ISSUE
Friday, August 15, 2025
Volume 16 . Issue 72
Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins says despite extensive contact tracing interviews, they have not been able to find any epidemiological or person-to-person link with any other cases in Northland for today's case.
These two cases are based in the Far North and quite separate from the rest of the active cases in the region, he says.
"It's unclear at this point how they could have possibly picked up the virus, this means there is a strong possibility of one or more missing links in the chain of transmission and that means there could be undetected community transmission occurring right now in Northland."
Testing and contact tracing will continue to detect any missing links, Hipkins said.
The decision will be reviewed by Cabinet on Monday.
A boundary running through the centre of Hokianga Harbour to the Mangamuka junction on SH1 to the SH10 Kaeo Bridge and east bay will be in place.
Hipkins acknowledged that Northland's vaccination rates are lower than the rest of the country, and alert levels restrictions are an important protection tool until those vaccination rates go up.
Northland is one of the lowest-performing regions for vaccinations, with just 64 percent of the region fully vaccinated - second-last, only ahead of Tairawhiti.
It is also the region that needs the largest number of first doses to reach 90 percent of the eligible population, with more than 17,000 doses required to reach that milestone.
The government's proposed traffic light system would see restrictions across New Zealand reduced, and lockdowns ended, once every DHB in the country reaches 90 percent double dosed.
Earlier today, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Maori-Crown relations Minister Kelvin Davis, who is also the MP for Te Tai Tokerau, were in Northland viewing the rollout of vaccinations.
Hipkins says Ardern was not in the area that is going into level 3.
Northland is currently at alert level 2 and there was one new Covid-19 case in the region today - a household contact of an existing case.
There are 11 active cases in total in Northland.
Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins says despite extensive contact tracing interviews, they have not been able to find any epidemiological or person-to-person link with any other cases in Northland for today's case.
These two cases are based in the Far North and quite separate from the rest of...
Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins says despite extensive contact tracing interviews, they have not been able to find any epidemiological or person-to-person link with any other cases in Northland for today's case.
These two cases are based in the Far North and quite separate from the rest of the active cases in the region, he says.
"It's unclear at this point how they could have possibly picked up the virus, this means there is a strong possibility of one or more missing links in the chain of transmission and that means there could be undetected community transmission occurring right now in Northland."
Testing and contact tracing will continue to detect any missing links, Hipkins said.
The decision will be reviewed by Cabinet on Monday.
A boundary running through the centre of Hokianga Harbour to the Mangamuka junction on SH1 to the SH10 Kaeo Bridge and east bay will be in place.
Hipkins acknowledged that Northland's vaccination rates are lower than the rest of the country, and alert levels restrictions are an important protection tool until those vaccination rates go up.
Northland is one of the lowest-performing regions for vaccinations, with just 64 percent of the region fully vaccinated - second-last, only ahead of Tairawhiti.
It is also the region that needs the largest number of first doses to reach 90 percent of the eligible population, with more than 17,000 doses required to reach that milestone.
The government's proposed traffic light system would see restrictions across New Zealand reduced, and lockdowns ended, once every DHB in the country reaches 90 percent double dosed.
Earlier today, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Maori-Crown relations Minister Kelvin Davis, who is also the MP for Te Tai Tokerau, were in Northland viewing the rollout of vaccinations.
Hipkins says Ardern was not in the area that is going into level 3.
Northland is currently at alert level 2 and there was one new Covid-19 case in the region today - a household contact of an existing case.
There are 11 active cases in total in Northland.
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