COVID-19

In a statement, the Ministry of Health said there are also 344 cases in hospital and five in ICU.

The cases in hospital are in Northland (5), North Shore (53), Middlemore (128), Auckland (100), Tauranga (11), Taranaki (1), Waikato (28), Canterbury (4) Southern (4), Hutt Valley (6)Capital and Coast (3) and Tairawhiti (1).

The Health Department reported last night that confirm cases stand at 63.

The federal team, which will number more than 50, will include representatives of FEMA, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Department of Health and Human Services, and other federal partners.

The Health Department's Dr Aifili John Tufa said the request for assistance was made right after the first community case was recorded on Monday.

The team will help with vaccinations, treatment of Covid-cases at the Department of Health clinics, training and help supplement medical staff.

Prime Minister Bob Loughman confirmed the case in an announcement this morning.

Loughman said there are no community transmission cases.

Domestic air and sea travel out of Efate is now permited.

The temporary restriction was lifted at 6pm yesterday according to Loughman.  

Temporary rstrictions remain on international air and sea travel into the country.

Photo Vanuatu Government screenshot  Caption: PM Bob Loughman issues a statement on Covid-19 .

They moved there after thousands of people crossed the harbour bridge on foot yesterday, in a march organised by the Freedoms and Rights Coalition

Camping is not permitted in the Domain, which lies between the suburbs of Parnell and Grafton.

Auckland Council director of customer and community services Claudia Wyss said it was working with event organisers on a safety-first approach.

She said there was no timeline for reopening at this stage and the council apologises for any inconvenience.

Prime Minister Bob Loughman said all the cases are in quarantine.

He added the Health Emergency Advisory Committee for Covid-19 has advised that there are no cases of community transmission.

Loughman also announced that from today there is a temporary restriction on all in-bound international flights as well sea travel.

There is also a temporary restriction on out-bound domestic travel by air and sea from Efate

 Efate and its offshore islands remain at alert Level 1 while other parts of the country remain at alert Level 0.

The Ministry of Health confirmed that 24 of the total cases were recorded on Tuesday and 11 new cases in the last 24 hours ending at 8 am yesterday.

MOH said of the 35 Covid-19 cases recorded, 10 were in the Central Division; three were recorded in the Western Division, four cases were recorded in the Northern Division, and 18 were recorded in the Eastern Division.

The Permanent Secretary for Health Doctor James Fong said the public should be wary of efforts to remove all public health measures too soon.

The Chiefs will be the first to leave on Wednesday after their match against Moana Pasifika this weekend was called off due to the lingering affects of the Covid outbreak in the new team's squad.

Chiefs CEO Michael Collins said it made sense to get their squad home.

"We knew there was always an end date to when they would leave.

"With no game this weekend we thought best to try and get the team home to families to spend some time with them, which they haven't done in the past few weeks."

The four new cases were reported by Prime Minister Bob Loughman and all are from New Caledonia.

Three of the new cases are close contacts of an infected passenger on the latest New Caledonia flight and the other active case is a frontline worker

Mr Loughman said all contacts of the infected frontline worker will remain quarantined until they are fully cleared.

Vanuatu has a total of eight Covid-19 positive cases at the border.

Currently, there's no indication of community transmission.

The Whānau Ora Manager for Pasifika health service, The Fono, Europa Kupu said that close to 100 families have sought their support.

"It's increasing by the day," she said.

"Most of the referrals are from different clusters and gatherings that's been happening in the past few weeks. With the amount of family and individuals getting tested we're seeing the increase of positive cases."

Kupu adds that more support is needed from the government.

The government has admitted it is struggling to contain the fifth wave of infections, fuelled by Omicron. But it has ruled out a city-wide lockdown.

A record 4,285 new cases were reported on Wednesday.

Chinese President Xi Jinping urged the local leaders to take "all necessary measures", in a rare intervention.

The comments may signal tighter controls in China's special administrative region, which pursues a zero Covid policy - but without the strict mass testing and lockdowns seen in mainland China.