100,000 rapid antigen test kits purchased by the Ministry of Health have arrived. They will trial these at Middlemore Hospital to those getting PCR test who consent to another test. This is done through a swab at the front of the nose. The trial will test the efficacy of these tests.
The second pilot will take place at the international airport arrival hall. Bloomfield said these trials will help them understand how these tests fit into the country’s response in the future.
Bloomfield acknowledged district nurses working on the front line in Auckland in level 4.
The first mobile vaccine buses were launched this morning in parts of Auckland.
今天早上，奥克兰部分地区推出了第一辆移动疫苗巴士。
Three buses went out, one went to the supermarkets in west Auckland.
三辆公共汽车出去了，一辆开往奥克兰西部的超市。
Another three will be deployed in the next couple of days.
另外三个将在接下来的几天内部署。
They want to focus on suburbs where they need to ensure vaccines are accessible.
他们希望将重点放在需要确保疫苗可及的地区。
While in level 4, they’ll allow for physical distancing. In future, they will be more mobile and more residential in where they go and how they operate.
Over 70 per cent of the eligible population has received at least one dose. This is a significant milestone, Ardern said.
超过 70% 的符合条件的人口至少接种了一剂。 Ardern 说，这是一个重要的里程碑。
Nearly 37,000 first doses were delivered in Auckland in recent days. Ardern encouraged those who hadn’t yet gotten the jab to book in and roll up their sleeves.
Ardern reminded people that vaccinations are free。 She said vaccinations are “incredibly helpful” now and into the future. Delta is more dangerous and difficult, she said, which is why they updated the country’s response.
They will consider lifting the hospitality cap to 100 people indoors in level 2 if Auckland moves to level 3. Ardern said it’s clear the alert level system has served us well. Vaccines need to be integrated into this system.
Now, back to the truck driver who tested positive. Bloomfield said early information indicates they travelled to Hamilton, Cambridge and Tauranga. They don’t know if they were infectious at this time. Locations of interest will be made public, but there may not be any. It’s common for locations to be kept private if exposure events are contained and all people are easily identified.
Bloomfeild said the good thing is they were tested and they found the case. Their household contact also tested positive.There’s no suggestion they did anything they shouldn’t have. They went to work before they were identified as a contact.
Everyone in New Zealand, regardless of immigration status, can get tested at any time and can get vaccinated. This data collected is not linked to immigration status nor is it used for immigration purposes.
“This is not linked in any way at all,” Ardern clarified.
“这根本没有任何联系，”Ardern 澄清道。
Deportations are heavily weighted to those who finished serving sentences, rather than those who are in the community.
驱逐出境对服完刑的人有很大的影响，而不是社区中的人。
Bloomfield said they don’t test people once they’re diagnosed and in quarantine. The procedure around release is overseen by a medical officer of health. The minimum stay is 10 days and at least 72 hours asymptomatic. They are moving to a 14-day stint.
So positive cases in quarantine must stay for 14 days now and also be 72 hours symptom-free. Auckland units are in the process of implementing this new policy.
PM Jacinda Ardern says NZ’s ban on nuclear power in its waters “remains unchanged”, as Australia, UK and US announce pact to provide Australia with nuclear submarines.
Bloomfield said they will keep using every channel they have to encourage vaccinations.
Overseas experience shows vaccinations are protecting people from hospitalisation and death.布卢姆菲尔德说，他们将继续利用所有渠道鼓励接种疫苗。海外经验表明，接种疫苗可以保护人们免于住院和死亡。
Covid-19 has become a pandemic of the unvaccinated, he said. This is “mission critical”, he said. Every New Zealander needs to take up the opportunity to get vaccinated.
Ardern encouraged people to do it for the kids. There’s a whole group under 12 who aren’t eligible for vaccinations yet. “Do it for our kids,” she said.
Anyone who has an allergic reaction to the Covid vaccine and requires medical assistance will be covered by ACC.
Regarding the decision to keep the rest of the country in level 2 while Auckland is in a higher level, it’s all about risk, Ardern said. Where there is less risk for transmission, mask use drops off the list of necessities while contact tracing remains high. They’re looking at what other measures are needed in the community and at the border in level 1 when vaccination rates are high.
On the vaccine buses, Ardern said a react poll on Facebook came up with the name Shot Bro. Around 28,000 people engaged with it。 Ardern thought the name was unique to New Zealand and it had a double meaning.
The unlinked case who went to Middlemore Hospital was tested as part of surveillance testing. They’re looking at international evidence to see what other measures are needed alongside vaccines in order to protect those who can’t get vaccinated, like kids. Most countries are coupling vaccines with other measures, because even with high vaccine rates, there’s still a risk.
On a GDP per capita basis, there’s been a 3.7 per cent annual change. These are some of the best numbers we’ve seen in years, Finance Minister Grant Robertson said.
They know the September quarter will show the impacts of lockdown and this outbreak.
He said the rebound on the other side of this outbreak will show the strong position we’re in.
He has confidence we’ll return to these levels of growth.
Robertson said it’s hard to say how much debt there will be resulting from the Delta outbreak. The predictions show the New Zealand economy was strong, relative to the rest of the world, going into this outbreak. It’s not just areas like hospitality and accommodation that have been doing well, construction is also on the list.
This is why Robertson thinks there’ll be a “significant hit” but there’ll be a “rebound”.
Robertson thought the level 2 rules were clear for how businesses can operate. He’s welcoming public servants back into the city, and they are. Businesses are ready and willing for their business.
Covid vaccines, health insurance and ACC: yes, you’re covered
Covid 疫苗、健康保险和 ACC：是的，您有保障
Ardern reiterated in the press conference that ACC will cover the cost of your treatment in the rare case of a vaccine injury – and the vaccine won’t invalidate your health insurance.
