New Covid subvariants detected in community

Two Omicron subvariants have been reported in the community for the first time, with no clear border link.

Four cases of the subvariant BA.5 and one case of BA.4 have been identified via whole genome sequencing.

The Ministry of Health also reported seven cases of BA.2.12.1 in the community, from genome sequencing of tests returned on May 18.

“These Omicron subvariants are prevalent overseas and have been detected at our border for many weeks,” the ministry said.

“Their presence in the community is not unexpected and further cases are expected.”

The ministry said emerging data suggested BA.2.12.1 was marginally more transmissible than BA.2, the dominant subvariant at present circulating in Aotearoa New Zealand.

There was some clinical data to suggest the BA.5 and BA.4 subvariants were more transmissible than BA.2, but no data suggesting they cause more severe illness.

Additionally, in the past week, wastewater results have detected BA.4 or BA.5 in Auckland, New Plymouth and Porirua and BA.2.12.1 in Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Palmerston North and Taupo¯.

Yesterday 6232 new community cases were reported in New Zealand, and a further 14 Covid-related deaths.

There were 390 people in hospital with the virus, including eight in intensive care.

Of the 14 deaths, 13 had died in the past eight days and one was the historical death of a case late in 2020.

The ministry said this case had recovered at the time of death but was recently classified as having Covid-19 as a contributory cause of their death.

“This will continue to happen occasionally due to the timing of the mortality coding process, particularly in instances where deaths where Covid-19 is a contributory cause, and the death falls outside of the 28 day period of testing positive for Covid.”

Two of the people whose deaths were reported yesterday were in their 60s, three in 70s, three in their 80s and six were aged over 90.

One person was from Northland, three were from the Auckland region, one was from Taranaki, one from Whanganui, one from the Wellington region, one from NelsonMarlborough, four from Canterbury, one from South Canterbury and one from Southern.