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COVID-19: NEW ZEALAND’S CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK
Essential information about locations of interest, testing sites, case numbers, sub-clusters and vaccination
Locations of interest
The coronavirus spreads between people who are in close proximity.
Anyone who has been at the same place as a person who has tested positive for the virus at a time when that person was infectious, needs to be on alert. They may need to self isolate.
There is a long list of what are called places of interest, with the relevant date and time for each, where a person infected with Covid is known to have been present. The list is regularly updated as new cases are confirmed.
Review the list below to see if you’ve been at a location of interest at a time when a known case was also present. There is advice about what you should do in each case if you were.
This information is supplied by the Ministry of Health and is updated whenever the ministry publishes new sites to be aware of.
Testing sites
Anyone with symptoms of Covid-19 should get tested.
The symptoms of COVID-19 are like common illnesses such as a cold or influenza. You may have one or more of the following:
- Fever (at least 38˚C)
- New or worsening cough
- Sore throat
- Shortness of breath
- Sneezing and runny nose
- Temporary loss of smell or altered sense of taste
Less common symptoms may include diarrhoea, headache, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, or confusion/irritability.
People who have been a close contact of a case may also need to get a test, regardless of whether or not they have symptoms.
You can call your doctor to arrange for an assessment or a test. There are also community testing centres spread across the country.
Case numbers
The Ministry of Health releases data on positive cases every day at 1pm.
There is more detailed information on case numbers here and around the world on our dedicated Covid data page.
Vaccinations
New Zealand is using the Pfizer (Comirnaty) vaccine against Covid-19. Everyone aged over 12 is eligible to have it. It is administered in two doses, ideally about six weeks apart.
People should book to get the vaccine via the official website, or by phoning 0800 282926. A booking will include information about where to go and safely get a shot.
As of August 25, everyone over the age of 30 is allowed to make a booking. On September 1, everyone over the age 12 can book.
The vaccine has been approved by Medsafe and taken by hundreds of millions of people around the world.
As with any medicine, there are potential side-effects. Most are very mild. However the risks associated with catching the virus are many times higher - and more serious - than those from taking the vaccine.
Vaccination helps protect those who get it but it is also an essential part of the plan for re-opening New Zealand to the world. The more people who are vaccinated, the safer the country will be from far-reaching impacts of the Covid pandemic.
Learn more about Covid-19 vaccination on Stuff’s The Whole Truth: Covid Vaccination project.
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