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113 new community Covid cases, 74 patients in hospital

Author
NZ Herald,
Publish Date
Sun, 7 Nov 2021, 1:13pm
Former Kiwi Ferns captain Luisa Avaiki Tavesivesi (centre) was one of many Pasifika sporting stars at the vaccination drive in Māngere yesterday. (Photo / Michael Craig)
Former Kiwi Ferns captain Luisa Avaiki Tavesivesi (centre) was one of many Pasifika sporting stars at the vaccination drive in Māngere yesterday. (Photo / Michael Craig)

113 new community Covid cases, 74 patients in hospital

Author
NZ Herald,
Publish Date
Sun, 7 Nov 2021, 1:13pm

There are 113 new cases of Covid-19 in the community and a record number of people in hospital with the virus. 

There are 74 people in hospital with Covid, up from yesterday's 73. 

Five of those people are in ICU or a high-dependency unit. 

Of today's cases, 109 are in Auckland, three in Waikato and one in Northland. 

There have been positive wastewater results across Auckland including in Oneroa on Waiheke Island and in Waiuku in the south of Auckland, both on November 2. 

A person who arrived on October 30 from the UK via Singapore has also tested positive in MIQ. 

As announced yesterday, there were unexpected wastewater detections in Stratford on November 2, Gisborne on November 1 and 3, and Napier on November 3. The latest test results for Hastings and Wairoa (returned yesterday), and Huntly are all negative. 

Anyone in those areas - including people who may have travelled outside the area recently - is urged to get tested if they have symptoms. 

Yesterday's cases 

Health teams announced 206 new cases yesterday, including 200 in Auckland, four in Waikato and two in Northland. 

A third case in Northland was identified later in the afternoon. 

Jason Waitoa was among more than 130,000 jabbed during the Super Saturday Vaxathon last month. Photo / Andrew Warne

Jason Waitoa was among more than 130,000 jabbed during the Super Saturday Vaxathon last month. Photo / Andrew Warne 

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern this morning confirmed Aucklanders will be able to "travel through summer" and be reunited with families over Christmas. 

However, exactly how that will happen and when, including if vaccinations will be required remains unclear. 

It comes after a week of mixed messages over the logistical challenge faced with moving roughly 40,000 Aucklanders across a border, and into areas with lower vaccination rates, at the busiest time of the year. 

The city also remains locked off from Waiheke Island, which is highly dependent on tourism and Aucklanders over the summer period. 

Speaking to Q+A's Jack Tame, Ardern said it was "admittedly a tricky transition period". 

"The thing that we've been absolutely clear around is that we will have Aucklanders able to travel through summer and they will be able to reunite with family for Christmas." 

What would make the process simpler would be if each district health board reached the 90 per cent full vaccination, and the Covid protection framework, or traffic light system, would be implemented where hard borders were not required. 

"We're working it through. But we are committed to people being reunited over this summer period," Ardern told Q+A. 

Taranaki, Hawke's Bay and the Gisborne region also remain on alert after the virus was detected in wastewater systems, while health teams are urging anyone at a tangi in Porirua led by gang members to get tested. 

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