As it happened: Latest on COVID-19 community outbreak - Wednesday, January 26

Fifty-six cases of COVID-19 have now been confirmed as the Omicron variant or are suspected of carrying the highly infectious strain, with 15 new infections reported in the community on Wednesday.

The Ministry of Health has confirmed 56 community cases of the virus have either been confirmed as the Omicron variant via whole genome sequencing, or are suspected of carrying the strain due to an identified link to a confirmed case. 

The cluster comprises the 29 cases reported over Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, the 15 new cases on Wednesday, and 12 cases linked to the three Omicron-positive border workers reported earlier this month.

The variant of COVID-19, which produces less severe illness but is incredibly transmissible, found a foothold in the community over the weekend when nine people tested positive for the virus in Motueka. The family had travelled to Auckland the weekend prior for a wedding and other social events.

The January Omicron Cluster, which currently spans Auckland, Tauranga, Palmerston North, Taranaki and Nelson-Tasman, is projected to increase to possibly tens of thousands of cases, with experts warning the strain could infect half of the population in a matter of months.

What you need to know

• Fifteen new cases of the Omicron variant were reported on Wednesday as well as 12 cases linked to the three Omicron-positive border workers earlier this month, bringing the January Omicron Cluster to 56
• Twenty-three new cases of the virus were reported on Wednesday - Northland (1), Auckland (12), Waikato (3), Lakes (5), Capital and Coast (1), Nelson-Marlborough (1)
• All of New Zealand is currently under the red setting of the COVID-19 Protection Framework, which was reinstated at 11:59pm on Sunday
• Two weddings in Auckland have been linked to the outbreak
  
• No index case has been identified at this stage - the source of Omicron's emergence in the community remains a mystery
  
• Stricter mask requirements have been announced while the country is in red, including wearing medical masks for mandated workers and face-fitting masks in indoor settings, rather than makeshift coverings
• PCR testing capacity has increased by nearly 20,000 a day to deal with a surge in Omicron cases - which an expert has warned could "totally swamp" the lab workforce
• Opposition parties have accused the "scrambling" Govt of "commandeering" RATs from the private sector
• Associate Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall and Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield will provide an update on the Government's three-phase plan to managing Omicron at 2pm.
  
• Click here for the latest information on locations of interest.
  

These live updates have finished.

9:10pm - Canterbury Police are encouraging anyone in possession of a fake COVID vaccine pass to hand it in.

Earlier on Wednesday, a 61-year-old Rangiora man was arrested in relation to the production of fake COVID vaccine passes, they say. He will appear in Christchurch District Court on February 1 charged with forgery.

Detective Sergeant Daniel Isherwood says there are a number of people in the wider Christchurch area who have been found as having received a fraudulent My Vaccine Pass.

"Police will be working through this list and those who are currently in possession of such a document are strongly encouraged to surrender it to the Rangiora Police Station," he says.

There will be an amnesty for these people until 4pm on February 1.

In this case, printed passes were produced and distributed, although the QR code on the pass either did not scan correctly or came up as a location instead of a person's identity.

Several devices have been seized by Police and enquiries are ongoing.

Police are advising businesses where passes are required to be vigilant when scanning and checking QR codes. If a pass fails to scan and the business is not satisfied with the identity of the person, entry should be refused.

"This is a timely reminder to ensure that all passes, either electronic or physical, are correctly scanned and checked," Det Sgt Isherwood says.

8:50pm - National's mental health spokesperson Matt Doocey says the stress of the pandemic is impacting New Zealand youth and Minister of Health Andrew Little must hold a COVID-19 youth mental health summit to be best prepared to help them.

"In New Zealand we are seeing early signs of declining mental health in our youth as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic – which other countries are calling a shadow pandemic," Doocey says.

"Yesterday, I wrote to Health Minister Andrew Little requesting that he urgently convene a COVID-19 youth mental health summit, to bring together the best minds to agree on how we prepare and respond."

Doocey says research from the University of Auckland shows a pandemic-related increase in demand for eating disorder services for young people. And data from the Ministry of Health during the first year of the pandemic shows a "disproportionate increase" for dispensing antidepressants to younger people compared to other age groups.

"A summit is needed to identify the early signs of mental distress in our young people as a result of the pandemic, establish what further mental distress we may expect to encounter, and then agree on a national action plan to increase access to youth mental health support and reduce waiting times," Doocey says.

"We may not be able to stop the pandemic but we can mitigate the mental distress this is having on our young people and ensure they get timely access to the mental health support they need."

8:30pm - A Soundsplash festival attendee who's tested positive for COVID-19 says the event was an "ideal breeding ground" for the virus to spread.

Festivalgoer Emma told The Project she's been experiencing "pretty much every symptom" of COVID-19 in the lead up to her receiving a positive test result on Wednesday.

"I started feeling a little not good on the Sunday when I left [the festival], but I thought that was just because of all the dust we'd all inhaled at Soundsplash," she says.

"I felt good on the Monday and then on Tuesday I felt like I'd been hit by a truck and I just felt absolutely horrible."

Emma, who is fully vaccinated, says the Ministry of Health is speculating she caught COVID-19 at Soundsplash, given it was a three-day event ending on Sunday and she started showing symptoms on Tuesday. She also says "a lot" of people she knows who also attended the festival have either received positive test results or are awaiting their results.

Read the full story here.

8:15pm - There are five DHBs yet to reach the 90 percent double vaccinated target. These are:

• Northland: 86 percent of eligible population fully vaccinated, 5985 people remaining to hit target
• Lakes: 90 percent fully vaccinated, 54 people remaining (the Ministry of Health rounds up percentages to the nearest whole number)
• Tairāwhiti: 89 percent fully vaccinated, 480 people remaining
• Whanganui: 89 percent fully vaccinated, 584 people remaining
• West Coast: 90 percent fully vaccinated, 29 people remaining.

Northland is still yet to hit 90 percent first doses. It has given 89 percent of its eligible residents first doses, with 839 people remaining to hit this goal.

Click here for more details on the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.

7:30pm - The Ministry of Health says it's aware of a "number of cases" who attended a festival in Hamilton over the weekend.

Rumours have been swirling on social media, with several attendees at the Soundsplash festival saying they were waiting to see if they tested positive.

"Waiting to see if I'm sick from the dust or if I got COVID," one posted to TikTok, along with the Soundsplash hashtag.

On Wednesday night the Ministry of Health confirmed it has been "made aware of a number of cases" who had attended a festival in Hamilton.

"Public Health officials are currently assessing the exposure and expect to publish a location of interest early tomorrow, which will include health advice for those who were there," a spokesperson says.

But the festival told Newshub on Wednesday - just before the Ministry of Health release - that it hasn't had any contact from the ministry yet.

"At this stage, nobody from the Ministry of Health has contacted us to let us know that we are a location of Interest or that there were positive COVID cases at our event," a spokesperson said.

"We expect they will let us know if these reports are true but for now we have not heard anything."

This year the annual three-day Soundsplash festival was held at Mystery Creek near Hamilton, with the line-up including Netsky, Broods, and Hollie Smith.

Thousands of youths normally attend, with photos from the event showing masses of maskless youths.

6:25pm - The Green Party's COVID-19 response spokesperson Dr Elizabeth Kerekere says the most at-risk communities and whānau can't be forgotten as the Government lays out its three-phase plan for Omicron.

"As Omicron starts to spread, we must ensure that those who need it, get support to feed their whānau and pay their bills," she says.

"Again and again, COVID-19 has shone a light on the inequities and health disparities in Aotearoa. We need to put our most vulnerable first.

"Whānau who were already struggling to make ends meet will experience the worst impacts of Omicron if we do not prioritise them."

Kerekere says the Green Party's focus is on ensuring vulnerable people have everything they need to stay well and keep their whānau safe, especially if they need to self-isolate at home. She says this means:

Prioritising Māori and Pasifika providers for vaccinations for five to 11-year-olds and boosters for older whānau

Providing free medical grade masks for those who cannot afford them

Getting rapid antigen tests to essential workers and those most at risk as quickly as possible

Making sure workplaces and schools are safe places to be.

"We know when Māori, Pasifika and local providers are resourced to support whānau with vaccinations, testing and home visits, it is the most effective way to ensure those communities are taken care of."

