There have been 16 new cases of Covid-19 reported in the community, and 42 cases reported in managed isolation and quarantine facilities (MIQ).
Photo: AFP
The Ministry of Health provided the figures in a statement released early this afternoon.
Seven of the community cases are in Auckland, six are in the Lakes District, and one each in Hawke's Bay, Wairarapa, and West Coast.
The case in Hawke's Bay was first reported yesterday and added to the tally today.
The West Coast case has been deemed historical.
There are 30 people in hospital with Covid-19. Of these, six are in North Shore, 13 in Auckland, 10 in Middlemore and one in Tauranga.
There are two people in ICU or HDU. They are in Middlemore and Tauranga hospitals.
In the past 24 hours, 8165 tests had been undertaken across the motu, with 3902 of those in Auckland.
Yesterday, it was confirmed an Auckland border worker who tested positive for Covid-19 has the Omicron variant.
Health officials have identified 67 close contacts of the Auckland MIQ worker, 43 have returned negative tests so far.
All of the person's seven household contacts have returned one negative test result. They remain in isolation and will receive further tests.
Auckland Regional Public Health is working with MIQ staff to look for any possible routes of transmission between returnees at the Stamford Plaza and the MIQ worker, the ministry said.
Staff at the the Stamford Plaza will undergo additional testing.
From today, children aged 5 to 11 years old are now able to get a free paediatric dose of the Covid-19 vaccine. There are about 500,000 children in this group.
The ministry said there were reports of strong demand for child vaccinations today, particularly in Auckland.
"The number of centres where the child vaccine is available will also increase over the coming weeks, as health providers who have been taking a well-deserved summer break reopen."
University of Canterbury professor and Covid-19 modeller Michael Plank told Morning Report New Zealand is not well positioned to battle Omicron because many have not had booster shots, and vaccinations have only just opened to children 11 and under.
The MIQ worker had about 50 close contacts from the time they became infectious, and Plank said it will take time before we know if Omicron has spread wider in the community.
