The first flight of Kiwis returning to New Zealand without having to self-isolate has arrived at Auckland Airport at 1:10 pm from Dubai.
Many fully vaccinated New Zealanders will be welcomed home as flights around the world land at NZ airports throughout the day.
The first trans-Tasman flights arrived on February 28, but as of midnight on March 4 over 100 countries will be open to Kiwi travellers.
What you need to know:
- There were 18,833 new COVID-19 cases recorded on Saturday
- Location of Saturdays new community cases (PCR & RAT): Northland (483), Auckland (9,789), Waikato (1,575), Bay of Plenty (1,222), Lakes (459), Hawke’s Bay (327), MidCentral (417), Whanganui (95), Taranaki (264), Tairāwhiti (153), Wairarapa (94), Capital and Coast (1,308), Hutt Valley (576), Nelson Marlborough (258), Canterbury (1,170), South Canterbury (57), Southern (558), West Coast (17); Unknown (11)
- Cases in hospital: total number 597: Northland: 4; North Shore: 112; Middlemore: 188; Auckland: 153; Waikato: 53; BOP: 12; Rotorua: 16; Tairawhiti: 2; Hawke’s Bay: 7; Taranaki: 4; MidCentral: 10; Whanganui: 1; Hutt Valley: 5; Capital and Coast: 17; Nelson Marlborough: 2; Canterbury: 6; Southern: 5.
- There have been five new deaths of people with COVID-19 on Saturday
- The 23-day occupation of Parliament's grounds was been brought to an end on Wednesday with a major police operation, though protesters have now moved to other parts of Wellington and the surrounding region
- Police are investigating criminal offences that occured during the protest and have established a crime scene around Parliament grounds and nearby streets
These live updates have now finished.
2:30pm- Returning Kiwis are welcomed back with hugs from family and friends rather than MIQ.
Emotional scenes are unfolding at Auckland Airport as 900 New Zealanders from all around the world are expected to arrive today.
"First time I am going to meet her grandson… It will be overwhelming," one woman told Newshub.
Another man was able to be reunited with his sister one week after their dad died.
"Auckland Airport is a place of connection, and for the past couple of years that heartbeat has slowed," Auckland Airport said in a statement.
"We are really excited to be part of the next steps in our country’s reconnection with the world."
2:00pm- The first arrivals are slowly making their way through the Auckland Airport gates with no MIQ facilities or self-isolation awaiting them.
The first Kiwi to arrive was a man that was staying in Germany who is back to see family and work.
"I was surprised that there was not more people on the plane," he said.
1:40pm- Haka the Legend practise their Māori cultural performance as they wait for the first arrivals to walk through the gates.
1:30pm- The first flight of fully vaccinated Kiwis returning to New Zealand from outside of the trans-Tasman bubble, without self-isolation rules has landed from Dubai.
For the first time in two years, Kiwi families will be reunited on NZ soil.
1:21pm- Ministry of Health RAT update:
Rapid Antigen Test Update
The Ministry has been made aware of people trying to walk through testing centre drive throughs to collect RATs.
This is dangerous, and we would like to remind people to check Healthpoint for information about drive-through and walk-in community testing centres.
We are continuing to see a high demand for Rapid Antigen Tests and the Ministry continues to assure people that we have good supply of tests.
With tens of thousands of people collecting RATs from testing centres and collection sites, our request is to, please, be patient and kind to each other and staff.
If you are symptomatic or a household contact, you can order RATs through the newly launched RAT requester site. You, or someone of your behalf, can collect your RAT order from a collection site listed on Healthpoint. Please only go to those sites that are listed as collection sites.
The priority for COVID-19 response for free RATs remains those who are symptomatic or a household contact. Please do not order or request RATs from testing centre or collections sites unless you are unwell or a household contact. International travel pre-departure testing is not covered under the public health response. If you are well, you can still purchase RATs from one of a growing number of retailers which stock them.
