The Ministry of Health has announced a third consecutive day of a drop in COVID-19 cases with 15,161 new infections and 618 people in hospital on Sunday.
The ministry also announced the death of a patient with COVID-19.
"Sadly, we are today reporting the death of a person in Auckland Hospital," the ministry said.
"The person had unrelated medical conditions and had tested positive for COVID-19."
Hospitalisations continue to break new records and for the 23rd straight day, there has been a rise in the number of people in hospital with 618 on Sunday.
What you need to know:
- There were 15,161 new COVID-19 cases recorded on Sunday.
- Location of Sunday's new community cases (PCR & RAT): Northland (382), Auckland (7,226), Waikato (1,334), Bay of Plenty (937), Lakes (434), Hawke’s Bay (336), MidCentral (378), Whanganui (59), Taranaki (239), Tairāwhiti (166), Wairarapa (85), Capital and Coast (1,161), Hutt Valley (648), Nelson Marlborough (233), Canterbury (1,019), South Canterbury (52), Southern (444), West Coast (17); Unknown (11).
- Cases in hospital: total number 618: Northland: 10; North Shore: 117; Middlemore: 184; Auckland: 167; Waikato: 49; BOP: 16; Rotorua: 8; Tairawhiti: 2; Hawke’s Bay: 6; Taranaki: 6; MidCentral: 10; Wairarapa: 2; Hutt Valley: 2; Capital and Coast: 20; Nelson Marlborough: 2; Canterbury: 13; Southern: 4.
- There has been one new death of a person with COVID-19 on Sunday.
- 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 occurred during the protest and have established a crime scene around Parliament grounds and nearby streets
These live updates are now over.
2:10pm - Over in Australia, Queensland has announced a drop in COVID cases on Sunday with 2934 new infections in the last 24 hours.
Queensland Health said that there were two coronavirus deaths in the last reporting period, down from 12 on Saturday.
Hospitalisations have slightly decreased with 265 people in hospital, down from 276 on Saturday with 22 in ICU.
There is currently 30,113 active cases in Queensland.
1:43pm - Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson has slammed National leader Christopher Luxon for his state of the nation speech that failed to mention COVID-19.
Robertson said with Luxon not mentioning COVID-19 at a time when New Zealand is going through its biggest outbreak shows National will "not face up to the hard decisions that come with being in government".
Here is the full statement from Robertson:
"New Zealanders have heard the same tired old story from National Party leader Christopher Luxon today that fails to give any new ideas for our future," Grant Robertson said.
"This speech is just a continuation of the mistakes made by the succession of National leaders since John Key. The maths just does not add up. Christopher Luxon wants to cut taxes, reduce debt, and keep on spending. This is the same fiscal 'Bermuda triangle' that got Paul Goldsmith in trouble, and nothing seems to have changed for National.
"Let's be clear, what National outlined today will mean cuts to important services. They need to front up to Kiwis and say which health, education and housing services they will slash to make that happen.
"The reality is that Christopher Luxon's proposals will just make things worse. There will be more congestion on Auckland's roads, it will be harder for first home buyers to buy a house and those on low incomes will fall further behind.
"National is still missing in action on a plan for the major issues that will define New Zealand's future. The speech said nothing about how we will meet the challenge of climate change or seize the economic opportunities that come from a low carbon economy to provide higher wage jobs.
"What is more, Christopher Luxon had nothing to say about COVID at a time when New Zealanders are dealing with the most significant outbreak we have seen in the pandemic.
"The speech shows once again that National will not face up to the hard decisions that come with being in government. Just as the previous National government failed to address housing or mental health, this time around they are not prepared to back the work Labour is doing on the much needed reset of our health system or to ensure New Zealanders have safe drinking water and decent waste and storm water systems.
"While it might be inconvenient for National, the facts show that New Zealand has one of the strongest and resilient economies in the world. Unemployment is at a record low and our exporters are benefiting from higher prices for their produce. We are in a strong fiscal position, with lower than expected deficits and debt levels well below that of other countries we compare ourselves against.
