Source: Covid-19 New Zealand Government Announcements
Update from the Ministry of Health
Today we are reporting 8,395 community cases, 689 current hospitalisations, and 17 deaths.
The 7-day rolling average of community case numbers today is 9,279.
Today we are sadly reporting the deaths of 17 people with COVID-19. All these deaths occurred in the past 13 days.
The Ministry of Health and Te Whatu Ora – Health NZ are closely monitoring the steady increase in COVID-19 positive hospitalisations as part of our ongoing review and updating of the response to the current community outbreak.
The increase in hospitalisations also emphasises the importance of everybody doing the basics well to help New Zealand get through winter in good shape. In particular, you should:
- stay home if you are unwell
- take a rapid antigen test (RAT) and upload the result on MyCovidRecord (external link)
- isolate if positive or while still symptomatic.
Now is the time to ensure you are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccinations, including those who are eligible for a second booster dose, as well as having a flu vaccination, which is free for many people.
Mask up to add another layer of protection
Wearing a mask remains one of our best measures to reduce transmission against infectious respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19.
The more layers of protection we put in place — such as mask-wearing, vaccinations, and staying home when sick — the more we reduce the risk of spreading respiratory viruses.
Even if you are up to date with your vaccines, or have had COVID-19, continuing to wear a face mask is important in keeping you, your whanau and your community safe.
As a general rule, we urge people to wear a mask in public indoor settings outside the home and in poorly ventilated spaces, or when it is hard to physically distance from other people.
You must wear a mask on public transport and at transport hubs like airports and bus stations, inside public venues like museums and libraries, when visiting a health care service, and inside retail businesses like supermarkets and shopping malls.
Masking up is particularly important when around more vulnerable members of the community, especially those who are older, those in aged residential care and healthcare settings where appropriate.
Wearing a mask also helps protect our healthcare and aged residential care staff, reducing their chances of becoming unwell and supporting them to continue to provide care to those that need it.
Read the full update on today’s cases | Ministry of Health (external link)
