The COVID-19 Response Minister has announced there are nearly 16,000 new cases in the community, but the overall trend is down.
What you need to know:
- There were 15,918 new community COVID cases recorded on Wednesday
- There have been 14 additional deaths of people with COVID-19 reported
- Location of new community cases (PCR & RAT): Northland (634), Auckland (2,691), Waikato (1,508), Bay of Plenty (987), Lakes (438), Hawke’s Bay (892), MidCentral (851), Whanganui (399), Taranaki (649), Tairāwhiti (183), Wairarapa (152), Capital and Coast (1,054), Hutt Valley (599), Nelson Marlborough (605), Canterbury (2,535), South Canterbury (293), Southern (1,386), West Coast (55); Unknown (7)
- There are 817 people in hospital, including 24 in ICU
- The average age of current hospitalisations: 58
- Locations of hospitalisations: Northland: 30; North Shore: 129; Middlemore: 170; Auckland: 139; Waikato: 82; Bay of Plenty: 25; Lakes: 13; Tairāwhiti: 2, Hawke’s Bay: 30; Taranaki: 17; Whanganui: 9; MidCentral: 21; Hutt Valley: 17; Capital and Coast: 30; Wairarapa: 1; Nelson Marlborough: 15; Canterbury: 57; South Canterbury: 3; West Coast: 1; Southern: 26
- Vaccination status of current hospitalisations (Northern Region only, excluding Emergency Departments): Unvaccinated or not eligible (68 cases / 15.89%); partially immunised <7 days from second dose or have only received one dose (13 cases / 3.04%); double vaccinated at least 7 days before being reported as a case (110 cases / 25.7%); Received booster at least 7 days before being reported as a case (156 cases / 36.45%); unknown (81 cases / 18.93%)
- Number of new cases identified at the border: 48
1:50pm - The Government has released new information for businesses about the vaccine requirement changes:
New guidance to support businesses and organisations through the upcoming changes to vaccination requirements has been released today.
The new guidance has been published on www.worksafe.govt.nz and www.employment.govt.nz and helps employers update their health and safety risk assessments, reflecting the changes to the COVID-19 Protection Framework (CPF).
"With vaccine mandates to narrow on 4 April to only health and disability, aged care, prison and border workforces, we are providing updated guidance now to provide clarity and certainty to employers," Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Michael Wood said.
"The new workplace guidance is centred on public health advice, which suggests that requiring vaccination in the workplace should only be permitted if its deemed an employee is at higher risk of catching and spreading COVID-19 while at work, than they would otherwise be in the community.
"Employers may still be able to maintain vaccination requirements where they continue to be supported by a workplace health and safety risk assessment, but the reason will need to be specific to their role and set of circumstances.
"We would anticipate this will significantly reduce the use of vaccine requirements in most settings and the circumstances are likely to be more limited than they have in the past now that Omicron has entered the community.
"Employers should regularly review their workplace health and safety risk assessments and there are a number of public health factors outlined in the guidance that is recommended they consider as part of this process.
"It is important for employers to keep in mind that normal employment law and processes continue to apply. Employers should be fair and reasonable in their employment decisions and work in good faith with employees and unions before taking any employment actions in relation to unvaccinated employees.
"It is important that employers feel supported during this time of transition. That’s why we have taken the time to develop comprehensive guidance, backed by public health advice that is reliable for employers.
"These changes to the CPF have been informed by public health advice, and the latest international evidence available. With our high vaccination rates and the immunity acquired from the current outbreak, we can manage future waves of Omicron with less restrictive settings.
"Vaccination (including boosters) continues to be strongly recommended as one of the key public health measures and provides significant benefits.
"I recommend that employers undertake an updated work health and safety risk assessment before proceeding with any employment processes they may have already in place."
"It is also important to remember that the majority of New Zealand workplaces have not had a vaccination requirement in place and have managed well over this period.
"Throughout the pandemic, employers have shown their ability to adapt and respond to our changing environment while supporting employees. I’d like to thank them for the part they continue to play in keeping New Zealanders safe," Michael Wood said.
1:20pm - Here is more on the deaths from the Ministry of Health:
Today we are sadly reporting the deaths of 14 people with COVID-19. The deaths being reported today include people who have died over the past six days but were only recently notified to the Ministry. Delays to reporting can be associated with people dying with, rather than of COVID-19, and COVID being discovered only after they have died.
These deaths take the total number of publicly reported deaths with COVID-19 to 317 and the 7-day rolling average of reported deaths is 15.