Kerekere adds that the Government also needs to:

Support households to create self-isolation plans and look out for those who live alone

Ensure the self-diagnostic tools and healthcare interviews prioritise immunocompromised people and people with underlying health issues.

6:05pm - There are several new locations of interest. They are:

• Mitre 10 Mega Mt Wellington, January 15 from 10am to 6pm
• Bus 25B Lynfield Youth & Leisure Centre Mount Roskill [Stop 8913]  to The Civic Auckland Bus 25L Balmoral Shops Mt Eden [Stop 8418] to Queen St [Stop 71319], January 16 from 1:45pm to 2:30pm
• Mitre 10 Mega Mt Wellington, January 18 from 8:20am to 7pm
• Mitre 10 Mega Mt Wellington, January 19 from 7:30am to 12:30pm
• Te Purū Café & Bar Jet Park Hotel Rotorua, January 19 from 7:45am to 8:15am
• Bus 25B The Civic [Stop 7086] to Lynfield Youth & Leisure Centre [Stop 8912], January 20 from 6:30pm to 7:15pm
• True Woman's Fitness & Wellbeing Papatoetoe, January 23 from 12:30pm to 1:45pm
• Ōtara Liquor Spot Ōtara, January 23 from 7pm to 9pm
• True Woman's Fitness & Wellbeing Papatoetoe, January 24 from 6:15am to 7:15am
• McDonald's Karaka from January 24 from 3:30pm to 4pm
• Ōtara Liquor Spot Ōtara, January 24 from 7pm to 9pm.

6pm - It's time for Newshub Live at 6pm for the latest on the COVID-19 outbreak. Click here to watch online or tune in on Three.

5:15pm - Over in Australia, New South Wales has reported 21,030 new COVID-19 cases and 29 deaths in the past 24 hours.

There are 2794 people in hospital, including 175 in ICU.

In the state of Queensland, there are 13,511 new cases and nine deaths.

There are 889 people in hospital, 47 of whom are in ICU.

And in Victoria, there are 13,507 new cases and 35 deaths.

A total 1089 people are in hospital, 113 of whom are in ICU and 40 are on ventilators.

4:30pm - Pharmac has confirmed the access criteria for two COVID-19 treatments – baricitinib and casirivimab with imdevimab (branded as Ronapreve). Both will be available for use in DHB hospitals from February 1.

"Pharmac uses access criteria to ensure the medicines we fund are given to those with the highest health need and those most likely to benefit from the treatment," says Dr David Hughes, Pharmac's chief medical officer.

"In December we put out a consultation to healthcare professionals and stakeholders, including consumer groups, to help us make decisions on the access criteria for these two treatments.

"From 1 February, baricitinib can be used in hospital to treat those with moderate to severe symptoms of COVID-19, in circumstances where tocilizumab (an alternative treatment which has been in short supply) is not available. Ronapreve can also be used in hospital for patients with COVID-19 who have mild to moderate symptoms and are at high risk of progressing to severe disease.

"We would also like to make Ronapreve available for use in the community for profoundly immunocompromised people, with mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms. Because of the infectious nature of the disease, we are working with the Ministry of Health to develop how it will be supplied and distributed in the community. Until that mechanism is developed, it will be accessed through DHB hospitals."

Dr Hughes says reports show that Ronapreve is successful in treating those with the Delta variant. But the evidence is less clear and still emerging for its use in treating Omicron, he adds, and they are continuing to work to assess the latest evidence as it becomes available.

"Getting vaccinated and boosted is the best defence against COVID-19. For those who do become unwell with COVID-19, I want to reassure New Zealanders that Pharmac is working as quickly as possible to assess, and secure access to, treatments," Dr Hughes says.

"We are doing this using specific funding allocated by the Government for the purchase of COVID-19 treatments, rather than from the Combined Pharmaceutical Budget."

4:05pm - There is one new location of interest. It is:

• Te Ngae Fish Supply Ōwhata, January 22 from 3pm to 3:30pm.

3:45pm - National's COVID-19 response spokesperson Chris Bishop says it is "staggering" the Government didn't spend the summer developing a plan for Omicron after "dropping the ball so badly" with Delta.

"The Government is scrambling to give New Zealanders the impression they have prepared for Omicron. The Government's Omicron plan is just two-and-a-half pages long. Their press release is almost as long as the plan itself," Bishop says.

"The information released by the Government is vague and raises more questions than answers. When will New Zealand move from phase one to phase two? The Government doesn't know.

"What is the definition of a critical worker who can use rapid antigen testing to return to work? The Government doesn't know.

"When will people be able to upload the results of rapid antigen testing? The Government doesn't know."

Bishop says the Government's Omcron plan is a "brainstorm session being conducted in real time" because they aren't thinking ahead.

"The vaccine pass system was developed on the fly from October 2021 because the Government hadn't done the work in advance. It's a case of 'here we go again' as the Government scrambles to develop technology solutions that have been readily available in many countries for a long time," he says.

"The Government wasted the summer by delaying vaccinations for 5–11-year-olds, boosters for everyone but particularly the most vulnerable, and not ordering enough rapid tests.

"It is a stunning indictment on the Government's incompetence that having banned rapid antigen tests for most of 2021 and then failed to order enough themselves, they are now seizing rapid antigen tests ordered by the private sector."

3:20pm - ACT leader David Seymour says the Government's approach to Omicron "amounts to a lockdown in all but name" - and New Zealanders are "paying the price".

"Unless you're a critical worker, you can't risk going out, because there are no exceptions or even testing for you if you get pinged on the COVID tracer app. The Government is going to tell us which workers are critical. The truth is if your family needs a pay cheque you are critical," he says.

"If you are pinged your household has to isolate for weeks. People who can't afford to isolate for weeks just won't get tested. The virus will spread like wildfire regardless of what 'stage' the Government thinks we're at."

Seymour believes Omicron will spread faster in stage 1 because people won't report their results when the consequences of doing so are higher.

"To get released you must be a critical worker and hope the Government gives you a test. Good luck getting your own test because the Government has confiscated every single one in the country," he says.

"Despite lockdowns ending, this is a lockdown in all but name. The way people are singled out to receive exemptions and testing makes these restrictions more draconian. It was almost better when everyone had to stay home.

"Most people will stay home because they cannot afford to isolate. The effect on retail and hospitality is pronounced, with normally busy streets feeling ghostly already."

Seymour adds that normally "comparisons to communism are unhelpful exaggerations", but in this case the Government "really has made private ownership illegal and forced people to queue for supplies from the Government".

"Ashley Bloomfield's protest that the Government has not confiscated Rapid Antigen Tests but instead 'consolidated [them] into Government stocks' is runner up quote of the press conference," Seymour says.

"However, the grand prize goes to Ayesha Verrall for saying that the Government is 'going hard and early with our public health response!' If only the matter wasn't so serious."

3pm - The press conference has now finished.

To briefly summarise the main points of the three-phase public health response:

• The Government will reduce the isolation period for cases and their contacts at Phases Two and Three to 10 and seven days respectively
• The definition of a close contact who is required to isolate will change to 'household' or 'household-like' contacts at Phase Three
• There will be an increased use of rapid antigen tests with a 'test to return' policy put in place for the health sector and critical workforces
• There will be a greater use of technology, including text notifications for cases and close contacts and automated contact identification.

2:40pm - Dr Verrall and Dr Bloomfield have repeatedly disputed claims that the Government have seized rapid antigen tests (RATs) from the private sector, given that the kits are currently in short supply worldwide due to the spread of Omicron.

"No one's tests have been requisitioned. There was no guarantee that anyone's forward orders were going to be filled... everyone's orders are difficult to confirm," Dr Verrall says.

"The actions the Government have taken" have ensured more New Zealanders and businesses more broadly can access the tests, she says.

"There is no guarantee that small orders would have been filled in the environment we are currently in."

Businesses will be able to access the tests and health officials are already working with them, Bloomfield says.

2:30pm - Dr Verrall says there is not a specific threshold which would need to be met to transition from Phase One to Phase Two or from Phase Two to Phase Three. 

There could be less than 1000 cases a day when shifting from Phase One to Phase Two and thousands, but not tens of thousands, of infections between Phase Two and Phase Three, she says.

Dr Verrall says the plan isn't based on modelling, but on a range of scenarios. Officials instead imagined a range of ways the outbreak could pan out, she says, and how the response who need to change to cater to different stages.