1:20pm- COVID-19 vaccine update:
Vaccinations administered in New Zealand
- Vaccines administered to date: 4,021,003 first doses; 3,963,390 second doses; 33,876 third primary doses; 2,440,520 booster doses: 247,053 paediatric first doses and 4,456 paediatric second doses*
- Vaccines administered yesterday: 255 first doses; 725 second doses; 84 third primary doses; 16,248 booster doses; 1,243 paediatric first doses and 241 paediatric second doses
People vaccinated
- All Ethnicities (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 4,065,703 first dose (96.6%); 4,006,235 second dose (95.2%), 2,442,176 boosted (72.3% of those eligible)
- Māori (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 519,919 first dose (91%); 500,124 second dose (87.6%), 210,194 boosted (60.2% of those eligible)
- Pacific Peoples (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 281,093 first dose (98.1%); 275,195 second dose (96%), 125,679 boosted (59.1% of those eligible)
- 5 to 11-year-olds all ethnicities: 246,919 first dose (51.8%); 4,408 second dose (0.9%)
- 5 to 11-year-olds - Māori: 37,134 first dose (32.1%); 722 second dose (0.6%)
- 5 to 11-year-olds - Pacific Peoples: 21,825 first dose (44.2%); 531 second dose (1.1%)
Note that the number for “People vaccinated” differs slightly from “Vaccines administered” as it includes those that have been vaccinated overseas.
Vaccination rates for all DHBs*
- Northland DHB: first dose (90.4%); second dose (88%); boosted (70.2%)
- Auckland Metro DHB: first dose (97.4%); second dose (96.2%); boosted (69.8%)
- Waikato DHB: first dose (95.4%); second dose (93.6%); boosted (68.4%)
- Bay of Plenty DHB: first dose (95.3%); second dose (93.4%); boosted (69.2%)
- Lakes DHB: first dose (93.7%); second dose (91.5%); boosted (69.6%)
- MidCentral DHB: first dose (96.9%); second dose (95.3%); boosted (74.7%)
- Tairāwhiti DHB: first dose (93.5%); second dose (90.9%); boosted (70.2%)
- Whanganui DHB: first dose (92.5%); second dose (90.6%); boosted (74.5%)
- Hawke’s Bay DHB: first dose (97.3%); second dose (95.3%); boosted (72.2%)
- Taranaki DHB: first dose (94.9%); second dose (93.2%); boosted (69.8%)
- Wairarapa DHB: first dose (96.8%); second dose (95.2%); boosted (76.2%)
- Capital & Coast DHB: first dose (98.8%); second dose (97.9%); boosted (80.6%)
- Hutt Valley DHB: first dose (96.9%); second dose (95.7%); boosted (76.9%)
- Nelson Marlborough DHB: first dose (96.9%); second dose (95.5%); boosted (76.7%)
- West Coast DHB: first dose (93.1%); second dose (91.3%); boosted (75.1%)
- Canterbury DHB: first dose (99.9%); second dose (98.8%); boosted (74.8%)
- South Canterbury DHB: first dose (95.5%); second dose (94.2%); boosted (76.3%)
- Southern DHB: first dose (98.2%); second dose (97%); boosted (75.6%)
*Partially and second doses percentages are for those 12+. Boosted percentages are for 18+ who have become eligible 3 months after having their second dose
Hospitalisations
- Cases in hospital: total number 597: Northland: 4; North Shore: 112; Middlemore: 188; Auckland: 153; Waikato: 53; BOP: 12; Rotorua: 16; Tairawhiti: 2; Hawke’s Bay: 7; Taranaki: 4; MidCentral: 10; Whanganui: 1; Hutt Valley: 5; Capital and Coast: 17; Nelson Marlborough: 2; Canterbury: 6; Southern: 5.