Of the people whose deaths we are reporting today, four were from the Auckland region, four from Waikato, one from the Lakes DHB, one from the Wellington region, one from Nelson Marlborough, one from Canterbury, one from South Canterbury and one from Southern.
Five people were in their 70s, six in their 80s and three were in their 90s.
One was female and thirteen were male.
Our thoughts and condolences are with their whānau and friends at this sad time.
Out of respect, we will be making no further comment.
1:15pm - Hipkins says conversations have been had with officials about whether New Zealand should move to the orange alert level setting next Monday. But he doesn't have a "firm leaning on where that might land up".
He says the main difference between red and orange will be around indoor gatherings. At red, there is a limit of 200 people compared to no limits at orange.
Ministers will want to know which regions are still seeing cases trend up. While the country's overall case numbers may be coming down, some areas are still seeing cases increase, he says.
1:10pm - Here's the specific data from the Ministry of Health:
Vaccinations administered in New Zealand
- Vaccines administered to date: 4,025,561 first doses; 3,974,205 second doses; 34,279 third primary doses; 2,579,735 booster doses: 258,732 paediatric first doses and 77,627 paediatric second doses
- Vaccines administered yesterday: 94 first doses; 206 second doses; 25 third primary doses; 2,329 booster doses; 112 paediatric first doses and 2,873 paediatric second doses
People vaccinated
- All Ethnicities (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 4,055,206 first dose (96.3%); 4,002,586 second dose (95.1%), 2,578,129 boosted (72.7% of those eligible)
- Māori (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 520,321 first dose (91.1%); 502,725 second dose (88%), 228,597 boosted (57.9% of those eligible)
- Pacific Peoples (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 281,545 first dose (98.2%); 276,405 second dose (96.4%), 136,210 boosted (59.4% of those eligible)
- 5 to 11-year-olds all ethnicities: 256,930 first dose (53.9%); 75,913 second dose (15.9%)
- 5 to 11-year-olds - Māori: 40,261 first dose (34.8%); 8,459 second dose (7.3%)
- 5 to 11-year-olds - Pacific Peoples: 23,242 first dose (47.1%); 4,030 second dose (8.2%)
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 (90.1%); second dose (88%); boosted (69.5%)
- Auckland Metro DHB: first dose (97.2%); second dose (96.1%); boosted (71.2%)
- Waikato DHB: first dose (95.1%); second dose (93.5%); boosted (68.4%)
- Bay of Plenty DHB: first dose (95%); second dose (93.3%); boosted (68.1%)
- Lakes DHB: first dose (93.2%); second dose (91.4%); boosted (68.5%)
- MidCentral DHB: first dose (96.5%); second dose (95.2%); boosted (74.2%)
- Tairāwhiti DHB: first dose (93.2%); second dose (90.9%); boosted (68.6%)
- Whanganui DHB: first dose (91.9%); second dose (90.4%); boosted (73.5%)
- Hawke’s Bay DHB: first dose (97.1%); second dose (95.4%); boosted (72.1%)
- Taranaki DHB: first dose (94.6%); second dose (93.2%); boosted (70.1%)
- Wairarapa DHB: first dose (96.4%); second dose (95%); boosted (74.9%)
- Capital & Coast DHB: first dose (98.6%); second dose (97.8%); boosted (81.2%)
- Hutt Valley DHB: first dose (96.6%); second dose (95.6%); boosted (77%)
- Nelson Marlborough DHB: first dose (96.5%); second dose (95.2%); boosted (75.6%)
- West Coast DHB: first dose (92.6%); second dose (91.1%); boosted (73.4%)
- Canterbury DHB: first dose (99.7%); second dose (98.7%); boosted (75.9%)
- South Canterbury DHB: first dose (94.9%); second dose (93.8%); boosted (76.4%)
- Southern DHB: first dose (98.2%); second dose (97.1%); boosted (74.9%)
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
Percentages are based on 2020 HSU data - a health-specific population denominator. As the population continues to change over time, coverage rates can exceed 100%.