"We know that some New Zealanders are doing it tough at the moment as the global forces of inflation and the pandemic combine. We will continue to support those most in need and take a balanced and careful approach to deal with COVID and invest in our future while carefully managing our resources to ensure the long term sustainability of the economy," Grant Robertson said.
1:10pm - Here is the latest data from the Ministry of Health on the outbreak and vaccination campaign:
COVID-19 vaccine update
Vaccinations administered in New Zealand
- Vaccines administered to date: 4,021,280 first doses; 3,963,972 second doses; 33,999 third primary doses; 2,455,204 booster doses: 249,062 paediatric first doses and 5,006 paediatric second doses
- Vaccines administered yesterday: 283 first doses; 577 second doses; 55 third primary doses; 14,666 booster doses; 2,009 paediatric first doses and 550 paediatric second doses
People vaccinated
- All Ethnicities (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 4,066,046 first dose (96.6%); 4,006,864 second dose (95.2%), 2,456,859 boosted (72.4% of those eligible)
- Māori (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 520,051 first dose (91.1%); 500,321 second dose (87.6%), 212,192 boosted (60.1% of those eligible)
- Pacific Peoples (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 281,162 first dose (98.1%); 275,305 second dose (96%), 127,574 boosted (59.6% of those eligible)
- 5 to 11-year-olds all ethnicities: 248,911 first dose (52.3%); 4,942 second dose (1%)
- 5 to 11-year-olds - Māori: 37,734 first dose (32.7%); 819 second dose (0.7%)
5 to 11-year-olds - Pacific Peoples: 22,156 first dose (44.9%); 630 second dose (1.3%)
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 (70.3%)
- Auckland Metro DHB: first dose (97.4%); second dose (96.2%); boosted (70.1%)
- Waikato DHB: first dose (95.4%); second dose (93.6%); boosted (68.3%)
- Bay of Plenty DHB: first dose (95.3%); second dose (93.4%); boosted (69.2%)
- Lakes DHB: first dose (93.7%); second dose (91.6%); boosted (69.7%)
- MidCentral DHB: first dose (96.9%); second dose (95.3%); boosted (74.8%)
- Tairāwhiti DHB: first dose (93.5%); second dose (90.9%); boosted (70.1%)
- Whanganui DHB: first dose (92.5%); second dose (90.6%); boosted (74.4%)
- Hawke’s Bay DHB: first dose (97.3%); second dose (95.4%); boosted (72.6%)
- Taranaki DHB: first dose (94.9%); second dose (93.2%); boosted (69.6%)
- Wairarapa DHB: first dose (96.8%); second dose (95.2%); boosted (76.1%)
- Capital & Coast DHB: first dose (98.8%); second dose (98%); boosted (80.7%)
- 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 (76.5%)
- West Coast DHB: first dose (93.1%); second dose (91.3%); boosted (74.7%)
- 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 (76.1%)
- Southern DHB: first dose (98.2%); second dose (97%); boosted (75.4%)
*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 618: Northland: 10; North Shore: 117; Middlemore: 184; Auckland: 167; Waikato: 49; BOP: 16; Rotorua: 8; Tairawhiti: 2; Hawke’s Bay: 6; Taranaki: 6; MidCentral: 10; Wairarapa: 2; Hutt Valley: 2; Capital and Coast: 20; Nelson Marlborough: 2; Canterbury: 13; Southern: 4.
- Average age of current hospitalisations: 55
- Cases in ICU or HDU: 10
- Vaccination status of current hospitalisations (Northern Region only, excluding Emergency Departments): Unvaccinated or not eligible (78 cases / 17.9%); partially immunised <7 days from second dose or have only received one dose (11 cases / 2.5%); double vaccinated at least 7 days before being reported as a case (174 cases / 39.9%); Received booster at least 7 days before being reported as a case (95 cases / 21.8%); unknown (78 cases / 17.9%)
*While still early in the Omicron outbreak, the figures show that, based on the data available, unvaccinated people are four times over-represented in the current hospitalisation data. Just 3% of eligible people aged 12 and over in New Zealand have had no doses of the vaccine, however, of the eligible people in Northland and Auckland hospitals with COVID-19, 13% have had no doses of the vaccine.