"It's not guaranteed we're going to Phase Three, for instance."

Meanwhile, Dr Ashley Bloomfield has disputed accusations from Opposition parties that the Government has been requisitioning rapid antigen tests (RATs) from businesses with supplies on-shore, arguing the Government has been working closely with these businesses throughout.

"We're not commandeering all the stock," he said.

2:20pm - Here is a first-look at the three-stage approach to managing the variant.

• Phase One: There are some cases in the community but we continue to stamp it out. 
• Phase Two: Cases have spread in the community so we need to minimise and slow further spread and assist our vulnerable communities.
• Phase Three: There are thousands of cases per day - most people will self-manage and health and social services focus on families and communities that have the highest needs.

2:15pm - Dr Verrall says the Government is in the process of determining what critical workers will be able to 'test to work' with rapid antigen tests (RATs). 

Typically, critical workers are defined as those who are required to perform their role in-person at the workplace. Their job must continue to be performed to prevent the immediate risk of death or injury to a person or animal, or prevent serious harm to significant numbers in the community.

Critical workers who are able to use RATs to reduce their isolation period and get back to their role - if identified as a close contact - will be subject to daily symptom checks and daily RATs. They will also be required to use medical masks, changed as needed during the day, and comply with infection prevention protocols. When the mask is removed, physical distancing must be maintained - eat alone or in a well-ventilated space.

2:05pm - The Government's three-phase plan to tackle the Omicron variant has been revealed. Associate Health Minister Dr Ayesha Verrall is outlining the plan now - you can watch that live above or here.

See the outline of the plan below:

Government announces three-phase public health response to Omicron

• Reducing isolation period for cases and close contacts at Phase Two and Three to 10 and seven days
  
• Definition of close contact required to isolate changes to household or household like contacts at Phase Three
• Increased use of rapid antigen tests with test to return policy put in place for health and critical workforce
• Greater use of technology, including text notifications for cases and close contacts and automated contact identification.

The Government has announced a three phase Omicron plan that aims to slow down and limit the spread of an outbreak, Associate Minister of Health, Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today.

"Through the course of managing Omicron, we will be taking a phased approach. As case numbers grow both testing and isolation approaches will change in response," Dr Verrall said.

"Other countries have had to adapt their response in the middle of widespread outbreaks. We are setting out the changes ahead of large case numbers to give people a clearer idea of what to expect and what they need to do at each phase.

"Almost no country in the world has escaped Omicron and New Zealand is no exception. But where we can be an exception is how well we minimise the impact of the virus and protect our people from it.

"Vaccination remains our most effective weapon against the virus. The Omicron variant is markedly less severe, than prior variants. One US report suggests the hospitalisation rate is 10 times less than the Delta variant. Its transmission and severity is also reduced by vaccination.

"So far, we've been focused on keeping Omicron out of the community for as long as possible while we roll out vaccinations to children and boosters for our adult population. 

"Now that it is here, we expect case numbers to grow rapidly and put our health system under considerable pressure.

The three phases for Omicron

Phase One

"Phase One is where we are now and we are doing what we have successfully done with Delta – taking a 'stamp it out' approach.

"Broadly speaking, that includes the same contact tracing, isolation, and request that everyone who is symptomatic be tested at a community testing station or at a primary health provider.

"If you are required to isolate, you will receive advice and – if needed – support to do so; at this phase you will need to isolate for 14 days if you are a case, and 10 days if you are contact.

"Our objective is to keep cases as low as possible for as long as possible to allow people to be boosted and children to be vaccinated without Omicron being widespread."

Phase Two

"In Phase Two, our objective is to slow the spread and protect our vulnerable communities.

"The system will be adjusted to focus much more on identifying those who are at greater risk of severe illness from Omicron - which will be a smaller percentage of cases.

"In Phase Two, we will reduce the isolation period for cases to 10 days and contacts to seven days in line with best practice overseas.

"Household contacts will actively be managed by contact tracing services, with close contacts requiring a PCR test on day five.

"A rapid escalation in case numbers and the resulting pressure on our resources will also require us to shift from identifying all infected individuals to being more targeted to those most at risk and those needed to keep the country going.

"Digital technology is used more in this phase. Cases will be notified via text message and be directed to an online self-investigation tool which will focus on high risk exposures. Information will be provided via email and phone based interviews will still take place where it's required. Other forms of support will be available to those who need it.

"We will also change our current testing requirements for critical workers who are close contacts of cases. The prime focus of testing and tracing will be protecting this workforce and those most vulnerable to becoming severely unwell. 

"Phase Two is where we will see more widespread use of the test to return to work policy where asymptomatic contacts in critical workforces can return a negative rapid antigen test in order to go to work.

"We will continue to manage testing of symptomatic people and close contacts with PCR testing but we will be enabling 'test to return' for asymptomatic critical workers who are close contacts of cases using Rapid Antigen Tests. These are people like our healthcare workers and those working in food supply and infrastructure who are key to our response to COVID-19 and also in ensuring New Zealanders can continue to access the services they need.

"Rapid antigen tests (RATs) will be integrated into our testing system at this phase and will work alongside PCR tests. 

"They will be useful when the laboratories cannot provide PCR results within a useful time frame because of large volumes or because of transport delays."

Phase Three

"At Phase Three, when cases are in the thousands, we will make further changes to contact tracing. The definition of contacts will change to household and household like contacts only. This will mean the highest risk contacts will need to isolate.

"Supported self-service, rapid antigen testing for diagnosing COVID and a self-service tool to enable identification of high risk contacts will be significant to respond to the high volumes of Omicron cases.

Digital technologies will continue to be utilised at this Phase, and people will be supported to self-notify close contacts. There will be continued support for those members of our community who are not digitally enabled.

The majority of people will be supported and be able to self-manage and isolate at home; and clinical care will focus on anyone with high needs.

Clinical care and welfare support will be targeted based on need.

"Through the course of Phase Two and Three, we have a test to return regime that will apply to our critical workforces, to keep them going through the outbreak.

"Our plan is simple – get boosted, wear a mask, follow basic hygiene rules we've become so familiar with and reduce contact as much as is practical.

"We have slowed the virus from entering the community and given households and businesses time to prepare. As always, it's what each and everyone one of us can do as individuals that will make a difference.

"Omicron is now in more than 80 countries around the world. By delaying its arrival here we've had the time to kick off boosters, vaccinations for children, and prepare. I encourage everyone to use the coming days to take steps at home and with your family, neighbours and community to make a plan. Resources to help you do this are on the Unite Against Covid-19 website," Dr Verrall said.

2pm - Dr Ayesha Verrall and Dr Ashley Bloomfield are outlining the Government's three-phase plan to manage the spread of the Omicron variant.

Watch the briefing live here.

1:40pm - Here are today's regional updates from the Ministry of Health:

Today's cases

We are reporting new community cases in Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Lakes and Nelson-Marlborough.

We are also announcing one new case in Taranaki and two cases in Nelson-Marlborough that were notified after the Ministry's reporting deadline. They will be formally added to the numbers tomorrow.

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.  We are also asking people to regularly check the locations of interest as these are regularly updated and to follow the advice provided.

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 on the Ministry's website.

Northland

There is one case to report in Northland who is linked to a previously reported case.

Auckland

There are 12 cases to report in Auckland today.

Some of these cases have been linked to known or suspected Omicron cases and the others remain under investigation.

Health and welfare providers are now supporting 649 people in the region to isolate at home, including 168 cases.

Waikato

There are three cases to report in Waikato – the first case is linked and investigations are underway to determine a link for the second.

The third case normally lives in the Waikato, but was tested in Rotorua. Management of the case is being transferred to Lakes.

Taranaki

We are announcing a COVID-19 case in Taranaki that has been linked to the January Omicron Cluster. This case was notified after the Ministry's reporting deadline and will be included in the case count tomorrow.

This person was on the same flight as the air steward that is part of this cluster and has been isolating since being identified as a close contact.

Whole genome sequencing is underway but, in the interim, this case is being treated as a suspected Omicron.

All close contacts identified to date are in isolation and being tested for COVID-19.

Investigations are continuing into any additional exposure events and locations of interest will be published on the Ministry of Health website as they are identified.

Lakes

There are five cases to report in Rotorua.

