January 26, 2022
PĀNUI: Mask wearing, Omicron update, record booster/paediatric vaccinations
Tēnā anō koutou e ngā pou tokomanawa e tū ai te whare hauora Māori.
As mentioned yesterday, today we’re rolling out the new look and feel for our pānui, which is now named ‘Mai i te Manatū’. This new name reflects our commitment to share up-to-date information, directly from the source, with kaimahi hauora and whānau Māori across the motu.
Heoi anō, in today’s pānui:
- Update on Omicron cases
- Booster and paediatric vaccination rollout
- Mask use at Red
- Rapid antigen testing for essential workers
- Regional updates
General update
At today’s stand-up, the Prime Minister announced that Cabinet has enhanced mask use at Red. Masks must now be worn at food and drink businesses, close proximity businesses, events, and gatherings. If you or your whānau are attending one of these places, fitted masks are required – not scarves or bandanas. Mandated essential workers must now wear medical grade blue masks. Furthermore, the Prime Minister said that rapid antigen testing will initially be used primarily to keep supply chains open and that essential workers will be able to use a negative rapid antigen tests to return to work if they’re required to isolate because they’re a close contact. PCR testing will remain the primary diagnostic test in the initial phases of Omicron in the community, supplemented by wider use of rapid antigen testing. Further information on these changes and the phases of our Omicron response will be announced tomorrow.
A record 57,000 booster doses were administered yesterday. This brings the total number of boosters administered to 1,053,055. I want to mihi to all those who now have the extra layer of protection that a booster vaccination provides for themselves, their whānau, and the wider community. I can confirm that approximately 50 per cent of Māori who are eligible to receive their booster vaccine have done so. This is roughly equal to the percentage of eligible non-Māori who have received their booster, which is encouraging to see. Again, if it has been four months since your second dose, go to BookMyVaccine or walk-in to a vaccination centre to get your booster.
In addition to a record number of boosters, a record number of paediatric vaccines were administered yesterday. 14,400 tamariki received their first dose yesterday. This brings the total number of paediatric vaccines administered to nearly 95,000. However, Māori paediatric vaccination rates are notably lower than non-Māori. Nā reira, encourage whānau to consider the best information on paediatric vaccinations. Consider the information for parents and caregivers provided on the Ministry website. You may also want to consider sharing this kōrero from Māori GP Dr Matire Harwood with whānau.
Ka mutu, I want to offer the opportunity to provide feedback on this pānui and our communications by following the button at the bottom of this pānui. Your insights are important for ensuring these communications continue to provide both useful and meaningful information that supports you to protect our people from COVID-19.
Omicron update
Public health kaimahi are continuing to manage cases in the community through a proactive response – isolating cases and contacts, contract tracing, and testing in order to slow the spread of Omicron. A total of 29 community cases of COVID-19 associated with the January Omicron cluster have now been identified including an additional 10 community cases reported today. All current cases in this cluster have been linked to a family event and associated events in Auckland on the weekend of 15 and 16 January. I want to mihi to the family who came forward and got tested as soon as they became symptomatic.
Their cooperation has been vital in slowing the spread of Omicron. It is believed that they became infected while in Auckland, before returning to the Nelson-Tasman area.
A case from the cluster also attended a second private event in Auckland during their infectious period. The exposure occurred on the evening of (Sunday) 16 January at the Pukekohe Indian Hall in Auckland. More detail can be found on Ministry of Health Locations of Interest. Auckland Regional Public Health Service believe a large number of people attended this event. Anyone at this location at the relevant times is asked to get tested immediately, and self-isolate until a negative result has been returned.
If you or your whānau are experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19, I urge you to isolate and get tested as soon as possible. All testing locations nationwide are available at Healthpoint.co.nz.
25 new cases, 10 people in hospital, and 84% Māori fully vaccinated
There is a total of 25 new community cases to report in Aotearoa today. Of these, one is in Te Tai Tokerau, 18 are in Tāmaki Makaurau, two are in Bay of Plenty, two are in Lakes, one is in MidCentral, one is in Nelson, and one is in Marlborough. This brings the total number of cases associated with this outbreak to 11,541.
For the Māori vaccination rollout, 89 per cent of our whānau have had one dose of the vaccine, and 84 per cent have had their second. Ka mutu, there are currently 10 people in hospital with COVID-19. None of these people are in ICU or HDU.
18 new cases in Tāmaki Makaurau
There are 18 cases to report in Auckland today. Health and welfare providers are now supporting 665 people in the region to isolate at home, including 164 cases.
One new case in Te Tai Tokerau
There is one case to report in Kaitaia, Northland. The case is linked to a previously reported case.
Two new cases in Lakes
There are two cases in Rotorua to report. The cases are known contacts of previously reported cases.
Two new cases in Bay of Plenty
There are two cases to report in Tauranga. Health officials are investigating recent travel to Auckland as the source of their infection, and whole genome sequencing is underway to determine the variant.
One new case in MidCentral
There is one case to report in the MidCentral region who is a household contact of previously reported Omicron case. They were already isolating when they tested positive.
Two new cases in Nelson / Marlborough
As outlined above, the Nelson Tasman case reported today is a household contact of a case that is part of the January Omicron cluster. There is one new case in Marlborough. They were already isolating when they tested positive.
Click here to provide feedback
Please remind your friends and whānau to get information on COVID-19 and the vaccine from our trusted sources – the Ministry of Health website, Unite Against COVID channels, Karawhiua channels, and Te Puni Kōkiri ‘COVID-19 Information for Māori’ portal.
For guidance on protecting yourself and your whānau from COVID-19 misinformation and scams, please visit the Unite Against COVID website.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact me or my team at Māorihealth@health.govt.nz