Cases
- Seven day rolling average of community cases: 17,272
- Number of new community cases: 15,161
- Number of new community cases (PCR): 547
- Number of new community cases (RAT): 14,618
- Location of new community cases (PCR & RAT): Northland (382), Auckland (7,226), Waikato (1,334), Bay of Plenty (937), Lakes (434), Hawke’s Bay (336), MidCentral (378), Whanganui (59), Taranaki (239), Tairāwhiti (166), Wairarapa (85), Capital and Coast (1,161), Hutt Valley (648), Nelson Marlborough (233), Canterbury (1,019), South Canterbury (52), Southern (444), West Coast (17); Unknown (11)
- Number of new cases identified at the border: 4 (1 confirmed, 3 probable)
- Number of active community cases (total): 179,417 (cases identified in the past 10 days and not yet classified as recovered)
- Confirmed cases (total): 222,011
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): 5,685
- PCR tests rolling average (last 7 days up to 03/03): 16,967
- 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.)
1:09pm - The Ministry has provided on the overall outbreak in New Zealand:
We are reporting 15,161 community cases of COVID-19 today, another day in which the overall daily case numbers reported has decreased.
While decreases in cases can be encouraging, the Ministry of Health urges caution.
The variation in reporting numbers each day means that the rolling average of cases gives a more reliable indicator of testing trends. The seven-day rolling average of cases is today 17,272, up from 16,687 yesterday.
Additionally, public health officials consider that one possible reason for the decrease in cases could be related to delays in people self-reporting Rapid Antigen Test results, even if it is a negative result.
It is essential we have as much information as possible to inform public health decision-making. If you take a Rapid Antigen Test, report the result online through my COVID Record.
Instructions for self-reporting RAT results can be found on the Unite Against COVID website.
We are continuing to see increases in COVID-19 related hospitalisations, which is significantly greater than those from last year's Delta outbreak. The hospitalisation figure of 544 on Thursday was six times the peak in hospitalisations seen in the Delta outbreak last year. The number of cases in hospital is currently expected to peak in the second half of this month. The Omicron variant means people who are hospitalised are more likely to have a shorter stay and less likely to be admitted to ICU or require oxygen or ventilation support.
Most cases in the week from 24 February to 3 March have continued to be reported in Auckland where, 61% of new cases were reported.
In the week from 24 February to 3 March more cases were reported in New Zealand Europeans (39%), followed by Pacific people (26%). However, rates of infection are highest for Pacific people (7,510 per 100,000), followed by Maori (2,465 per 100,000), Asian (2,234 per 100,000) and lowest for New Zealand European (1,322 per 100,000).
Being prepared for COVID-19
With Omicron continuing to spread, your household may be affected soon if it hasn’t already. If you have tested positive for COVID-19, you will need to isolate while you recover from COVID-19. Others in your household will need to also isolate with you until the end of your isolation period.
Stock up on supplies before there’s a COVID-19 case in your household. In addition, organise with friends, whānau or neighbours to do contactless drop-offs of food and supplies as needed and/or discuss your medication needs with your local pharmacist ahead of time.
Being ready for getting COVID-19 is about making sure you and your household have a plan and know what to do. It will mean your whānau and community can help each other if needed.
Rapid Antigen Test Update
The Ministry would like to thank the many people reporting their Rapid Antigen Tests with more than 40,000 test results reported in the past 24 hours, of which 14,618 were positive.
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.
Yesterday, 34,000 RATs order were placed through the RAT requester site. Another 3.5 million RATs are being sent out to collection sites around the country today. A total of 8 million RATs are arriving into the country over the weekend.
