COVID-19 Response Update | 21/11/21

Kei ngā whare whakaahuru o te motu, tēnā anā koutou katoa.

As we head into yet another week of fighting COVID-19, I hope you’ve each found time this weekend to rest, relax, and reconnect with whānau and friends. It’s important we find time when we can to rejuvenate because the road ahead is long and unpredictable. Heoi anō, I know I can always rely on the determination of our Māori health providers, kaimahi Māori, and whānau to keep our people safe.

The continued spread of COVID-19 cases to rohe across Aotearoa is a stark reminder of just how serious this virus is, and how important it is for us to stay vigilant and hold fast to our tikanga hauora. That includes ensuring you and your loved ones are fully vaccinated if eligible, getting tested even if you have only mild symptoms, wearing a mask, keeping a safe distance from others, and keeping track of your movements when out and about. These, in conjunction with our Alert Level measures, are helping to protect our communities, nā reira, kia kaha tātou ki te mau tonu ki ēnei tikanga, ki ēnei ture, hei oranga mō te iwi whānui.

149 new community cases in Aotearoa
 

• There are a total of 149 new community cases to report in Aotearoa today; 140 of these are in Tāmaki Makaurau, six are in Waikato, three are in Te Tai Tokerau, two are the Bay of Plenty, and one is in Canterbury.
• This brings the total number of cases associated with this outbreak to 6,850. Since the outbreak started 2,305 people have recovered giving us an active total of 4,545.
• Of today’s 149 new cases, 65 have already been linked and investigations continue for the remaining 84.
• Regarding hospitalisations, there is a total of 83 people in hospital with COVID-19. Five of these people are in either ICU or HDU. Ka mutu, the average age of those in hospital is 49.

Update on Hawke’s Bay
 

• The positive case in Hawkes Bay announced yesterday was included in case numbers previously announced as the test was taken in Tāmaki Makaurau prior to the person leaving and the result returned after the case had departed from Tāmaki Makaurau.
• The person was relocating from Tāmaki Makaurau and advised to isolate in Hawke’s Bay after the positive result was returned. Local public health kaimahi report the case is currently isolating safely and remains well.
• Results of testing of contacts that have been returned to date are negative and further results are pending.
• As standard procedure, any locations of interest are added to the Ministry’s webpage when they are confirmed by public health officials. To date, any exposures identified have been assessed as limited and any contacts able to be contacted directly.
• The Ministry urges anyone in the Hawke’s Bay with COVID-19 related symptoms – no matter how mild – to get tested, even if they are vaccinated.
• COVID-19 testing and vaccination site locations are available on Hawke’s Bay DHB’s website.

138 new cases in Tāmaki Makaurau

• Today, there are 138 new cases to report in Tāmaki Makaurau.
• There are 15 community centres available for testing across Tāmaki Makaurau today. The testing centres at Northcote, Balmoral, Pukekohe and Wiri continue to operate extended hours to increase access to testing.
• In the last seven days there have been 113,599 community tests for COVID-19 received at labs across the rohe. This is an incredible effort – especially for all front-line testing staff who are out in all weathers and the laboratory teams who are working tirelessly to process these swabs.
• Whānau in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland with symptoms, no matter how mild, are urged to get tested – even if they are vaccinated – and remain isolated until they return a negative result.

No new cases in Pōneke
 

• There are no further case announcements for Pōneke today.
• There is currently only one location of interest identified – Countdown Cable Car Lane in Wellington Central which is on the Ministry’s website. As investigations continue, more locations of interest may be confirmed and people are encouraged to monitor the Ministry’s locations of interest webpage, which is updated regularly.
• A small number of close contacts, including the case’s co-workers, have all returned negative results.
• We urge anyone in the region with COVID-19 related symptoms – no matter how mild – to get tested, even if they are vaccinated.

One new case in the Bay of Plenty

• There is one new case being reported in the Bay of Plenty today. This case is in Tauranga and is a contact of a known cluster.
• It is critical that anyone with any cold or flu symptoms gets tested as quickly as possible – maintaining a high rate of testing in the Bay of Plenty will help to contain the spread of COVID-19.
• Testing locations can be found on the Healthpoint website.
• Case interviews continue to identify new locations of interest which are being added regularly to the webpage.
• Everyone who lives in or has travelled to the region is asked to monitor locations of interest daily and follow any advice given.

Six new cases in Waikato

• There are six new cases being reported in Waikato today, four were known contacts and public health kaimahi will investigate the remaining two cases today.
• Three of the cases were from Kirikiriroa, one from Huntly, and two have been classified as being from Te Kauwhata with further investigation pending to confirm this location.
• There is good testing capacity throughout the region with dedicated testing centres operating today at Kirikiriroa, Ōtorohanga, Huntly, and Thames.
• Further testing and vaccination locations can be found on the Waikato DHB website.

One new case in Canterbury