September 15 2021
There are 14 new cases of Covid-19 in the community today. All the new cases are linked to existing cases but three people were infectious while in the community, creating 10 new exposure events.
As Aucklanders settle into a fifth week of level 4 restrictions, the Government has revealed a strategy is being developed to look at combating a future outbreak without resorting to lockdowns.
The Ministry of Health is expected to present Health Minister Andrew Little with a strategy that will show what our health system could look like if the virus was handled not by a lockdown, but by ways including community home-based care.
"But we also need to make sure that if you are being looked after, you are being monitored effectively," Little told Three's AM Show this morning.
"Australians and other countries are looking at ways of doing that remotely with the public health services, but not taking up space in hospitals.
"So I think it is an important response we need to have available to us."
Government pushing for vaccination percentage rate in the 90s
Even with a highly vaccinated population with the borders open, the number of Covid-19 cases would still go up, Little said.
Having 80 per cent of the population vaccinated was one figure officials are looking at, as other countries had reached that vaccination rate.
Vehicles arrive at the drive-thru vaccination clinic at the Trusts Stadium in Henderson, West Auckland. Photo / Dean Purcell
But the Government wants to do better than that, he said.
"We want to lead the world in vaccination rates."
Little reiterated the high vaccination rate message in his other media interviews this morning, telling Newstalk ZB's Mike Hosking they were wanting to reach a target "right up into the 90s".
The Covid-19 vaccination centre at Trusts Stadium in Henderson, West Auckland. Photo / Dean Purcell
New Zealand would then be in a better position to reduce restrictions, Little told Hosking.
"We've got vaccinations for Africa now. We just need to get people through."
Questioned about the rapid antigen testing used across the ditch, the health minister said there was a higher risk to use this method in a smaller population like New Zealand's.
And asked about whether he could have sped the delivery of vaccines, Little said the country had done pretty well considering negotiations began in the middle of last year.
Speaking about vaccinations among Māori, he told TVNZ's Breakfast programme more work needs to be done to get more vaccinated.
Part of that work will be about providing more information to isolated communities, where "theories" about the vaccine were doing the rounds, he said.
"Actually, don't get vaccinated for yourself, it's for your whānau."
Little encouraged Māori to think about their wider community, including kaumātua, when deciding to get vaccinated.
The consequences included hospitalisation if those kaumātua got sick with the virus.
Little acknowledged the lack of access to healthcare among some vulnerable communities - including Māori and Pacific peoples.
Auckland is now in its fifth week of an alert level 4 lockdown. Photo / Michael Craig
Little called on people to get vaccinated in a bid to raise the country's vaccination rates as high as possible - and in order for the community to be safe from Covid-19.
Yesterday's trend showed a number of locations - including a mini supermarket and pharmacy - were on Dawson Rd in Clover Park, South Auckland.
The latest update shows a person with Covid travelled to and from Preston Rd, Otara, to Dawson Rd on Thursday September 2 and last Thursday, September 9.