Three cases are linked to previously reported cases and investigations are underway to determine a link for the remaining two.

Bay of Plenty

The Ministry of Health can confirm an early childhood centre in Tauranga has been linked to a suspected Omicron case, first reported yesterday.

The case was present at the BestStart Pyes Pa on January 19 and was likely infectious at the time.

All people present at the childhood centre at the time are being treated as close contacts, being asked to isolate, and get tested immediately.

Toi Te Ora Public Health is working with the Ministry of Education to establish a clear view on who was present at the centre on the day and is in the process of contacting those people.

Details of testing centres in in Tauranga can be found here.

No new cases are being reported on Bay of Plenty.

Wellington

There is one case to report in the Wellington region.

Investigations are underway to determine a link for the case.

Nelson-Marlborough

There are three cases to report in the Nelson-Tasman region.

One of these cases is part of a household that has been linked to the January Omicron cluster associated with several private events in Auckland over the weekend of January 15 and 16.

The other two were detected this morning and are under investigation. The cases are being treated as suspected Omicron.

There are now a total of 15 active cases (14 confirmed and 1 probable) in the region, across three households. All members of these households are isolating at home.

Public health would like to thank those who have come forward for testing, and the positive cases for their excellent help and co-operation in our investigations which is giving us the best chance of controlling the outbreak.

Of the cases reported today, one will be reported in today's official tally and the remaining two will be included in tomorrow's numbers.

1:38pm - Here are the latest updates from the Ministry of Health on case numbers, hospitalisations and vaccination rates:

COVID-19 vaccine update

• Vaccines administered to date (percentage of eligible people): first doses 3,998,986 (95 pct); 3,915,204 second doses (93 pct); 37,475 third primary doses; 1,110,408 booster doses

• Vaccines administered yesterday: 1,485 first doses; 2,155 second doses; 583 third primary doses, 15,102 paediatric doses; 56,899 booster doses.

• Māori (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 510,254 first doses (89 pct); 482,053 second doses (84 pct).

• Pacific Peoples (percentage of eligible people aged 12+):  276,102 first doses (96 pct); 267,614 second doses (93 pct).

• Paediatric vaccines administer to date (percentage of 5-11-year-olds): 110,123 first doses (23 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 (95 pct); second doses (92 pct)

• Bay of Plenty DHB: First doses (94 pct); second doses (92 pct)

• Lakes DHB: First doses (93 pct); second doses (90 pct)

• Hawke's Bay: First doses (96 pct); second doses (93 pct)

• MidCentral DHB: First doses (96 pct); second doses (94 pct)

• Taranaki DHB: First doses (94 pct); second doses (92 pct)

• Wairarapa DHB: First doses (96 pct); second doses (94 pct)

• Capital and Coast DHB: First doses (98 pct); second doses (97 pct)

• Hutt Valley DHB: First doses (96 pct); second doses (95 pct)

• Nelson Marlborough DHB: First doses (96 pct); second doses (94 pct)

• Canterbury DHB: First doses (99 pct); second doses (97 pct)

Hospitalisations

• Cases in hospital: 6; North Shore: 2; Auckland: 1; Middlemore: 1, Rotorua: 2,

• Vaccination status of current hospitalisations (Northern Region wards only): Unvaccinated or not eligible (0 cases / 0 pct); partially immunised <7 days from second dose or have only received one dose (0 case / 0 pct); fully vaccinated at least 7 days before being reported as a case (4 cases / 100 pct); unknown (0 case / 0 pct).

• Average age of current hospitalisations: 68

• Cases in ICU or HDU: 0

Cases

• Seven day rolling average of community cases: 27

• Seven day rolling average of border cases: 39

• Number of new community cases: 23

• Number of new cases identified at the border: 36

• Location of new community cases: Northland (1), Auckland (12), Waikato (3), Lakes (5), Capital and Coast (1), Nelson Marlborough (1)

• Number of community cases (total): 11,564 (in current community outbreaks)

• Cases epidemiologically linked (total): 8,822

• Number of active cases (total): 481 (cases identified in the past 21 days and not yet classified as recovered)

• Confirmed cases (total): 15,369

Contacts

• Number of active contacts being managed (total): 5,686

• 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): 27,925

• Tests rolling average (last 7 days): 15,400

• Auckland tests total (last 24 hours): 3,279

Wastewater

No unexpected results.

NZ COVID Tracer

• Poster scans in the 24 hours to midday yesterday: 2,467,835

• Manual diary entries in the 24 hours to midday: 53,354

My Vaccine Pass

• My vaccine pass downloads total: 4,925,704

• My vaccine pass downloads (last 24 hours): 16,228.

1:37pm - The Ministry of Health's update has been released - 27 new cases of the Omicron variant have been recorded on Wednesday, bringing the January Omicron Cluster to 56.

Here is the full update:

Omicron update

Public health officials continue to manage Omicron cases in the community by rapidly isolating cases and contacts, contact tracing and testing to slow the spread.

To date, there are 56 community cases of COVID-19 that have been confirmed as an Omicron case through whole genome sequencing, or are a suspected Omicron case because they have an identified link to a confirmed Omicron case. Whole genome sequencing is underway for all suspected Omicron cases to confirm the variant.

These include 44 cases linked directly or indirectly to a family event and other associated events in Auckland on the weekend of January 15 and 16. The additional 15 cases being reported today are in Auckland, Taranaki and Nelson Marlborough. Further details are included in the regional updates section.

In addition, there is a total of 12 cases linked to the three border workers reported earlier this month with confirmed or suspected Omicron, an increase of six.

Including the border workers themselves, there are now a total of eight cases associated with the MIQ border worker first reported on January 16, and three associated with the Auckland airport worker first reported on January 21. There have been no additional cases linked to Auckland airport worker first reported on January 19.

The number of cases and contacts are expected to grow given the highly transmissible nature of Omicron and as we learn more from case interviews.

As part of our collective preparations for Omicron, please check your details are up to date with your regular healthcare provider and in the COVID-19 Tracer app.

We also continue to urge anyone with symptoms, or anyone who has been to a location of interest at the times notified to isolate immediately and get tested promptly as advised on the locations of interest webpage.

1:20pm - The Ministry of Health has yet to release the latest updates on the COVID-19 outbreak. We are standing by for the statement. 

In the meantime, check out some of our other stories:

1pm - A case of the Omicron variant has reportedly been detected in Taranaki.

According to Stuff, a person tested positive for the variant in New Plymouth on Wednesday.

In an email sent to stakeholders - obtained and viewed by Stuff - the Taranaki District Health Board confirmed the case is a person who was on the same flight as the Omicron-positive Air New Zealand flight attendant, who is understood to have caught the virus from the Motueka family who tested positive last weekend.

The DHB said the case has been isolating since being identified as a close contact.

The DHB said the region's public health unit has launched an investigation to determine any locations of interest and believes more positive results may be detected due to exposure on the flight.

The Ministry of Health will release a statement with the latest updates at any minute.

12:45pm - A reminder that the Ministry of Health will release a statement at around 1pm with the latest updates on the COVID-19 outbreak and vaccination campaign. 

Associate Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall and Dr Ashley Bloomfield will then hold a press conference outlining the Government's three-stage plan to manage the Omicron variant at 2pm.

You can watch the press conference live on Three or via our online livestream. 

12:35pm - The judge presiding over the bail appeal for Brian Tamaki has reserved his decision.

The Destiny Church leader has been in Mount Eden Prison for 10 days after being arrested for breaching his bail conditions by speaking at an anti-vaccination rally.

He is due to appear before the Auckland District Court on Thursday over the charges.

Protesters have gathered outside the prison in support of Tamaki.

- RNZ

12:25pm - The National Party has dropped the word "now" from its "end MIQ" petition, acknowledging that "a short pause while Omicron was not in New Zealand was justified". 

"We continue to think New Zealand should end MIQ for fully vaccinated travellers to NZ as soon as possible," a National Party spokesperson from leader Christopher Luxon's office told Newshub.

"The Government said that the border would reopen from mid-January. Now that's been pushed to the end of February, and that may change again. The Government needs a clear plan to end the misery of MIQ and introduce self isolation for vaccinated travellers to NZ."

The party's petition, launched in November, called on the Government to scrap its state-run managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) facilities for vaccinated Kiwis stuck offshore so they could return home for Christmas. 

