A symptomatic household contact of the MIQ omicron case has today tested positive for Covid-19, the Ministry of Health has announced. The case was already isolating. They will be formally included in tomorrow’s case numbers.
Further case interviews are currently under way but, at this stage, there are no exposure events associated with this case, said the ministry. All other household members have returned negative tests to date.
As of this morning, a total of 86 contacts had been identified in relation to the MIQ border, including seven household and 79 close contacts. At this stage, 75 have returned negative test results and one a positive result, as outlined above.
From the exposure events linked to the initial case, there are 10 people from the two bus journeys who are yet to be tested and are being followed up in person.
No other close contacts linked to this cluster have returned positive results.
The investigation into the transmission route continues and testing of staff from the Stamford Plaza facility continues today.
14 new cases in the community, 30 at the border
There are 14 new cases today, seven in Auckland, six in Rotorua and one in Wellington. The Rotorua and Wellington cases are all linked to previous cases, and the Wellington case has been in isolation.
At the border, 30 new cases have been detected.
14,367 five to 11-year-olds vaccinated yesterday
Yesterday, on the first day they became available, 14,367 child (paediatric) vaccine first doses were administered to five to 11-year-olds throughout New Zealand, said the Ministry of Health.
“We want to thank children, and the caregivers who supported them, who got their first dose yesterday. We encourage everyone who is eligible to get vaccinated.”