Covid infections may slow in summer; nearly all Pasifika now partially vaccinated

‘Oku taupotu ‘i lalo ha fakamatala faka-Tonga

Rising temperatures could keep number of Covid cases down.

According to the latest report from the Ministry of Health case numbers have remained flat in recent weeks, but new variants could push the numbers back up.

The Ministry said the rise could be limited by warmer summer months.

A total of 11,205 cases were reported in the latest statement, with 17 deaths.

The Ministry of Health has not released separate reports for Maori and Pasifika since August.

The latest separate report, covering the period up to August 14, said  new cases identified as Pacific Peoples had continued to decrease. A total of 1662 cases were reported for the previous week, a drop of 256 cases.

An additional 29 Pacific Peoples were in hospital for COVID-19 during this period, a reduction of six patients.

A total of  1728 Pacific People had been  hospitalised for COVID-19 up to the date of the report. Three more Pacific deaths had been attributed to COVID-19 by 14 August.

Counties Manukau remained the centre of the outbreak.

In the latest overall report, figures show 91.8% of people of all ethnicities in Counties Manukau were partly vaccinated and 61.9% had received a booster shot.

The latest overall report says a total of 91.7% of Pacific Peoples throughout New Zealand have been at least partially vaccinated and 61.2% have received a booster shot.

The main Omicron subvariant in this country is becoming less dominant as new subvariants emerge.

The Ministry of Health said the BA.5 variant accounted for about 75 percent of cases in the two weeks to 30 September.

The BA.4.6 variant’s share increased sharply in the latest data to 15 percent, while the BA.2.75 variant was also gaining and was up to 10 percent.

The Ministry said new variants were emerging,  but there was  no strong evidence of large increases in transmissibility or disease severity associated with the most recent variants.

Vaccination, including boosters, remained effective at decreasing the risk of hospitalisation and death from the Omicron variant.

Everyone in New Zealand aged 5 or over can get a free COVID-19 vaccination. It does not matter what peoples’ visa or citizenship status is.

FAKAMATALA FAKATONGA

Ko e mahiki ‘a e fuamafana ki ‘olunga ‘e malava ke ne ta’ota’ofi ai pe ‘a e fika ‘o e Koviti’ ‘I lalo.

Fakatatau ki he lipooti  fakamuimui ‘a e Potungāue Mo’ui ‘I ‘Okatopa’ na’e tu’uma’u ‘a e lahi ‘o e ngaahi keisi’ ‘I he ngaahi uike ki mui ni’ ka ne toe hanga ‘e he fōtunga kehe ‘o e Koviti ‘o toe fakatupu ke lahi ange.

Na’e pehē ‘e he Potungāue’ ‘e lava ke ‘ikai toe hiki tō ‘a e fika ‘I he ngaahi māhina ‘o e faha’ita’u māfana’.

Ko e keisi ‘e 11,205 na’e lipooti ‘I he māhina ‘Okatopa’ kau ai ‘a e mate ‘e took 17.

Ko e toko  29 ‘o e kakai Pasifiki’  ne nau ‘I fale mahaki ko e puke ‘I he Koviti’ lolotonga ‘a e taimi ko eni ko e holo’aki ia ‘a e toko ono.   

Ko e fakakātoa ‘o e kakai  Pasifiki’ na’e puke pea tākoto fale mahaki ‘I he taimi ‘o e lipooti ko ‘eni’ ko e toko 1728. Ne toe ‘I ai mo e mate ‘e tolu ‘I he ‘aho 14 ‘Aokosi ne tupu mei he Koviti’.

Ko e ‘Omikoloni fōtunga kehe  ‘I he fonua’ ni ne si’i pe ha’ane toe  ‘u’uku ‘I he taimi ne ‘asi hake ai ‘a e ngaahi fōtunga kehe fo’ou’.

Na’e pehē ‘e he Potungāue Mo’ui’ ko e fōtunga kehe BA.5 ne fe’unga ia mo e pēseti ‘e 75 ‘o e ngaahi keisi uike ua ki mu’a ‘I he ‘aho 30 ‘o Sepitema’.

Ko e fōtunga kehe BA.4 ne mahiki ia ‘I he ngaahi fakamatala fakamuimui ki he pēseti ‘e 15, lolotonga ia’ ko e BA.2.75 ne kaka mo ia’o a’u ki he pēseti ‘e 10.

Na’e pehē ‘e he Potungāue’ ko e ngaahi fōtunga fo’ou ne mahiki ka ne ‘ikai ha fakamo’oni ne lahi ha’ane kaka ‘o mafola pe fu’u ‘I ai ha kaunga ‘a e mahaki ki he ngaahi fōtunga fakamuimui’.  

Ko e huhu malu’I, kau ai ‘a e pusitaa’, ‘oku kei mahino pe ‘a e ola lelei ‘ene holoki ‘a e tu’u fakatu’utāmaki ki ha tokoto falemahaki mo e mate mei he ‘Omikoloni’.

Ko e taha kotoa pe ‘I Nu’u Sila ‘oku ta’u 5 pe laka ai ‘e lava ke ne ma’u ‘a e huhu malu’I Koviti’. ‘Oku ‘ikai ke