- Average age of current hospitalisations: 52
- Cases in ICU or HDU: 10
- Vaccination status of current hospitalisations (Northern Region only, excluding Emergency Departments): Unvaccinated or not eligible (75 cases / 18.2%); partially immunised <7 days from second dose or have only received one dose (10 cases / 2.4%); double vaccinated at least 7 days before being reported as a case (162 cases / 39.1%); Received booster at least 7 days before being reported as a case (84 cases / 20.2%); unknown (83 cases / 20.1%)
Cases
- Seven day rolling average of community cases: 16,687
- Number of new community cases: 18,833
- Number of new community cases (PCR): 1,173
- Number of new community cases (RAT): 17,660
- Location of new community cases (PCR & RAT): Northland (483), Auckland (9,789), Waikato (1,575), Bay of Plenty (1,222), Lakes (459), Hawke’s Bay (327), MidCentral (417), Whanganui (95), Taranaki (264), Tairāwhiti (153), Wairarapa (94), Capital and Coast (1,308), Hutt Valley (576), Nelson Marlborough (258), Canterbury (1,170), South Canterbury (57), Southern (558), West Coast (17); Unknown (11)
- Number of new cases identified at the border: 7 (2 confirmed, 5 probable)
- Number of active community cases (total): 167,793 (cases identified in the past 10 days and not yet classified as recovered)
- Confirmed cases (total): 206,827
Please note, the Ministry of Health’s daily reported cases may differ slightly from those reported at a DHB or local public health unit level. This is because of different reporting cut off times and the assignment of cases between regions, for example when a case is tested outside their usual region of residence. Total numbers will always be the formal daily case tally as reported to the WHO.
Tests
- Number of PCR tests total (last 24 hours): 14,049
- PCR tests rolling average (last 7 days up to 03/03): 22,549
- Number of Rapid Antigen Tests dispatched (last 7 days): 8.8 million (Please note that this number is not updated over the weekend and reflects the number of tests as of Friday.)
1:10pm- There are 18,833 community cases of COVID-19 to report today which is a decrease in daily cases from recent days where we reported cases above 20,000.
The Ministry said that a decreases in cases can be encouraging, but still urges caution.
"While decreases in cases can be encouraging, the Ministry of Health urges caution. We are expecting cases to jump around, and are continuing to see increases in COVID-19 related hospitalisations."
Sadly, there have also been five new deaths reported today, following another five deaths on Friday.
- Two COVID-19 patients passed away at North Shore Hospital
- Two more patients passed away at Middlemore Hospital
- One more patient died at Auckland City Hospital
- Three of the patients were in their 80s, one was in their 70s and one was in their 60s. Three were male and two were female.
"Our thoughts and condolences are with these peoples’ whānau and friends. Out of respect for privacy, we will be making no further comment."
12:50pm - The first flight with no self-isolation restrictions arriving from outside of the trans-Tasman bubble has been delayed from 11:45 am to 1:10 pm.
Fully vaccinated Kiwis from Dubai are set to be the first flight of many landing in New Zealand from around the world.
Returnees will be welcomed at Auckland Airport with Haka the Legend performing at the arrivals area and iconic Kiwi food goody bags will be handed out.
12:30pm - Aucklanders are being encouraged to head down to multiple pop-up events happening today to get their booster dose if they’re due and to bring along their tamariki aged 5 to 11.
As of Friday, more than 811,000 people have had their booster dose and close to 97,000 tamariki aged 5 to 11 have been immunised against COVID-19.
The line-up of events can be found at vaccinateforauckland.nz or below:
- Faikava Mo’ui vaccination drive through, Saturday 5 March, from 8.30pm to 5pm, Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga, 143 Favona Road, Māngere.
- Tamariki Time drive-through, Saturday 5 March, from 9am to 3pm, Ormiston Senior College, 275 Ormiston Rd
- Samoa Tūtū Fa’atasi drive-through, Saturday 5 March, from 9am to 7pm, Northcrest Carpark, Manuwera
- Marlins Pop-Up, Sat 5 March, 10am - 2pm, 81 Finlayson Avenue, Clendon Park
- Ke Mou Ma'u 'A E Mo'Ui - Event 1, Sat 5 March, 8:30am-5pm, 27 Bailey Road, Mt Wellington
- Ōtara Flea Market Drive Through, Sat 5 March, 3pm-9pm, 20 Newbury Street, Ōtara
- Robertson Road School Vaccination Event, Sat 5 March, 10am-2pm, 205 Roberts Road, Māngere East
People can also walk-in or drive up to all community vaccination centres, and book in with GPs and pharmacies.
Individual bookings are available at BookMyVaccine.nz, and bookings for two or more members of the whānau can be made by calling 0800 28 29 26.
12:25pm - Kia ora, good afternoon and welcome to Newshub's live updates of the COVID-19 outbreak for Saturday.
We are currently awaiting the Ministry of Health's daily update and will bring that to you as soon as it arrives.
