Topic Rapid Antigen Test supply update
Key Message 10.8 million Rapid Antigen Tests have arrived in the country since Friday.
Supporting Messages 5.2 million RATs arrived in New Zealand last Thursday. These new RATs will flow through the supply chain and into Community Testing Centres, GPs, pharmacies and businesses where they can be accessed by anyone who needs one.
Notes MoH PR, 28 Feb
The wide-ranging and disruptive impact of COVID-19 on the domestic freight and courier networks has had an impact on distribution and delivery times for RATs in some areas. Work is underway to ensure there is supply in all communities, including those in remote areas. From today, the Ministry of Health will report the number of RATs dispatched from its central warehouse, instead of the overall volume (as previously reported), in the daily COVID-19 media statement.
Hospitalisations update
Disproportionate number of unvaccinated cases requiring hospital care as COVID-19 cases increase.
Only 3% of eligible people aged 12 and over in New Zealand have had no doses of the vaccine, however, of the eligible people in Northland and Auckland hospitals with COVID-19, 12% have had no doses of the vaccine.
MoH PR, 28 Feb
Even this early in the Omicron outbreak, the figures show that, based on the data available, unvaccinated people are four times over-represented in the current hospitalisation data. The numbers send a clear message: getting vaccinated will help to keep people out of hospital if they catch COVID-19, and could save lives.
COVID-19 among protestors update
The Ministry of Health remains concerned about the spread of COVID-19 at the protest at Parliament.
There are now 17 people identified as having tested positive who were at the protest. Due to reluctance by protestors to get a COVID-19 test, the true number of cases linked to the protest is likely to be much higher. All those currently at the protest, or who have been at the protest, who are displaying cold and flu symptoms are advised to get a test and isolate until they receive their result.
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MoH PR, 28 Feb