"Clearly we need quarantine facilities for some community COVID cases, but we must move to a system where fully vaccinated travellers who return negative pre-departure tests can enter New Zealand without spending time in MIQ hotels," COVID-19 spokesperson Chris Bishop said at the time. 

The Delta variant was then raging in Auckland and spreading across the country. There were more cases reported in the community than arriving at the border, so National argued it was unfair to expect people to go through MIQ only to potentially be exposed to the virus upon release. 

The Government took a cautious approach. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern stuck to her plan of allowing self-isolation for Kiwis arriving from Australia in early 2022, despite experts highlighting "inconsistent and arbitrary" MIQ requirements. 

Read more here.

12:15pm - Aotearoa's biggest reggae music festival, One Love, has been postponed to April.

The festival, initially scheduled for January 29 and 30 at the Tauranga Domain, has now been pushed back to April 2 and 3 due to the reinstated red restrictions under the COVID-19 Protection Framework.

Under the red setting, which came back into force nationwide at 11:59pm on Sunday, gatherings must be capped at 100 fully vaccinated guests, meaning it is no longer viable for many upcoming events - such as Auckland Lantern Festival and New Zealand Fashion Week - to go ahead.

In a post to its social media platforms on Wednesday morning, One Love organisers announced that excited festival-goers will need to wait a little longer. 

"We nearly made it! We were so excited to be welcoming you all for two days of good vibes this weekend in Tauranga Moana - but unfortunately, Omicron had different plans for us all. We've been doing the māhi behind the scenes and we can now give you an update on the event," they said.

"One Love Festival is moving to our planned postponement date which is the April 2 and 3, 2022 and will also bring some updates to the line-up that we know you will be excited about."

All tickets will be rolled over to the new date. If ticket-holders cannot make the new date, a refund can be claimed for 48 hours from 8:30am on Wednesday, February 2.

The organisers noted that if the country, or the Bay of Plenty region, is still in red come March 25, the festival will be shifted to 2023.

"You will have the option of rolling your ticket over for the 2023 event (which we'd recommend!) or you will have the option of a refund which will open again from when we announce this, should we need to.

"We're working hard to look after all of our artists, contractors, suppliers and fans - if you can hold on to your ticket, we'd appreciate it!"

12:05pm - A dairy in Rotorua has been identified as a new location of interest.

It appears a worker at Fenton Park Dairy has tested positive for the virus, as anyone who visited the store between 9am on Wednesday, January 19 and 3:30pm on Tuesday, January 25 is asked to self-monitor for symptoms for 10 days after the date of exposure.

According to the information currently available, the case has not tested positive for the Omicron variant.

11:55am - The looming outbreak of the Omicron variant is likely to trigger a national emergency, according to the New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO).

In a statement on Wednesday, the organisation said it's concerned that New Zealand's health system, which is already in a critical condition, could be completely overwhelmed by the inevitable surge in infections.

The NZNO is now backing earlier statements by the Association for Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS) and the New Zealand Medical Association (NZMA), saying the chronic understaffing of the healthcare sector presents a looming emergency which, left unchecked, will cause severe long-term repercussions for the health of Aotearoa New Zealand.

NZNO kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku said healthcare workers are already struggling to cope with 'business as usual' during the summer months, even with little COVID-19 in the community.

"Across all sectors, from DHB to primary care and iwi providers, we simply can't keep up. Come Omicron, and come winter, we will see the system collapsing under the strain," Nuku said.

"That will mean our COVID-19 patients will not get the best quality care. It will also cause delayed surgeries and cancelled clinics, which will hugely affect the population, especially when it comes to minimising preventable illnesses and treating diseases like cancer.

"We call this an emergency because it needs urgent action."

Nuku is now urging the Government to listen and respond to the concerns of healthcare workers at the coalface. The NZNO is calling for Government-funded nursing recruitment drives, free nursing study, prioritised MIQ spots specifically for nurses and healthcare workers, supply of the best-quality PPE, rapid antigen testing and robust home isolation procedures.

"Above all else though, we need people who want to join and remain in the profession. There is an international shortage of nurses, and we have for too long relied on staff from overseas," Nuku said.

"Pay equity must be extended to all nurses regardless of their practice setting. In fact, we haven't even come close to addressing pay injustices for community care, the private workforce, and especially nurses working for Māori and iwi providers.

"Without us there is no health system. And with the health system under such threat, we will see here the social and economic devastation occurring in Australia and elsewhere."

11:40am - ACT leader David Seymour has likened the newly instated red restrictions under the COVID-19 Protection Framework to alert level 4 lockdown for the country's struggling events sector, arguing the industry should be given a wage subsidy as compensation.

Under the red 'traffic light' setting, gatherings are restricted to no more than 100 people - if everyone is fully vaccinated. However, the cap means it is no longer viable for many events - such as the recently cancelled Auckland Lantern Festival and New Zealand Fashion Week - to go ahead. 

"I have heard constantly in recent days about the losses that event organisers are facing under the shift to red. They range from performers to people providing sound equipment, but they are all devastated because you cannot get more than 100 people together," Seymour said on Wednesday.

"The wage subsidy scheme helped those businesses that lost more than 40 percent of revenue pay their bills. It ended in December, but the events industry is down 100 percent under red.

"The Events Transition Support Payment Scheme only applies to events that would have had more than 5000 people. Even then there are many sub-contractors who do not get compensated if the event does not go ahead."

Seymour says it's unfair that the Government's wage subsidy scheme is no longer active for sectors that desperately need a helping hand. 

"Much as we hate borrowing for COVID, it is not fair that compensation is removed for everyone, but the restrictions still affect some. The Government should bring back the wage subsidy for those explicitly affected by the red traffic light restrictions so that performers, promoters, and the people who do sound equipment can pay the bills and buy their groceries."

11:30am - A hospital in the US has removed a man from its heart transplant list for refusing to have the COVID-19 vaccine. 

DJ Ferguson, 31, has a hereditary heart condition that causes his lungs and heart to fill with blood and fluid and has been denied a life-saving operation. 

He was previously prioritised for a transplant at Brigham and Women's Hospital near Boston, Massachusetts, according to CBS Boston.

The hospital said the decision for removing Ferguson from the list was based on the chances of the patient having a successful operation. 

"Like many other transplant programs in the US - the COVID-19 vaccine is one of several vaccines and lifestyle behaviours required for transplant candidates in the Mass General Brigham system in order to create both the best chance for a successful operation and also the patient's survival after transplantation," the hospital said in a statement. 

David Ferguson - DJ's father - has since spoken out in support of his son.  

"My son has gone to the edge of death to stick to his guns and he's been pushed to the limit," Ferguson said.

"It's kind of against his basic principles - he doesn't believe in it. It's a policy they are enforcing and so, because he won't get the shot, they took him off the list [for] a heart transplant."

DJ - who is a father of two - remains in Brigham and Women's Hospital, but his family say he may be too weak to be transferred. 

"At this point, DJ is unable to leave the hospital until he gets the heart surgery he needs," DJ's wife, Heather Dawson, wrote on Facebook. 

"Without the surgery, his lungs and heart will continue to fill up with blood and fluid (on top of everything else that's going on)."

Read more here.

11:15am - Police have arrested one person after a raid on a Canterbury signage business that was allegedly producing fraudulent vaccine passes. 

Officers made the arrest at the business in Rangiora on Wednesday morning after a Stuff reporter was given a fake vaccine pass. 

Stuff reports the business is owned by Peter Solvander and while the pass cannot be scanned, it is indistinguishable from the real thing.  

Solvander allegedly told Stuff he was breaching the rules to help people "see their loved ones".

The arrests come on the back of a Canterbury doctor being deregistered after Newshub filmed her issuing bogus medical certificate exemptions to people who didn't want to get vaccinated. 

Dr Jonie Girouard was issuing the certificates out of her weight-loss clinic in Kaiapoi, and even boasted they were so good, they had foiled border security. 

Buying and selling vaccine certificates is a criminal offence and carries a penalty of up to six months in prison. 

Read more here.

11:05am - Wellington Domestic Airport has been added as a new location of interest.

However, the potential exposure events have not been linked to a case of the Omicron variant.