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.
Death of a person with COVID-19
Sadly, we are today reporting the death of a person in Auckland Hospital.
The person had unrelated medical conditions and had tested positive for COVID-19.
Our thoughts and condolences are with their person’s whānau and friends.
Out of respect for privacy, we will be making no further comment.
1:07pm - The Ministry of Health has announced a death of a person with COVD-19.
"Sadly, we are today reporting the death of a person in Auckland Hospital," the ministry said.
"The person had unrelated medical conditions and had tested positive for COVID-19. Our thoughts and condolences are with their person’s whānau and friends."
1:05pm - The Ministry of Health has announced a third consecutive day of a drop in COVID-19 cases with 15,161 new infections and 618 people in hospital on Sunday.
Of the new community cases, Northland (382), Auckland (7,226), Waikato (1,334), Bay of Plenty (937), Lakes (434), Hawke’s Bay (336), MidCentral (378), Whanganui (59), Taranaki (239), Tairāwhiti (166), Wairarapa (85), Capital and Coast (1,161), Hutt Valley (648), Nelson Marlborough (233), Canterbury (1,019), South Canterbury (52), Southern (444), West Coast (17); Unknown (11).
The ministry announced there are 618 people in hospital with 10 in ICU or HDU.
Of the 618 people in hospital: Northland: 10; North Shore: 117; Middlemore: 184; Auckland: 167; Waikato: 49; BOP: 16; Rotorua: 8; Tairawhiti: 2; Hawke’s Bay: 6; Taranaki: 6; MidCentral: 10; Wairarapa: 2; Hutt Valley: 2; Capital and Coast: 20; Nelson Marlborough: 2; Canterbury: 13; Southern: 4.
There are four new COVID cases recorded at the border in Managed Isolation and Quarantine.
12:55pm - While we wait for the Ministry of Health to reveal Sunday's COVID figures very shortly, former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett has opened up about her battle with Omicron after testing positive for COVID this week.
Bennett wrote a column published in the NZ Herald on Sunday where she revealed that three of the four members of her household had tested positive for COVID and that she felt fine "until suddenly I didn't".
"I thought I didn't care if I got Omicron, and I probably still don't but as I sit here typing on Friday morning, trying to engage my brain, I feel pretty lousy," she said "I have been the latest to come down with it. I felt fine, until suddenly I didn't.
Read the full story here.
12:40pm - As usual, the Ministry of Health will release its daily statement with the latest updates on the COVID-19 outbreak at around 1pm.
Stay tuned, as we will publish the newest developments live as soon as the statement is available.
12:20pm - The Interislander ferry has been cancelled on Sunday because of COVID cases within the crew.
Passenger services were cancelled today, but the ferries would still be able to sail carrying freight.
Safety and marine regulations mean passenger ships must have a minimum number of specialised staff, an Interislander statement said.
"Given uncertainties of when staff will be cleared to work again and the possibility of further positive COVID-19 test results in our team, we are unable to rebook [passengers] onto another sailing in the near future," the company said.
The Bluebridge ferry is still sailing on Sunday.
12:10pm - In Victoria, they have recorded a drop in COVID cases on Sunday with 5046 new infections in the past 24 hours.
Victoria Health said that there were four coronavirus deaths in the last reporting period, down from 24 announced on Saturday.
Hospitalisations have slightly reduced with 219 people in hospital, down from 250 on Saturday, with 27 in ICU and seven on a ventilator.
There are currently 39,451 active cases in Victoria.
11:56am - Over in Australia, New South Wales has seen a drop in COVID cases on Sunday with 8782 new infections in the past 24 hours.
The drop in cases comes after NSW recorded 10,017 infections on Saturday.
There were five coronavirus deaths in the 24-hour reporting period to 4pm yesterday, down from 10 on Saturday.
