Covid-19: 9,392 new cases, 920 in the South

There are 9,392 new community cases of Covid-19 being reported by the Ministry of Health today, 920 of which are the Southern region.

In it's daily Covid-19 media update, the ministry reports the seven-day rolling average of community case numbers is 7,533 – last Thursday it was 7,684.

There have been a further nine deaths - four in Auckland and five in Canterbury; one person in their 70s; two in their 80s and six, aged over 90.

Across the country, 398 people are in hospital with Covid-19, seven of whom are in intensive care.

Today's case numbers are a reminder people should remain vigilant and act to protect themselves and others from Covid-19, health officials say.

"There are three actions everyone can do to help protect themselves and others from Covid-19.

"Firstly – be up to date with vaccinations, including a booster if you’ve not yet had one.

"Secondly – wear a mask. Masks are still required in many indoor settings. A good rule of thumb is to wear a mask in indoor public settings as we know that mask use halves the risk of spread of Covid-19.

"And thirdly – stay home and avoid others if you’re unwell, isolating or waiting for the results of a Covid-19 test.

In the South, 98.5 percent of those eligible have had a first Covid-19 vaccination, 97.5 percent have had a second, and 73 percent have had a third, the ministry says. 

In its daily media update, the Southern District Health Board is reporting 22 people in hospital with the virus - 13 in Dunedin, seven in Invercargill, and two in Clyde.

There are 74 new cases Covid-19 reported in the Central Otago community today, and 103 in Queenstown Lakes.

There are 5,147 active cases of Covid-19 in the South from the last seven days.

Current hospitalisations as at 8am, May 12, 2022 (Source SDHB) 

Please note that hospitalisation data does not differentiate between patients admitted because of Covid-19 infection versus those admitted for a separate reason who happen to also have Covid-19. Hospital numbers reported by the Southern DHB include those in mental health wards.   

Current cases as of 11.59pm, May 11, 2022 (Source SDHB) 

Please note, the Ministry of Health’s daily reported cases may differ slightly from those reported at a DHB or local public health unit level. This is because of different reporting cut off times and the assignment of cases between regions, for example when a case is tested outside their usual region of residence. Total numbers will always be the formal daily case tally as reported to the WHO. Due to the increased use of RATs and system lag issues there may be a discrepancy in the number of total active cases from the territorial authority breakdown. A decision has been made nationally that areas with less than 5 new cases per 24-hour period will be reported as “<5”. All territorial authorities with less than 100 cases will have their case numbers rounded to the nearest 5. We are unable to supply further information. Please contact the Ministry of Health directly for more information about these decisions.  

Covid-19 in the South - What you need to know:

• Please only get tested if you have symptoms or are a household contact of a confirmed case.
• Testing locations can be found on the WellSouth website.
• If you test positive on a RAT test you do not need to have that confirmed by PCR – you are a case. Please update your My Covid Record with your result. Call 0800 222 478, option 3, if you need any support to do this.
• If you receive a text notification that you are positive, please do the online survey in the link you receive in the text message as soon as possible. This will ensure you can receive the appropriate care and support when you need it. Please be aware that, after filling in your My Covid Record with your positive RAT result, there can be a 24-hour delay before you receive this text message. 
• Prepare now to self-isolate if you or a family member or housemate tests positive.
• If you are self-isolating and require welfare support such as help getting groceries, please call 0800 512 337.
• If you have concerns about Covid-19 symptoms, call your general practice or Healthline on 0800 358 5453 at any time. If you are very unwell or having breathing difficulties, call 111 immediately.