A person with COVID-19 was at Wellington Domestic Airport on Monday, January 24 and used the Jetstar check-in between 6:30am and 9:40am. Anyone who was there at the specified times is asked to self-monitor for symptoms for 10 days after the date of exposure. If symptoms develop, get a test and stay at home until a negative result is returned.

10:45am - ACT leader David Seymour has joined the chorus of complaints from the Opposition that the Government is "commandeering" or "requisitioning" rapid antigen tests (RATs) from the private sector due to supply concerns.

"The Government's... telling people that if you try to do the right thing, we will confiscate your property," Seymour said in a statement on Wednesday. 

"After [Finance Minister] Grant Robertson astonishingly told Newstalk ZB last night that the Government had not banned the import of RATs, Health Working Group has posted atop its website that 'the Government has commandeered all incoming stock of rapid antigen test products'.

'The Government promises it will have an adequate supply of tests, but clearly does not believe its own spin. If it was confident in its own supply, it would not need to confiscate other people's supply."

Seymour has branded the move as "draconian", claiming it will only diminish the number of RATs available in the country.

RATs are currently not publicly available, however some essential workers will be able to use a negative RAT to return to work and shorten their isolation period in the later stages of the Omicron outbreak.

The Government has said it will not move to widespread RAT use until the Omicron variant is well-established and until then, will stick with more accurate lab-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing. 

The Prime Minister said on Tuesday it will provide critical workforces with the testing kits and will allow certain businesses access to the tests also to minimise disruptions.

"At exactly the time when we need to maximise availability of RATs to New Zealanders, the Government has effectively told the whole country not to bother importing them because it will take them anyway," Seymour said.

"If you need to get tested to end your isolation and ensure your business functions or you can work and pay the bills, you have to hope the Government agrees or you are locked down. If you are a doctor who wants to test patients to protect your own safety, you will have to hope the Government gives them to you.

"What the Government should have done is [assure] people that if they can get tests, they can use them. Meanwhile, the Government should back itself to secure its own supply. There is a global supply crunch on, but stopping other New Zealanders bringing them into the country will not help the New Zealand Government acquire more, it will mean New Zealanders overall get less."

10:30am - Arindam Basu, an Associate Professor of Epidemiology at the University of Canterbury's School of Health Sciences, says Cabinet's decisions on Tuesday are "much-needed" and should have been enacted earlier.

The Government has strengthened its protocols on mask use, including the introduction of medical-grade masks for all vaccine-mandated workers. People are no longer encouraged to use substitute face coverings - instead everyone should be wearing a face-fitting mask.

"Both of today's decisions - the mandate on surgical masks for workers and rapid antigen tests - are very welcome moves and much-needed. I wish these decisions were made earlier," Basu said.

"Instead of cloth masks, the use of disposable masks, fitted properly and wearing them everywhere, will significantly improve 'source control', that is, impeding virus shedding from the mouth and nasal cavity. The point here to emphasise is that they should be worn in a way to cover the nose and mouth. While there is a lead time of nine days, I'd say get into the habit now."

The Government also announced a boost to PCR testing capacity in preparation for a surge in case numbers, as well as the introduction of rapid antigen tests in a 'test-to-work' scheme for critical staffers who are identified as close contacts.

"It is also good to see the emphasis on rapid antigen or lateral flow tests. A point to remember is that for asymptomatic but affected individuals and in schools or workplace settings, these tests can be useful, particularly in our country where we do not have high caseloads yet, so the risk of false positives is so far low," Basu said.

"If these tests turn out to be positive, then they provide very valuable information; however, the caveat is that a negative test does not confirm the absence of COVID-19 infection and hence the person needs to keep an eye on any signs and symptoms, and get tested with a PCR test.

"Both of these moves will significantly cut down transmission of COVID-19."

10:20am - Cabinet has decided to strengthen mask requirements at the red setting of the COVID-19 Protection Framework, requiring surgical or N95 masks for all vaccine-mandated workers.

This includes all staff at cafés and gyms that require vaccine passes and police, border workers and teachers. Medical masks aren't required for the public - but scarves and bandannas are no longer an option in close-proximity businesses, with face-fitting masks to be the norm. The Government also signalled on Tuesday a boost to testing capacity, including PCR and rapid antigen tests.

Professor Emeritus Innes Asher, a retired professor at the University of Auckland's Department of Paediatrics and Child and Youth Health, said societal inequities mean not everyone can afford food, let alone masks.

"New Zealanders know that some families in poverty cannot afford masks and other public health measures. They cannot afford food," she said.

"Also, it is children in the deepest poverty who are the worst affected by COVID-19.

"The Government needs to immediately bring forward the planned April 1, 2022 benefit increases, and end the cruel and damaging policy of denying families on benefits the $72.50 per week payment that is given for children in low-income families not on benefits (as a tax credit within Working for Families)."

10am - The Prime Minister on Tuesday outlined a raft of new rules regarding mask use after the highly transmissible Omicron variant emerged in the community last weekend.

At her post-Cabinet press conference, Jacinda Ardern announced several changes to the rules around masks under the red 'traffic light' setting.

Masks must now be worn at all food and drink venues, close-proximity businesses and events and gatherings, except when drinking, eating and exercising.

The new rules also don't apply to swimming pools or non-public-facing businesses.

Additionally, face coverings need to be an actual mask - meaning substitutes such as bandannas, scarves and T-shirts are no longer acceptable. 

All workers who are required to be vaccinated must also wear a medical mask, such as the blue surgical masks which are commonly used. 

Children, from Year 4 and up, will now have to wear masks on public transport, including school buses. 

The changes will come into force at 11:59pm on February 3. 

Here's everything you need to know about the new mask rules.

9:45am - With all of New Zealand now under the red 'traffic light' setting, the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners would like to remind the public that general practice clinics are still open for business, but may change how they see patients.

"There will be extra demand and pressure on GPs and general practices once Omicron becomes prevalent in the community. We have been faced with a shortage of specialist trained GPs for several years now and COVID-19 does intensify that shortage," the College's president, Dr Samantha Murton, said on Wednesday.

"However, for over two years, GPs have stepped up to cope with additional demands for vaccination, swabbing, managing COVID-19 in the community, as well as continuing business as usual care, and will continue to be at the frontline of the COVID-19 response."

While it is currently uncertain just how fast Omicron will spread, there are steps you can take to ensure you are as prepared as possible. Once Omicron is established in New Zealand, the peak of the outbreak is expected to last between four and six weeks.

"While most people will experience mild to moderate cold-like symptoms and will be able to manage their symptoms at home, there is uncertainty about what the extra demand may mean for some business-as-usual services," said the College's medical mirector, Dr Bryan Betty. 

"GPs will strive to maintain their regular services, as well as providing COVID-19 response care."

The College will continue to work with the Ministry of Health to determine how the health sector will cope as the Omicron outbreak unfolds and how to maintain frontline services as demand increases.

"It is important we continue to work collaboratively as a health system to respond to the predicted COVID-19 surge, and that specialist general practitioners and their teams be supported by the Government and the Ministry so we can continue to provide frontline medical care," Dr Murton said.

Dr Murton and Dr Betty have updated members of the RNZCGP to provide reassurance and practical ways the GP workforce can prepare for Omicron in the community- read the update here.

9:30am - With the highly infectious Omicron variant in the community and all of New Zealand under the red 'traffic light' setting, schools are preparing to welcome back tamariki with extra health and safety measures in place. These include vaccination, masks for Year 4 upwards, physical distancing and capacity limits for some events.

However, even with these restrictions in place, it can be a time of stress and uncertainty for families with children who have respiratory conditions. The Asthma and Respiratory Foundation New Zealand (ARFNZ) says the back-to-school period is always a vulnerable time for the one in seven Kiwi children living with asthma.

"The return-to-school period increases the risk of respiratory hospitalisation for children," ARFNZ chief executive Letitia Harding said on Wednesday. "The 'back-to-school effect' is greater than the 'winter effect' when it comes to children's respiratory disease. This is an important issue to address, and even more so with Omicron now in our communities."

ARFNZ's recent report, The Impact of Respiratory Disease in New Zealand: 2020 Update, found that during weeks three and four of Term One in 2020, hospitalisations for respiratory disease increased -- peaking in week three at three times the risk of the first day of term.