NSW Health said that hospitalisations have slightly increased with 1009 people in hospital, up from 995 on Saturday, with 43 in ICU.
11:40am - COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said Kiwis need to accept COIVD is "not going to go away".
It comes after New Zealand has seen a spike of COVID cases over the last month jumping from 126 infections on February 1 to the current record of 23,183 on Thursday.
But in positive signs, cases have dropped for two consecutive days.
But Hipkins is urging Kiwis not to get carried away and warned that testing isn't showing all the cases.
"I think there's certainly more infection in the community than the testing numbers will be showing," Hipkins told TVNZ's Q+A on Sunday.
"I think there are a lot of people who will be experiencing very mild symptoms. Some of them will be staying home, and some of them will just be completely oblivious to the fact they might have COVID-19."
It comes after COVID modellers warned that the infection rate could be five times higher than daily case numbers are showing.
"It's possible that we could be having 100,000 infections out there today and that estimate of around maybe 10 percent of the population being currently infected," COVID-19 Modelling Aotearoa project leader Dion O'Neale told Newshub on Friday.
Hipkins told Q+A it is "certainly possible" that the infection rate could be higher.
"I suspect there's a bit of that in the Kiwi psyche sometimes - 'we'll just see if it gets worse before we get a test' and that could well be resulting in this not picking up a lot of cases".
11:30am - ACT has slammed the Government for their "controlling COVID response" after sizing more than 31,000 Rapid Antigen Tests at the border.
Here is the full ACT statement:
"In the space of 53 days, the Government seized 31,156 Rapid Antigen Tests at the border, a stark reminder of how controlling our COVID response has been," says ACT Leader David Seymour.
"In answer to a Written Parliamentary Question from ACT, Customs Minister Meka Whaitiri admitted that 31,156 RATs were intercepted and seized between 1 January and 22 February.
"Whaitiri said 'All goods that are seized are held for a period of time, pending any requested reviews of the seizure. If no application is made for a review of seizure, ownership of the goods is transferred to the Crown, and Customs has the right to destroy or dispose of the goods.'
"Meanwhile, there are multiple Rapid Antigen Tests available in Australia with 95 per cent sensitivity that are not available here. For example the Cellife and Clugene tests sell from $6.60 and $7.50 each in Australia and are 95 per cent sensitive, but the Ministry of Health would have Customs seize them at the border if you tried to buy one.
"ACT predicts a major supply crunch, as seen in Australia, but worse due to the limited range permitted here. Altogether Australia has approved 32 types of Rapid Antigen Test, 18 of them are over 95 per cent sensitive and a further seven are over 90 per cent sensitive.
"New Zealand meanwhile has approved only 11 types. Australia has approved more Very High Sensitivity RATs than New Zealand has approved at all. We should simply stop messing around, let the market work and open up to these Aussie approved tests.
"ACT has been saying since last June that the restrictions on RATs make no sense. We needed to adopt new technology for the best COVID response. Instead of preparing, the Government made them illegal and banned their importation, before realising its mistake, and stealing them from private businesses.
"ACT knows of one case where a school principal imported 2000 tests that were approved in Australia and have a higher efficacy rate than most of the tests available in New Zealand, but Customs seized them and then sent them back to Australia because they weren't approved here.
"New Zealand should automatically approve tests that are available in countries like Australia and the UK. Some of the tests the Government has rejected have a sensitivity of 95 per cent, while others they have approved are much lower. If we don't allow more test we'll see a major shortage and price gouging.
"The cost of failing to secure RATs after banning them, then selectively allowing them, then confiscating them, is huge. Productive time will be lost as people who are negative have to keep isolating because they can't prove it, unable to work or see friends and family. We should welcome them coming in from Australia and other countries.
"It's time to stop seizing tests so we can start seizing the day, move away from government control, and move on with our lives."
11:20am - Kia ora, good morning, and welcome to Newshub's live coverage of the COVID-19 Omicron outbreak for Sunday, March 6.
