MARTIN DE RUYTER/STUFF
On Monday, the Ministry of Health reported 6,498 cases, which have more than doubled in five days. (File image)
The number of community covid-19 cases has more than doubled since the start of the week, with the health ministry reporting 13,344 new cases on Friday.
There were 587 hospitalizations and 23 people with the virus had died, while nine people are in intensive care. Eighteen of these deaths occurred in July; four others took place in May and June, the ministry said.
Michael Plank, a University of Canterbury professor and Covid-19 modeler, said “it was pretty clear” that the second wave had arrived and that the increase in cases was due to the new variant, BA.5.
“That’s been spreading in the community for a while now and we’re really seeing the impact of this in the daily case numbers now,” he said.
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† Covid-19: 8,609 new community cases, 20 reported deaths, including children under 10 years old
† Covid-19: 8454 new cases of intercourse, 24 reported deaths, including children under 10 years old
† Covid-19: 766 southern cases, one death
Plank said the “consistent increase” in the seven-day moving average over the past few weeks was a good indication of the second wave.
The seven-day moving average for the number of community cases on Friday is 8313. At the start of the week it was 7046 and this past Friday was 6422.
On Tuesday, case numbers increased by more than 3000 in one dayrising from 6498 on Monday to 9629.
The number of new cases grew again on Wednesday, with 10,290 new cases reported.
Plank said it was possible that the number of cases could peak at more than 20,000 a day, just like… the first Omicron wave in March†
What was more concerning about the wave compared to March was the infected age group who were “much, much older” than in the first Omicron wave, he said.
“Deaths and hospitalizations could potentially be higher because of that age demographic.
“Looks like it has the potential to become a pretty significant wave.”
Breakfast
Professor Michael Baker warns that “there could be 5,000 deaths a year from this infection”.
Health officials continued the response to the current Covid-19 outbreak in the community under reviewa ministry spokesman said, and will adjust it as the outbreak and pandemic evolves, and as part of the revival planning.
Of the new cases reported Friday, 466 are reinfections. Reinfections have occurred in a person who reported a case 29 or more days earlier.
Cases hospitalized on Friday include: Northland: 13; Waitemata: 128; Provinces of Manukau: 38; Auckland: 35; Waikato: 57; Bay of Plenty: 32; Lakes: 14; Hawke’s Bay: 20; Middle Central: 18; Whanganui: 6; Taranaki: 11; Tairawiti: 2; Wairarapa: 4; Capital and Coast and Hutt Valley: 60; Nelson Marlborough: 13; Canterbury and West Coast: 90; South Canterbury: 15; South: 31.
With the school holidays starting this weekend, the ministry has reminded people who travel to have plans in place in case they contract Covid-19 or are identified as a contact person in a business household.
Plank said the increase in cases was a good reminder to wear good quality masks indoors and test whether people had symptoms.
The vaccine was also “critical” — whether it was the first or fourth dose.
“A lot of people are eligible for the vaccine… Now is a really good time to start getting it.”
In its updates, the ministry releases a total number of people who have died “with Covid” in a certain period.
That doesn’t necessarily mean the virus killed those people, it just means they tested positive within 28 days of their death or immediately after.
The ministry will later provide more information about the cause of these deaths on its website. You can read how this works here here†
On Thursday, the ministry reported 10,710 new cases and 554 hospitalizations.