Five COVID-related deaths were recorded and daily COVID cases nearly doubled to 12,011 on Friday - as New Zealand entered phase 3 of the Government's Omicron plan.
There are now 237 COVID cases in hospital - three of whom are in intensive care (ICU).
What you need to know:
- The Ministry of Health reported five COVID deaths and 12,011 new cases on Friday.
- Two of the deaths were in North Shore, one was in Waikato and one in Tauranga.
- Cases in hospital: total number 237 - Northland: 3; North Shore: 42; Middlemore: 83; Auckland: 85; Tauranga: 9; Hawke’s Bay: 1; Capital and Coast: 2; Hutt Valley: 7; Canterbury: 2; Southern: 3.
- Three cases hospitalised are in ICU.
- Location of new community cases (PCR test): Northland (46), Auckland (1,565), Waikato (388), Bay of Plenty (279), Lakes (23), Hawke’s Bay (54), MidCentral (112), Whanganui (13), Taranaki (37), Tairāwhiti (34), Wairarapa (10), Capital and Coast (182), Hutt Valley (85), Nelson Marlborough (79), Canterbury (355), South Canterbury (13), Southern (524), West Coast (6); Unknown (1).
- Location of new community cases (Rapid antigen test): Northland (87), Auckland (6,403), Waikato (544), Bay of Plenty (338), Lakes (140), Hawke’s Bay (40), MidCentral (41), Whanganui (5), Taranaki (11), Tairāwhiti (18), Wairarapa (4), Capital and Coast (77), Hutt Valley (20), Nelson Marlborough (23), Canterbury (114), South Canterbury (5), Southern (343), West Coast (3); Unknown (7).
- The move to Omicron phase 3 happened overnight.
- Anti-mandate protests outside Parliament have entered day 18.
- There are "at least two" positive COVID-19 cases among the Wellington protesters, the Ministry of Health says.
This article is no longer being updated - more on Newshub Live at 4:30pm, Newshub Live at 6pm and at Newshub.co.nz.
2:15pm - The Ministry of Health has officially scrapped COVID locations of interest.
"In Omicron Phase 3, the Ministry of Health will not publish new locations of interest," an update on the Government's Unite Against COVID-19 website says.
"Case investigations will instead be focused on high-risk exposures and household contacts."
2pm - Early childhood centres are worried they will run out of teachers as Omicron spreads.
Groups representing early learning service owners and managers said there was already a teacher shortage and many services would not be able to find enough relievers to stay open if the virus infected their staff.
1:45pm - Over in Australia's New South Wales, there were six COVID deaths and 7583 cases reported.
A total of 1144 NSW COVID cases are in hospital, 64 of whom are in ICU.
1:40pm - Auckland remains the region reporting the bulk of COVID cases (1565) followed by Southern - which covers Otago and Southland (524).
1:35pm - Below is the latest COVID vaccination data by district health board:
1:30pm - The Ministry of Health data shows more than a quarter of those who received PCR tests in the previous 24 hours - 27.4 percent - tested positive for COVID.
1:25pm - Friday's COVID case spike is "not unexpected", the Ministry of Health says.
"These case numbers and hospitalisations are another reminder that vaccination is our best defence against the virus," the ministry said in a statement.
"There is growing evidence that three doses of Pfizer is protective against Omicron.
"We are strongly encouraging people to get a booster dose if it has been more than three months since their second dose.
"There were 25,461 booster doses administered yesterday and, overall, around 68.8 percent of the eligible population have received a booster dose."
1:20pm - Friday's COVID hospitalisation data:
- Cases in hospital: total number 237 - Northland: 3; North Shore: 42; Middlemore: 83; Auckland: 85; Tauranga: 9; Hawke’s Bay: 1; Capital and Coast: 2; Hutt Valley: 7; Canterbury: 2; Southern: 3.
- Average age of current hospitalisations: 52
- Cases in ICU or HDU: 3
- Today's vaccination status of current hospitalisations (Northern Region only, excluding Emergency Departments) is delayed due a technical issue.
1:19pm - Details from the ministry on Friday's COVID-19 related deaths:
Sadly, we are today reporting the deaths of five patients with COVID-19. Of these patients, two were cared for in North Shore, two in Waikato, and one in Tauranga.
Our thoughts and condolences are with the patients’ family and friends.
Out of respect, we will be making no further comment.
1:18pm - The Ministry of Health has reported five COVID-related deaths and 12,011 cases - nearly double Thursday's tally. Full details to follow.
1:08pm - Below is a statement from the Bay of Plenty District Health Board, regarding a large COVID exposure event at Tauranga Hospital:
On Thursday February 24, a COVID-19 exposure event was identified at Tauranga Hospital's orthopaedic ward involving 68 people.
Tauranga Hospital has been preparing for possible cases of COVID-19 and had a number of precautions in place to minimise the risk of the virus spreading in the workplace, like wearing appropriate PPE and following the best-practice infection control processes.
As a prudent measure, at 1pm yesterday the hospital’s orthopaedic ward was immediately closed to new admissions and visitors, although the risk to Tauranga Hospital staff and operations was considered low.
The orthopaedic ward reopened for admissions and visitors later last night, after the results of the 68 people was known.
1:07pm - Still waiting for the Ministry of Health to release Friday's COVID data. Stand by for the case numbers.
12:50pm - The number of schools and early childcare centres battling COVID has skyrocketed to 717 - nearly doubling in the past week, figures released by the Ministry of Education show.
But the move to phase 3 means some good news for schools, with the shift meaning a change in who is classed a close contact.
12:40pm - Earlier, Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield urged the public to stay vigilant during phase 3.
"Anyone who's not a close contact from in the same household should find that out and take appropriate precautions to protect others," Dr Bloomfield told AM.
12:30pm - Some pharmacists are frustrated at the lack of time they've had to prepare for phase 3.
Many are being inundated with requests for rapid antigen tests (RATs) - despite a lack of stock or rules preventing them from testing the general public.
Auckland pharmacist Behesta Ali told AM she's incredibly tired and upset after facing verbal abuse and feels the community is being let down by the strict standards.
RATs are now the primary test option but are not yet available for the public to purchase. Instead, people still have to line up at COVID testing stations.
12:20pm - Kia ora, good afternoon and welcome to Newshub's live coverage of the Omicron outbreak for Friday.
As per usual, the Ministry of Health is due to release the latest COVID data online at 1pm. We will bring you that as soon as it comes to hand.