Hospitalisations
- Cases in hospital: total number 817: Northland: 30; North Shore: 129; Middlemore: 170; Auckland: 139; Waikato: 82; Bay of Plenty: 25; Lakes: 13; Tairāwhiti: 2, Hawke’s Bay: 30; Taranaki: 17; Whanganui: 9; MidCentral: 21; Hutt Valley: 17; Capital and Coast: 30; Wairarapa: 1; Nelson Marlborough: 15; Canterbury: 57; South Canterbury: 3; West Coast: 1; Southern: 26
- Average age of current hospitalisations: 58
- Cases in ICU or HDU: 24
- Vaccination status of current hospitalisations (Northern Region only, excluding Emergency Departments): Unvaccinated or not eligible (68 cases / 15.89%); partially immunised <7 days from second dose or have only received one dose (13 cases / 3.04%); double vaccinated at least 7 days before being reported as a case (110 cases / 25.7%); Received booster at least 7 days before being reported as a case (156 cases / 36.45%); unknown (81 cases / 18.93%)
Cases
- Seven day rolling average of community cases: 14,969
- Seven day rolling average (as at Wednesday last week): 17,111
- Number of new community cases: 15,918
- Number of new community cases (PCR): 336
- Number of new community cases (RAT): 15,582
- Location of new community cases (PCR & RAT): Northland (634), Auckland (2,691), Waikato (1,508), Bay of Plenty (987), Lakes (438), Hawke’s Bay (892), MidCentral (851), Whanganui (399), Taranaki (649), Tairāwhiti (183), Wairarapa (152), Capital and Coast (1,054), Hutt Valley (599), Nelson Marlborough (605), Canterbury (2,535), South Canterbury (293), Southern (1,386), West Coast (55); Unknown (7)
- Number of new cases identified at the border: 48
- Number of active community cases (total): 104,769 (cases identified in the past 7 days and not yet classified as recovered)
- Confirmed cases (total): 642,447
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): 3,259
- Number of Rapid Antigen Tests reported total (last 24 hours): 30,641
- PCR tests rolling average (last 7 days): 2,665
- Number of Rapid Antigen Tests dispatched (last 7 days as of 29/03/22): 11.9 million
1:05pm - Chris Hipkins says there are 15,918 new community cases. There will continue to be spikes in case numbers and deaths over the coming weeks, he said. This is not unexpected and the overall trend should be considered.
The seven-day rolling average in cases is 14,969, which is down on 17,111 a week ago.
There are 817 people in hospital, of which 24 are in ICU. Many are expected to be discharged soon. A further 14 deaths have been reported.
1pm - A new rapid antigen test service has just been announced by the Government. Here's the full statement:
The Government has launched a new targeted rural service of rapid antigen tests for those who live in remote rural areas.
"Now that the purpose of testing has shifted away from trying to find every case, RATs provide intelligence on the spread and size of the outbreak, alert people to the support available to them and help bring a sense of normality to people’s lives, Minister for COVID-19 Response," Chris Hipkins said.
"More than 95 percent of New Zealanders are within a 20 minute drive of a RAT access point. But we need to make sure that the 250,000 who live remotely are also able to access testing easily," Chris Hipkins said.
"DHBs already have initiatives underway to reach their rural communities. The service launched this week aims to connect households up with those initiatives," Associate Minister for COVID-19 Response, Dr Ayesha Verrall said.
"If there are no existing initiatives in the area, then the RATs will be couriered directly to the household," Dr Ayesha Verrall said.
Exampled of DHB led initiatives include:
Whanganui DHB has distributed RATs via jetboats up the river and via stock trucks travelling around the region.
West Coast DHB’s COVID-19 vaccination team who travel to remote areas have a stock of RATs onboard and are distributing RATs to those who meet the criteria.
South Canterbury has initiated a proactive distribution of RATs to the high-country stations in their region.
"A national Māori-led distribution channel has grown in size to 1000 community partners which include Māori health, social and disability providers, Te Kura Kaupapa Māori, Te Kohanga Reo, marae and most vulnerable Māori," Dr Ayesha Verrall said.
To date, this Māori-led distribution channel has been able to distribute nearly 7M RATs and 95.4 percent of Māori are within the 20-minute drive metric.
This channel is also working alongside DHBs and the Ministry of Health to ensure Pasifika, other ethnic communities and the health and disability sector have equitable access to RATs.
New RAT approved
A new brand of RAT was approved on the 16 March (the BIOCREDIT COVID-19 Ag Home Test) bringing the total of RATs approved for use in New Zealand to 12.
There are 31.5M RATs are in stock and a further 48.4M confirmed for delivery over the next four weeks.
12:50pm - We have added the livestream to the video component above. Refresh your page if you cannot see it. The press conference will start at 1pm.
12:40pm - As we wait for Wednesday's case data, here's a look at the Ministry of Health's summary on the current COVID-19 situation:
12:30pm - Kia ora, good afternoon and welcome to Newshub's live updates for Wednesday.
We are expecting to hear from COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins at 1pm and also receive the latest COVID-19 figures.
A livestream of that press conference will be above shortly.
