doses (97 pct)
Hutt Valley DHB: First doses (96 pct); second doses (94 pct)
Canterbury DHB: First doses (99 pct); second doses (97 pct)
Hospitalisations
Cases in hospital: 30; North Shore: 6; Auckland: 13; Middlemore: 10; Tauranga: 1.
Vaccination status of current hospitalisations (Northern Region wards only): Unvaccinated or not eligible (11 cases / 41 pct); partially immunised <7 days from second dose or have only received one dose (6 case / 22 pct); fully vaccinated at least 7 days before being reported as a case (8 cases / 30 pct); unknown (2 case / 7 pct).
Average age of current hospitalisations: 48
Cases in ICU or HDU: 2; Middlemore: 1; Tauranga: 1
Cases
Seven day rolling average of community cases: 22
Seven day rolling average of border cases: 34
Number of new community cases: 16
Number of new cases identified at the border: 42
Location of new community cases: Auckland (7), Lakes (6), Hawke's Bay (1)*, Wairarapa (1), West Coast (1)*
Number of community cases (total): 11,322 (in current community outbreak)
Cases epidemiologically linked (total): 8,616
Number of active cases (total): 545 (cases identified in the past 21 days and not yet classified as recovered)
Confirmed cases (total): 14,752
Contacts
Number of active contacts being managed (total): 4,780
Percentage who has received an outbound call from contact tracers (to confirm testing and isolation requirements): 80 pct
Percentage who has returned at least one result: 79 pct
Tests
Number of tests total (last 24 hours): 8,165
Tests rolling average (last 7 days): 14,864
Auckland tests total (last 24 hours): 3,902
Wastewater
No unexpected results.
NZ COVID Tracer
Poster scans in the 24 hours to midday yesterday: 2,090,682
Manual diary entries in the 24 hours to midday: 32,116
My Vaccine Pass
My vaccine pass downloads total: 4,803,808
My vaccine pass downloads (last 24 hours): 7,175
1:16pm - Here's an update from the Ministry of Health on the vaccine roll-out for five to 11-year-olds, which has now commenced nationwide:
Child vaccine available from today
The child (paediatric) Pfizer vaccine is now available for five to 11-year-olds at centres throughout New Zealand, including walk-ins, drive-throughs, hauora providers, community pharmacies and general practices.
More than 120,000 doses of the child vaccine have been delivered to around 500 vaccination sites around New Zealand, and these health care providers are well prepared for the start of the vaccine rollout to tamariki.
With reports of strong demand for child vaccinations today, particularly in Auckland, we want to thank those who have been waiting at vaccination centres or holding for the 0800 number, for their patience.
“It's encouraging to see this strong start to the rollout and extra resources are being deployed to the busiest sites to reduce queues as much as possible,” says Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield.
Parents are advised to check BookMyVaccine.nz or call the COVID-19 Vaccination Healthline on 0800 28 29 26 to find a walk-in or drive-through near them or to make an appointment. Many general practices are offering child vaccinations for their enrolled patients so contact your local doctor to find out more or visit Healthpoint.nz
For a list of all the vaccination sites offering 5 to 11-year-old vaccines in each district this week visit the Unite Against COVID-19 website.
The number of centres where the child vaccine is available will also increase over the coming weeks as health providers who have been taking a well-deserved summer break reopen.
1:15pm - The Ministry of Health has released its COVID-19 update.
As of Monday, there are 16 new cases of COVID-19 in the community.
Of the 67 close contacts identified in relation to the MIQ worker who tested positive for the Omicron variant, 43 have already returned negative tests. All seven household contacts have returned one negative result.
Here is the latest update on the Omicron-infected MIQ worker from the Ministry of Health:
Update on the MIQ worker in Auckland
As previously reported, all seven household contacts of this Omicron case have already returned one negative test result. All these contacts remain in isolation and will receive further tests.
Of the case's 67 close contacts identified, 43 have already returned negative test results.
The five close contacts previously identified in Taupō, who have all returned negative day five test results, have now been transferred to an MIQ facility in Waikato.
Auckland Regional Public Health is continuing to work with MIQ staff to look for any possible routes of transmission between returnees at the Stamford Plaza and the MIQ worker. Additional testing is being arranged for MIQ staff at this facility.
Additional whole genome sequencing of other positive returnee cases at the Stamford Plaza is also being completed to provide further information for the source investigation.
As we have done previously, our objective is to stamp out and prevent any onward transmission.
New Zealand's vaccine rollout remains our key defence against all variants of COVID-19, including Omicron. With 93% of the eligible population now double-dosed and the booster programme underway, New Zealanders are well protected. We want vaccinations to continue to increase and ask everyone who is eligible to get vaccinated.
From today, people over the age of 18 are able to book online to have their booster shot four months since their last vaccine dose.
We're reiterating our call for anyone who lives in Auckland with symptoms – no matter how mild – to get a test, even if you're vaccinated and to please stay at home until you return a negative test result.
1pm - Here are the locations of interest added or updated on Monday:
12:50pm - We are standing by for the latest update from the Ministry of Health after a border worker tested positive for the Omicron coronavirus variant on Sunday.
The Auckland MIQ staffer is considered to have been infectious since January 10 and several high-risk locations of interest have already been identified.
Twenty-five new cases of the virus were recorded in the community on Sunday - 43 infections were picked up at the border.
12:35pm - Ardern has reiterated that measures under the Red 'traffic light' setting of the COVID-19 Protection Framework can be reinstated to slow the spread of a possible outbreak.
If the Omicron variant was actively circulating in the community, it would likely result in a return to Red, she said.
"At some point, we will see Omicron in the community... so I would say to everyone - assume at any time... prepare now."
12:32pm - Speaking at a stand-up in Auckland, the Prime Minister said she is not aware of any further cases of the Omicron variant in the community.
All tests undertaken in relation to the MIQ worker have returned negative results so far, she said.
"We do have additional contacts that we are continuing to test. Those mostly relate to a bus the individual travelled on. She was wearing her mask at the time," Ardern said.
"It's very encouraging to see that close contacts, particularly household members, have returned negative tests thus far."
12:20pm - Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will be joined by Defence Minister and Associate Minister of Health Peeni Henare to provide an update on COVID-19 and the aftermath of the violent eruption in Tonga.
Ardern is expected to speak about the deployment of a Royal New Zealand Air Force P-3K Orion to Tonga after the island nation was hit with a tsunami in the wake of an underwater volcanic eruption on Saturday.
Ardern will also speak about the commencement of paediatric vaccinations for five to 11 year olds. As part of the visit to the Tāmaki Vaccination Clinic, the Prime Minister will receive her booster shot.
12:15pm - Kia ora, good afternoon and welcome to Newshub's live COVID-19 coverage for Monday, January 17. The latest data on the outbreak is expected to be released at 1pm.
