There are 11 new positive cases of COVID-19 in the community taking the total number of community cases all in Auckland to 21.

Director-General of Health, Dr Ashley Bloomfield said all of these cases are being transferred to the Auckland quarantine facility or are already there under the usual strict infection prevention and control procedures.

He said 12 of the 21 cases have already been confirmed as being part of the same Auckland cluster and a further 8 are being investigated.

One of those previously reported cases is unlikely to be linked to the cluster and that is the aircrew member “so this is essentially a border-related case probably coincidental and that case was identified during routine surveillance testing some international crew member, so whilst we don’t have the details on the new community cases available at the stage, we will release further information as it becomes available through the afternoon.”

Dr Bloomfield said, “these new community cases are not unexpected and we would expect the number of cases to continue to grow in particular because of the large number of locations of interest and the mobility of these cases over the few days.”

TWO PEOPLE IN HOSPITAL

Two people were taken to North Shore hospital overnight with one having worsening symptoms from COVID and the other is symptomatic and has underlying conditions.

One is in their 20s the other is in their 40s, both are in a stable condition.

“As a precautionary measure, a hold was put on some departures from the Crowne Plaza last night – that was in response to the bubble of three people in the facility testing positive for COVID-19 at day twelve of their stay. This is something we do where we get an unexpected day 12 positive result, just make sure that there’s no potential that others may have been infected after they returned a negative day 12 test.”

VACCINATION SITES REOPENING

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said a phased approach to reopening vaccination sites has already begun with the level 4 protocols in place.

Primary care facilities have also resumed carrying out COVID-19 vaccinations today.

“It’s also our plan to vaccinate workers who are customer facing who interact with the public as part of their essential work for example supermarket workers who may not have been eligible because of their age bands.”

“Today we’re working with employers of these essential workforce is to identify the individuals and workers, and you can expect to hear from your employer with extra details.”

The Prime Minister said “we’re also working with the COVID vaccination Healthline on a process for smaller businesses and people who are self-employed to enable them to book if they to fit that criteria.”

She said “in June Medsafe granted provisional approval for the Pfizer vaccine to be given to 12 to 15-year-olds in New Zealand, similar decisions had been made by other regulators in Europe, the US, Canada and Japan.

Pfizer vaccine available for 12 to 15-year-olds.

Cabinet has agreed to make the Pfizer vaccine available for 12 to 15-year-olds.

“This is not a decision we have taken lightly. But it is safe and it’s the right thing to do, so 12 to 15-year-olds can become eligible and book along with everyone else from the 1st of September.”

“We know though that a number of these children’s parents will already be eligible to book their vaccines. We want to be practical about this so from tomorrow morning parents and caregivers who are eligible for their vaccines will also be able to book their 12 to 15-year-olds at the same time, but if you’ve already booked then just bring them along please, just make sure that while you do that you work hard to keep physical distancing up from others.”