There are new COVID-19 cases in Auckland, Wellington, Bay of Plenty, Lakes DHB, Waikato, and Northland.

There are 148 new cases being reported in Auckland today.

Edmonton Meadows Care Home update

21 residents and 5 staff members of Edmonton Meadows Care Home in Henderson have now returned positive tests since the start of the outbreak. Three of the residents who tested positive for COVID-19 are receiving ward-level care at Auckland hospitals.

Wellington Region update
A case announced yesterday in Wellington is today being confirmed, following a repeat swab returning a second positive result.

The initial weak result, combined with the follow-up test, indicates the case is in the early stages of infection. They are self-isolating.

The case is a user of the COVID-19 tracer app, which will assist with contact tracing and identifying any locations of interest. So far, one location of interest has been identified – Countdown Cable Car Lane in Wellington Central – and has been added to the Ministry’s website. As investigations continue, more locations of interest may be confirmed by public health staff.

The positive result was picked up as part of routine surveillance testing in Wellington, for an essential worker from Auckland working in the city. Investigations have identified a small number of close contacts, including the case’s co-workers, who are currently isolating and being tested. So far, all results from this testing have come back negative.

COVID-19 testing and vaccination site locations are available on the Healthpoint website.

Bay of Plenty

There are three new cases being reported in the Bay of Plenty today. Two are in Tauranga and one is Mount Maunganui which is connected to an existing case. The two Tauranga cases are in the same household and investigations into the source of their infection are underway.

A further case tested positive after presenting to Tauranga Hospital emergency department late last night and will be added to official figures tomorrow.

Public health officials deem the risk from last night’s exposure event at Tauranga Hospital is low but are today carrying out further evaluations. One ward has been closed to both visitors and new patients out of an abundance of caution. Three staff members have been stood down as a precaution.

Everyone who lives in or has travelled to the region is asked to monitor locations of interest regularly and follow any advice given. Anyone with COVID-19 related symptoms is asked to get tested as soon as possible – even if the symptoms are mild.

Testing locations can be found on the Healthpoint website.

Lakes

There are four new cases in Lakes DHB being reported today.

Two of the new cases are connected to the Taupo cluster, one of which is in Rotorua Hospital. There are also two new cases in Rotorua. One is linked to an existing case and investigations into the other case are ongoing but potential links have already been identified.

Waikato update

There were 12 new cases being reported in Waikato today.

Across the Waikato there are eight pop-up and dedicated testing centres operating today at Hamilton, Ôtorohanga, Huntly, Ngâruawâhia, Thames, and Te Kuiti.

Testing will be available at South Waikato Pacific Islands Community Services Trust, 1 Maraetai Lane, in Tokoroa from 4 – 7pm today. Further testing from tomorrow will be announced on the Waikato DHB website.

Yesterday, there were around 2,400 tests processed across the region.

In Waikato, public health staff are supporting 135 cases to isolate at home.

Northland update

There are four new cases being reported for Northland today. One is in Kaitaia, one is in Ruakaka and one is in Dargaville. All three of these people are close contacts of existing cases and were already in isolation.

The fourth case resides in Auckland where they are isolating.

Yesterday across the region, there were 985 swabs taken and 903 vaccinations given.

Testing and vaccination clinics open today can be found on the Northland DHB website.