Covid 19 Omicron outbreak: BOP tops 1000 new daily cases, nearly 20,000 in NZ today and 373 in hospital

There are 1185 new cases in the Bay of Plenty District Health Board area and 376 in the Lakes District Health Board area today, the Ministry of Health has announced.

These include both PCR and RATs tests.

Toi Te Ora-Public Health today reported 779 new cases in Tauranga City, 285 in Rotorua District, 265 in Western Bay of Plenty, 110 in Whakatane District, 20 in Kawerau, 10 in Ōpōtiki and 90 in Taupō.

There are currently 5324 active cases in the Bay of Plenty DHB area and 1755 in Lakes.

Toi Te Ora said with differences in reporting systems, report timeframes, and as case information was updated there may be some discrepancies in numbers such as with Ministry of Health data.

There are 19,566 new community cases in New Zealand today including 373 in hospital and nine in ICU.

There are 10 cases in Bay of Plenty DHB hospitals and three in Rotorua Hospital.

The average age of current hospitalisations is 52, the Ministry of Health said in a statement.

According to Director general of health Dr Ashley Bloomfield, the average length of stay in Auckland hospitals is 2.2 days - half of the length of stay during the Delta outbreak: "People are mostly not needing respiratory support."

Hospitals around the country are at 80 per cent occupancy, while ICU units are at 57 per cent occupancy.

"Covid-19 is a very different foe to what it was in the beginning of the pandemic," Bloomfield said, citing the high vaccination rate.

"For most people, Covid-19 will be a mild to moderate illness that can be managed quite safely at home."

He said symptoms were similar - cough, scratchy throat, runny nose, body aches - regardless of whether people are boosted, but if they are boosted then their symptoms will generally not be as severe.

There have been "gastro-tummy" symptoms, particularly in children, he said. Loss of smell or taste didn't seem to be a symptom of Omicron.

Border reopening

Yesterday the country recorded 14,633 new community cases of Covid-19 in New Zealand, bringing the total number of cases since the pandemic began to 100,000.

There were now so many new community cases everyday that the Government is now scrapping the requirement for Kiwis flying in from overseas to isolate at home for seven days.

For arrivals from Australia, they will be able to head straight into the community from 11.59pm on Wednesday. For arrivals from the rest of the world, it will start from 11.59pm on Friday.

The border will also now likely open up faster for non-Kiwis than what the Government has previously outlined, currently scheduled for July for those flying from Australia, and for October for the rest of the world.

Earlier today, the Government announced that the Novavax vaccine will be available for Kiwis aged 18 and over, with the first doses expected to arrive later this month.

1pm update returns

Director general of health Dr Ashley Bloomfield fronted the first press conference at 1pm today and from then - depending on the day - there will be a roster of health officials and ministers fronting media.

With the exception of Monday's update to be given during the Prime Minister's usual 4pm post Cabinet press conference, the remaining briefings will be held at the familiar 1pm time.