The Ministry of Health report that there are 113 new community cases of Covid-19. Of these, 109 are in Auckland, three in Waikato, and one in Northland. There was one new case identified at the border.

There were 33,867 first and second COVID-19 vaccine doses administered yesterday, made up of 7,401 first doses and 26,466 second doses.

To date, 89 per cent of eligible New Zealanders aged 12 and over have had their first dose and 78 per cent are fully vaccinated.

There are 74 people in hospital, up from 73 yesterday. Of these 25 are in North Shore, three are n Waitakere, 22 are in Middlemore, and 24 are in Auckland. The average age of hospitalisations is 51. There are five cases in ICU or HDU.

New cases identified at the border

Today's cases
One of today's three cases in Waikato was reported yesterday but as it was confirmed after the 9am cut off time, it is today officially being added to the case numbers.

A previously confirmed community case has now been reclassified as a border case and therefore the net increase today in community cases is 112 not 113.

Wastewater
There continues to be positive wastewater detections across Auckland, as expected given the spread of cases across the city. Those wastewater detections include positive wastewater results recently on Waiheke Island (2 November) from the main township of Oneroa and also in Waiuku (2 November) in the wider Auckland region on the south end of the Manukau harbour.

The Ministry recommends residents in these two areas to get tested if they have symptoms.

Testing is available at the following locations:

-Waiheke Medical Centre until 4pm today.
-Pukekohe Netball Centre until 3.30pm. (for Waiuku residents)

For testing centres in Auckland, visit http://www.arphs.health.nz/covid19test

Testing is also available at GP and Urgent Care clinics, the locations of these can be found on https://www.healthpoint.co.nz/covid-19/

Elsewhere, as announced yesterday, there were unexpected detections in Taranaki (Stratford on 2 November); Gisborne (1 and 3 November) and Hawkes Bay (Napier 3 November). The latest test results for Hastings and Wairoa (returned yesterday), and Huntly are all negative.

'We are asking anyone with any symptoms in these places – no matter how mild – to get tested, especially anyone who has travelled outside of these regions recently,” says a Ministry of Health spokesperson.

Testing is available at the following locations this weekend:

-Stratford: The War Memorial car park, 55 Miranda Street (10am to 2pm). Testing is also available at Hawera hospital (10am – 2pm) and New Plymouth at Taranaki Base Hospital 9am-1pm (hours extended if required)
-Gisborne: 110 Peel Street (9am to 5pm). Testing is also available at Te Puia Springs Hospital (10.30am-2pm)
-Napier: 30 Munroe Street, entrance off Vautier St (9am-5pm)

If you live in Stratford, Gisborne or Napier and haven't been vaccinated, today is a good opportunity to do so. For a full list of testing and vaccination centres, see the Healthpoint website

Porirua tangi
Wellington Regional Public Health is continuing to encourage those involved in a tangi in Porirua on Wednesday this week to get tested for COVID-19.

A public health assessment is that the risks to the wider public are low following reports of a person who had tested positive in Auckland last month and who travelled from Auckland to Porirua. They are assessed as unlikely to have been infectious as they travelled at the very end of their 14-day quarantine period.

Waikato update
There were two new cases confirmed in Waikato overnight, one from Hamilton and one from Ōtorohanga. One was a known contact of previous cases and already in isolation. Public Health will today investigate links for the second case.

A third case, reported yesterday, is being added to the official case numbers today.

Today there are six pop-up and dedicated testing sites operating across Hamilton, Huntly, Ōtorohanga and Te Awamutu.

'We are encouraging anyone in these areas with COVID-19 symptoms to seek a test.”

There was one location of interest identified in Hamilton yesterday.

Both COVID-19 patients in Waikato Hospital yesterday have now been discharged.

There were 2,251 tests processed in Waikato yesterday and 2,298 vaccines delivered.

Northland update
There is one new case in Northland to report today – taking the total number of cases in the region to 18. This person is a contact of a case in Kaitaia and has been isolating at home.

'We are continuing to encourage those who live in or around Taipa, Kaingaroa, Awanui and Kaitaia and have had symptoms of COVID-19 in the last two weeks, to get tested as soon as possible,” says a Ministry of Health spokesperson.

Testing centre locations can be found on the Northland DHB website.

There were 665 tests taken across Northland yesterday and 1,256 vaccinations were given, including 371 first doses.

Auckland update
There are 15 community testing centres available for testing across Auckland today.

'We're continuing to encourage everyone in Auckland to please get a test if they have any symptoms, no matter how mild. Even if people are fully vaccinated, and have been isolating at home, please seek out a test if you feel the need.”
 
In metro Auckland, 1,886 individuals are now being supported to safely isolate at home; this includes 816 cases across 661 households.    

'We want to take the opportunity to again recognise the hard work put in on daily basis by testing site staff,” say a Ministry of Health spokesperson. 'Every day we have hundreds of staff at CTCs across New Zealand doing great mahi, to keep us and our communities safe. If you're visiting one of these sites, please be patient if there's a wait and please be respectful.”