Covid-19: Eight new Hawke's Bay cases among 202 nationwide tally
There are a total of eight new Covid-19 community cases in Hawke's Bay - four of which, linked to Te Mata Primary School, were announced yesterday.
The four other cases are linked to known clusters.
The Hawke's Bay cases are among 202 reported nationwide today.
In a statement, the Ministry of Health said the new cases are in Northland (17), Auckland (119), Waikato (39), Lakes (4), Bay of Plenty (8), Taranaki (1), Hawke's Bay (8), Hutt Valley (1), Capital & Coast (4), and Nelson Marlborough (1).
Fourteen people are in hospital with Covid-19, including one in intensive care in Rotorua.
Hawke's Bay District Health Board Medical Officer of Health Dr Nick Jones said there were a number of close contacts associated with the Te Mata School cases and a special pop-up testing site had been organised for today.
Dr Jones said the public health team was working closely with the school, the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health.
The school is open for on-site learning for those not impacted. All students self-isolating have access to distance learning.
“With case numbers rising in our community, it’s very important people follow public health advice and isolate until they receive a negative test result.”
Anyone who had cold and flu-like symptoms, no matter how mild, is urged to get a test and isolate until they receive their test results.
Dr Jones said vaccination was the best defence against Covid-19 for both adults and children.
“The Pfizer vaccine for 5 to 11-year-olds is highly effective. If children and young adults who have been vaccinated do get Covid-19, they are far less likely to fall seriously ill and less likely to transmit the virus to others.”
Dr Jones said children need two doses of the vaccine, at least eight weeks apart, to be fully protected from Covid-19.
Parents and caregivers can learn more about the child vaccine from here, speak with their General Practitioner or call the Covid-19 Vaccination Healthline on 0800-28-29-26 available seven days between 8am and 8pm.
A full list of vaccination sites in Hawke’s Bay can be found here.