International studies have shown a variety of factors are associated with the increase, including a change of environment and exposure to different allergens, changes in emotions such as stress or anxiety, and exposure to more viruses due to being around more people.

Recently, ARFNZ launched the Sailor Digital Classroom, an interactive digital course which ensures all primary school children in New Zealand can get educated about asthma, no matter what COVID-19 restrictions are in place. The Foundation is also hoping to secure funding for a te reo Māori digital version for Kura across Aotearoa.

To keep their children safe through the return-to-school period, parents and caregivers of children with asthma should ensure their child has an Asthma Action Plan in place, shared with their school and their teacher.

"Make sure your child is taking their preventer medication as prescribed and bringing their reliever inhaler to school, and check that it's not empty or out of date," ARFNZ research and education manager Joanna Turner said. "You should also let your child know what their asthma triggers are, so they can do their best to avoid them. Getting the COVID-19 and flu vaccines and practising good hand hygiene are also important to prevent the spread of germs."

"Many of the measures being put into place to protect against the Omicron variant will also help protect against other respiratory infections. Making sure that children with asthma take their preventer medication regularly and have an up-to-date asthma plan will also help to minimise the risk," ARFNZ medical director Dr James Fingleton added.

A free, printable back-to-school checklist is also available to download from the Foundation's website at asthmafoundation.org.nz/resources/school-asthma-checklist.

9:15am - As New Zealand's Government prepares to deal with the looming Omicron outbreak, this won't be the only major issue it will have to tackle this year.

2022 will be important for environmental and climate action. Several key developments are expected throughout the year, both in New Zealand and internationally, focusing on climate change and biodiversity - and how these crises overlap with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In February and early April, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) will publish the next two parts of its Sixth Assessment (AR6). These reports will provide the basis for global negotiations at the next climate summit scheduled to be held in Egypt in November.

The February report will focus on impacts and adaptation and the April report on mitigation of climate change. Together, they will assess the global and regional impacts of climate change on natural ecosystems and on human societies, as well as opportunities to cut emissions.

They will identify points of particular vulnerability, consider the practicalities of technological innovations and weigh the costs and trade-offs of low-carbon opportunities. Both reports will present a definitive statement of where impacts of climate change are being felt and what governments and other decision makers can do about it.

COVID-19 will dominate, but New Zealand must also face the 'triple planetary crisis' this year - read more here.

9:05am - The days of makeshift coverings are gone - face-fitting masks are now the norm.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Tuesday announced that under the red setting, proper masks must be worn in most indoor settings, such as food and drink venues, close-proximity businesses and events and gatherings - unless people are eating, drinking or exercising.

"That means no scarves, bandanas, or, as some of us may have seen from time-to-time, T-shirts pulled up over the face," she said. "This is to ensure that it is a mask designed to cover your nose and mouth properly."

Ardern said overseas evidence shows proper mask use pumped the breaks on Omicron transmission.

All workers who are legally mandated to wear a covering now have to don medical-grade masks.

"For example, a type 2R or level 2 mask or above, while working in public-facing roles. That includes, for instance, the widely available blue medical grade masks that many are already wearing."

But Retail NZ chief executive Greg Harford said in general, only a small number of shoppers have been wearing makeshift masks and the rules do not solve the problem at hand.

"The bigger issue is actually the people who just refuse to wear any kind of face coverings at all," he said. "There is a real issue with some of the processes around mask exemptions.

"There's a lot of people out there who just don't like wearing a mask and have kind of asserted, on the base of their own feelings, that they're therefore entitled to a mask exemption. That's not the case. Masks are there to keep everyone safe and help stop the spread of COVID-19.

"It's really important that only people who genuinely have a medical reason not to be wearing one have an exemption."

Read more here.

8:55am - In response to October's expert review of testing, PCR capacity will now increase from 39,000 tests a day (maximum) to a new baseline of 58,000 tests and surge capacity of 77,600. Using robots to take caps off specimens, or other technology, is being used in more labs to free up staff. Rapid antigen testing has also been expanded for use in certain situations with twice as many test types.

But Terry Taylor, the president of the New Zealand Institute of Medical Laboratory Science, says the decision to increase PCR testing capacity comes with a price, warning that Aotearoa's medical laboratory workforce could become "totally swamped".

"What does a surge capacity number like 78,000 mean? Our valued and hardworking medical laboratory workforce are once again preparing for another upcoming surge of COVID testing for the Omicron variant. We have all watched the scenes of bedlam outside testing centres in New South Wales and a laboratory service that was effectively swamped and is still struggling to perform core diagnostic functions. These scenes will be no different around our diagnostic laboratories in Aotearoa New Zealand," Taylor said on Wednesday.

The figures released on testing capacity are "best-[case] scenario estimates" and rely on full staffing and in most cases, 24-hour service provision, Taylor said. He noted that machines working to capacity will break down, workers will get sick and exhausted, and supply chains are always vulnerable. 

"It is always dangerous to throw around figures that do not represent real-time and external influences," he said.

"There are only 24 hours in a day, and machines and people can only take so much working at full capacity. There will need to be sound testing priority communicated and clinical direction to ensure our full diagnostic services are not totally swamped.

"It is both shortsighted and totally unfair on an already beleaguered workforce to force scientists to make decisions that can have a significant flow-on effect for other diagnostic testing that can affect patient outcomes... swamp our diagnostic laboratories, and the resulting flow-on to clinical healthcare decisions has the potential to cause patient harm.

"All we can do is our very best and if things do not go to plan, then everyone has been warned. This group of dedicated health professionals deserve plaudits for nearly two years of operating on the edge - but you can only push things so far."

8:40am - There was only one new case of the Omicron variant in the Nelson-Tasman region on Tuesday - a household contact of the family in Motueka, who travelled to Auckland to attend a wedding and other events over January 15 and 16.

The additional case brings the region's total number of cases to 13, but despite the Omicron threat, there was no rush to get tested on Tuesday.

The testing site in Motueka was empty throughout the morning, a stark contrast to the long lines and overwhelming demand on Monday.

The few that did line up for a swab were feeling nervous, with one person saying that the virus has "tipped my whole life upside down".

Tasman District Mayor Tim King said after so many tests on Monday, he was surprised there was only one new case detected in the region.

"Slightly unexpected, the expectation's been we'll get these case numbers more rapidly," King said. "This will continue to develop."

Read more here.

8:25am - Overseas New Zealanders desperate to return home will soon learn when they can travel to Aotearoa without booking a stay in a managed isolation (MIQ) facility.

They have been waiting for an exact date ever since the Government delayed the start of its gradual border re-opening plan to the end of February due to the threat of the Omicron variant.

Sandra Thomas and her husband were ready to move back to New Zealand from Western Australia at the start of this year.

But the Government's decision to delay the border reopening in order to stave off the arrival of Omicron left them stranded.

"We resigned from our jobs. Our house comes with my husband's job so that leaves us with nowhere to live."

Now there is hope on the horizon, with the Prime Minister confirming New Zealanders stuck overseas will learn when they can bypass MIQ and isolate at home in a matter of weeks.

"Hopefully this is it for us, for all of us stranded. There are so many sad cases out there."

The reopening plan will allow fully vaccinated New Zealand citizens and residents in Australia to return first, followed by those based elsewhere in the world. Allowing foreign nationals to travel to New Zealand is the final step.

The plan is still due to begin at the end of February, with Cabinet to confirm the exact date in the next two weeks, Ardern said.

Read more here.

8:15am - Let's have a look at developments elsewhere around the world.

Britain has recorded its highest number of COVID-related deaths in almost a year. On Tuesday, the nation reported 439 deaths within 28 days of a positive test - the highest total since February 24, 2021.

Meanwhile, Italy has registered 144,343 deaths linked to COVID-19 since its outbreak emerged in February 2020 - the second-highest toll in Europe after Britain and the ninth highest in the world. The country has reported 10.2 million cases to date.

The Dutch government will further ease its restrictions despite record numbers of infections, with restaurants, bars and theatres allowed to re-open from Wednesday, Prime Minister Mark Rutte said on Tuesday.

Germany expects to receive 3.8 million doses of Novavax's newly approved COVID-19 vaccine Nuvaxovid by March 20, the health ministry said on Tuesday, as the government looks to persuade unvaccinated Germans to get their jabs. 

