The Southern region is now 90% fully vaxxed. 

Southern District Health Board has today announced it is the fifth DHB to reach the milestone, for the eligible population. The SDHB includes Queenstown Lakes, Southland, Dunedin and everywhere in between.

But the news comes of the same day as the Ministry of Health (MoH) identified a Department of Conservation hut in the Fiordland National Park as a high-risk Covid-19 exposure site.

Anyone who visited the Green Lake Hut from 7pm, Saturday, 4 December, to 8am Sunday, is being asked to self-isolate.

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They should get tested immediately, health officials say, and on day five. They should also record their visit online or call Healthline so contact tracers can get in touch.

It appears the exposure relates to a border case currently under investigation in the Southern DHB area.

"This person returned an initial weak positive test and a second test has returned a negative result," a MoH statement reads.

"Public health staff are currently awaiting serology results for the person.

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"Out of an abundance of caution, the Ministry of Health has published one location of interest."

The hut is on an advanced tramping trail, offering 12 bunk beds on a first-come, first-served basis.

"We would like to remind people of the importance of getting a test, especially if you were at or around the location of interest at the time or generally if you have any symptoms, no matter how mild they maybe," health officials say in the statement.

There were 98 new community cases in NZ today. Some 66 people are in hospital, including 7 in ICU.

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The community cases include five new cases Nelson-Tasman. One is announced today, the other four were announced yesterday after the official reporting cut-off period.

The new case is linked to a known school exposure event.

There are now 20 active cases in the Nelson area, and one recovered.

"Investigations into the source of infections are ongoing. Public health officials continue to manage several hundred contacts associated with exposures at two schools in Nelson."

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There are also five active community cases in Canterbury, along with seven who've recovered.

The other new cases are in Auckland (74), Waikato (10), Bay of Plenty (8) and Taranaki (1).

The total in the number of cases in this Delta variant community outbreak in NZ is 9266, both active and recovered.

There were 24,913 total vaccine doses administered yesterday, including 4,571 first doses and 10,652 second doses. To date, 93% of eligible people in New Zealand have had their first dose and 88% are fully vaccinated.

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Southern DHB COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout Programme Lead Karl Metzler says reaching 90% fully vaccinated is "a major achievement for the programme, providers, communities and the whole district”.

"Thank you to the people of the district for doing your bit to keep yourselves and your community safe. We also give a huge thanks to our partners, vaccinators and administrators across the southern health system who are crucial in delivering vaccinations to our communities."

This includes WellSouth, general practices, community pharmacies, Māori health providers, and public health nursing. The district has around 110 clinics offering the vaccine and regular pop-up clinics have been held over the last couple of months to ensure we are reaching as many people as possible in our widespread district.

While the district may be at 90%, there are still pockets with low levels of vaccinations, and it is these communities that are particularly at risk in a local outbreak, Metzler says. These include some of the more rural areas and Māori populations.

Southern’s Māori population is currently sitting ahead of national Māori vaccination rates, with 87% with a first dose, and 76% double vaccinated.

If it has been six months since your second dose, you are eligible for a booster shot so you stay protected. To avoid queues, people are encouraged to book online at bookmyvaccine or by calling 0800 28 29 26.

By Paul Taylor

Queenstown App