Unite Against COVID-19

Topic Key Message Supporting Messages Notes

Rapid Antigen Test supply update

Hospitalisations update 10.8 million Rapid Antigen Tests have arrived in the country since Friday. 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. 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.

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. MoH PR, 28 Feb

Health update Hospitalisations, cases and testing. There are currently 344 people in hospitals across New Zealand.

5 cases are in high dependency or intensive care units.

Cases

There are 14,633 new cases in the community (8,398 identified through PCR, 10,811 via RAT), and 24 new cases identified at the border.

Testing

22,742 PCR tests processed nationwide in the last 24 hours. MoH PR, 28 Feb

Vaccinations

Topic Key message Supporting messages

Booster programme update Yesterday 13,707 booster doses were administered in New Zealand. The total number of people who have received boosters – including those vaccinated overseas – is 2,349,368 boosted (70.3% of those eligible)

The numbers send a clear message: getting vaccinated will help to keep you out of hospital if you catch COVID19 and could save your life.

Getting a booster dose provides a high level of protection against Omicron. With Omicron spreading quickly, we’re continuing to encourage every remaining eligible person to get boosted as soon as possible.

Vaccination progress 95% of eligible people in New Zealand have had two vaccine doses. Vaccines administered in New Zealand yesterday: 176 first doses; 423 second doses; 136 third primary doses.

Vaccines administered in New Zealand to date: 4,019,345 first doses; 3,959,359 second doses; 33,421 third primary doses; 2,347,710 booster doses: 240,354 paediatric first doses and 3,269 paediatric second doses

Notes

MoH PR, 28 Feb

MoH PR, 28 Feb