Covid cases expected to rise in summer
Covid cases over summer could peak at 11,000 and 100 hospital admissions a day, health officials say.
Authorities have also lowered the age of eligibility for a second Covid booster for Ma¯ori and Pacific Islanders to 40 and above.
Deputy director general of health Dr Andrew Old said during a live update at Middlemore Hospital in Auckland this week that after four weeks of steady increases the past two weeks had seen Covid cases plateau. He said hospitalisations are increasing, however.
He said the BA.5 Omicron subvariant still accounted for the majority of cases.
Old said the outlook for summer with more people travelling and a mix of new variants is “uncertain”.
Modelling shows cases over summer could peak up to over 11,000 cases a day and 100 hospital admissions a day, Old said.
This mirrored the infection rates recorded in July during the Omicron second wave.
“If you’re due a booster my message for you today is book it in before you go on holiday,” said Old.
He is reminding Kiwis that if they get the virus staying home is the most effective to stop it spreading. He is advising those going away on holiday to have a kit with RATs and medicine.
Old said reinfections make up 20 per cent of new cases.
Three factors will dictate the future of Covid-19 in New Zealand — waning population immunity, new variants and behaviour, he said.
Old said an expected increase in cases mixed with uncertainty of variants in the community means we need to keep an eye on the ball.
“The recent increase in cases reminds us that we are not out of the woods yet.”