Novavax's protein-based vaccine, which was approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in December, uses alternative technology to the vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca and J&J.

This could convince reluctant Germans, sceptical about the novel mRNA technology and its long-term effects, to take Novavax's more traditional vaccine and boost Germany's vaccination rate, which is lower than other western European countries.

And Japan has expanded its regions subject to tighter coronavirus curbs on Tuesday, with the restrictions now covering 70 percent of the country. The government is attempting to counter a record wave of cases caused by the Omicron variant.

The measures, already in force in 16 prefectures, will take effect in a further 18 including the western prefectures of Kyoto and Osaka and remain in place until the middle of next month.

Nationwide cases rose above 60,000 for the first time since the pandemic began, a tally by broadcaster Fuji TV showed on Tuesday, with the capital, Tokyo, posting 12,813 new cases while the region of Osaka reported 8612 - both records.

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

8:05am - Opposition leader Christopher Luxon said the Government should be making rapid antigen tests (RATs) more widely available to minimise disruptions to the workforce as much as possible - and to encourage "personal responsibility" among Kiwis.

On Tuesday, the Prime Minister announced that critical or essential workers will be able to use RATs to ensure they can get back to their role if they are identified as a close contact, effectively shortening their isolation period and minimising disruptions to the frontline of the response. 

But Luxon argued the time has come for the testing kits to be readily available to all, saying he would "absolutely" adopt the "vending machine model" - meaning tests are available to purchase in supermarkets and pharmacies - if he were in the top job.

"The Prime Minister still - and I think it's because she hasn't secured the supply - is still talking about, 'we don't want to make RATs available to everyone, we won't have [them] in supermarkets or pharmacies'," he told RNZ's Morning Report.

If a supply had been secured, Luxon said he would ensure the kits are freely available to critical workers and also in stores for those who want to take "personal responsibility" to purchase.

"Let's say you want to see your grandparent. You'd want to swing by the supermarket, do a quick test, say 'right, I'm good to go and see nana and grandad', and that's just someone being sensible. If you choose to take one, you should certainly pay for it. If it's free because you're a critical worker and it's for 'test to work', that should be freely available to you."

The higher rate of false positives associated with RATs has seen some experts argue that the tests should not be widely used in the early stages of an outbreak, as it could mean positive cases are being missed at a crucial time.

Luxon dismissed the suggestion, saying ideally there would be both PCR testing capacity and rapid antigen testing concurrently. 

"I absolutely would. Because we are so late and so scrambling… if you're in a perfect world, you have both [RAT and PCR tests] going because why wouldn't you? It's been routine around the world for over a year… the Government also seems slow on saliva testing.

"I would - I just think it's too academic and too nuanced and theoretical to say, 'we're gonna stage it in phases'. The only reason we're doing that is because we don't have supply."

7:50am - Opposition leader Christopher Luxon has accused the Government of commandeering rapid antigen tests (RATs) from the private sector, claiming officials are taking the supply "for themselves".

Speaking to RNZ's Morning Report on Wednesday, Luxon echoed earlier comments made by his party's COVID-19 Response spokesperson, Chris Bishop, who claimed on Tuesday evening that the Government has demonstrated their "incompetence" by requisitioning tests from the private sector.

Luxon said the Government is scrambling to ensure enough of the testing kits are available.

"They're scrambling. They've only approved seven - maybe two more to come in - nine approved tests… so now they're out there scrambling. The Prime Minister says we've got 4.6 million (RATs) in the country - what she doesn't clarify is whether they're in the private sector or whether they're actually held by the Government, and that's exactly what's been happening," Luxon said.

"We've got a lot of very good employers who care deeply about their employees, have used the approved tests, secured a supply and brought them into the country, and it looks like the Government is actually commandeering that supply and then taking it for themselves. And saying it's only available for those that will 'test to work' - and not available for anyone else.

"You've got very good employers… that have actually gone off and got tests organised and got them here to make sure they're looking after [their employees]. That's the big problem… yes, we've only got a handful in the country, we've apparently got an order that's due here in early March, we've got another order that could possibly be here in April-May - it's all a little bit too late.

"So I understand what the Government's doing in terms of trying to commandeer from the private sector, but I don't think that's the right thing to have done. Essentially these are companies that have done the right thing by their people… got onto it early, saw it happening around the world and got into it."

7:40am - The Australian government has put a stop to price-gougers, making marked-up home tests for COVID-19 illegal.

According to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, rapid antigen tests (RATs) wholesale for around AU$3.95 and AU$11.45, but it has seen reports of the tests costing up to $500 for two through online marketplaces.

"It's some of the worst price-gouging we've seen during the course of the pandemic," said Dean Price, senior campaigns and policy advisor at consumer advocacy group CHOICE.

Now the Australian Government Department of Health has announced new measures prohibiting RATs being on-sold for a mark up of more than 20 percent.

People found to be price-gouging or unlawfully exploiting the testing kits will face a fine of up to AU$66,000 and up to five years imprisonment, it said in a statement.

The measures will remain in place from January 8 to February 17.

Read more here.

7:35am - Health authorities in the Solomon Islands have reported the country's first two deaths from COVID-19.

Health Minister Culwick Togamana announced the deaths on Tuesday afternoon along with the latest figures, which recorded 650 new cases of COVID-19 as of midday Tuesday, Solomon Business Magazine reports.

The two victims were a 51-year-old female and a 59-year-old male who had pre-existing conditions, including diabetes and high-blood pressure.

They passed away on Monday night at the National Referral Hospital.

Togamana said health authorities were expecting more cases in the coming days, with community transmission now widespread in the capital and some provincial areas.

As of 6pm on Tuesday (local time), a four-day lockdown is in effect for the capital Honiara.

- RNZ

7:30am - Pfizer Inc (PFE.N) and BioNTech SE said on Tuesday (local time) they had started a clinical trial to test a new version of their vaccine specifically designed to target the Omicron variant, which has eluded some of the protection provided by the original two-dose vaccine regimen.

Banking on volunteers in the US, the companies plan to test the immune response generated by the Omicron-based vaccine both as a three-shot regimen in unvaccinated people and as a booster shot for people who already received two doses of their original vaccine.

They are also testing a fourth dose of the current vaccine against a fourth dose of the Omicron-based vaccine in people who received a third dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine three to six months earlier.

The companies plan to study the safety and tolerability of the shots in the more than 1400 people who will be enrolled in the trial.

"While current research and real-world data show that boosters continue to provide a high level of protection against severe disease and hospitalization with Omicron, we recognize the need to be prepared in the event this protection wanes over time and to potentially help address Omicron and new variants in the future," Pfizer's head of vaccine research and development, Kathrin Jansen, said in a statement.

Depending on the amount of clinical trial data required by regulators, it may not be possible to realise a current plan to launch an Omicron-targeting vaccine by the end of March, BioNTech said.

Read more here.

7:25am - The Government will today outline the next phases of its Omicron response, including its 'test to return to work' approach.

The plan has already attracted criticism, with Opposition parties accusing the Government of taking rapid antigen tests (RATs) from the private sector and treating the public like children.

With Omicron now threatening to topple supply chains, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced on Tuesday that rapid antigen tests were about to play a much larger role.

"Critical workers who are identified as close contacts will be able to use proof of a negative rapid antigen test to return to the work place during their required period of isolation.

"This will minimise disruption to critical infrastructure and supply chains, helping to keep New Zealand going."

More than 4.5 million RATs are currently in the country and another 14.6 million will arrive over the next five weeks.

An additional 22 million have been ordered, but officials are yet to receive a delivery date - in what Director-General of Health, Dr Ashley Bloomfield, described as a very competitive global market.

The National Party's COVID-19 Response spokesperson, Chris Bishop, accused the Government of seizing tests from the private sector.

"I have been approached by a series of organisations today, all of whom have orders for rapid antigen tests about to be filled. They have been told that those orders cannot be filled because the rapid antigen tests are now going to the Government instead.

"That the Government has now resorted to requisitioning rapid antigen tests from the private sector is a stunning indictment of the Government's incompetence over rapid antigen testing."

The tests will be free and available through community health providers, GPs and pharmacies - however, not everyone will have access to them.

Read more here.

7:20am - Kia ora, good morning, and welcome to Newshub's live coverage of the COVID-19 Omicron outbreak for Wednesday, January 26.