This RNZ’s story is republished with permission

Auckland will move to alert level three for a week at 6am tomorrow morning after two new Covid-19 community cases announced this evening could not be directly linked to earlier cases, the Prime Minister has confirmed.

The rest of the country will move to level two.

Watch the PM’s latest briefing live:

A sibling of a Papatoetoe High School student, who was a casual plus contact of the recent Auckland community cases, tested positive for Covid-19.

Director-General Ashley-General said the new case is a 21-year-old man. Since then, his mother has also tested positive for Covid-19, but three other people in the family have tested negative.

Ardern said the link to the high school could provide a straightforward link, but in this case it had not since the student previously tested negative.

Genome sequencing is underway. Ardern said officials strongly assumed this case will be linked to the cluster.

“However, as we all know so well, if what we cannot immediately link a case person to person, what we call an epidemiological link, that is a significant issue and one we need to act on.”

She said the second cause of concern was because the person was possibly unknowingly infectious for as long as a week without isolation.

“There are a number of high risk locations involved with this case,” she said, including a supermarket, a gym, and the Manukau Institute of Technology.

Given the time the that has passed by for the onset of symptoms, “we may well have close contacts who already infected”.

She said Cabinet met this evening and made the decision Auckland will move to alert level three for seven days, while the rest of the country will go to level 2.

Ardern said they were assuming this case had the more infectious variant of the virus.

Aucklanders are asked to stay at home, in their bubbles other than for essential movement. Those who can work from home are asked to do so. If you go outside, maintain physical distancing. Children are asked to stay home from school in Auckland, although for essential worker parents who need to be at work, they will be open.

Supermarkets, pharmacies, petrol stations, and primary produce stories can remain open. Ardern urged people not to rush to supermarkets.

Businesses that normally operate on face-to-face basis are now asked to move to non-contact methods like click and collect or online ordering, she said.

Public venues will be closed, including playgrounds, libraries, cinemas, gyms, pools and markets. Gatherings outside people’s bubbles is prohibited with the exception of groups of 10 for wedding services, funerals and tangihanga. Public health measures will still need to be maintained in these events.

All sports games will need to be cancelled, including tomorrow’s Auckland Round the Bays.

Inter-regional travel will be restricted. Those who are vulnerable with pre-existing conditions and older people are encouraged to stay at home where possible and take extra precautions where possible.

Aucklanders are asked to wear masks when they leave their house.

From 6am tomorrow, the alert level changes will kick in.

“Some will ask whether we should have stayed in level 3 from the 14 February right up until this day today. That was not what the evidence required and therefore it was also not the advice we were given.”

She said with more than 100,000 tests since the community case on 14 February, wastewater testing showing up negative, Papatoetoe High School mass testing and stringent contact tracing and isolating measures, it was not deemed necessary at the time to extend alert levels.

“But there is no doubt that a contributing factor to the issue we are now facing is that the guidelines and rules have not always been followed.”

“We just need to hang in there,” she said.

Papatoetoe High School was due to reopen this Monday after having to close for cleaning and contact tracing when the first student of the recent cases tested positive on 14 February.

The new case reported today developed symptoms on Tuesday 23 February, and is regarded as being potentially infectious from Sunday 21 February.

The person was tested yesterday and the result was received this afternoon.

The high school student sibling had returned three recent negative tests and is asymptomatic, the ministry said.

Public health officials are undertaking interviews to help establish how this new case was infected.

The household has five people and testing is now underway, the ministry said, with results expected this evening.

Genome sequencing is also underway and expected later tonight.

Locations of interest

A number of locations of interest, which will be available on the ministry’s website, will be updated progressively from this evening.

Four have been identified so far:

• Hunter Plaza (26 February) 2.55pm – 5pm
• Burger King Highland Park (25 February) 8pm-9pm
• Your Health Pharmacy (23 February) 2.45pm – 3.50pm
• Pak n Save Manakau (21 February) 5.30pm – 6.40pm

For up-to-date information on testing locations in Auckland, visit Auckland Regional Public Health Service’s website and all testing locations nationwide, visit the Healthpoint website.

The ministry is urging people to only call Healthline if they were potentially exposed.

• If you have symptoms of the coronavirus, call the NZ Covid-19 Healthline on 0800 358 5453 (+64 9 358 5453 for international SIMs) or call your GP – don’t show up at a medical centre

This RNZ story is republished with permission

A sibling of a Papatoetoe High School student, who was a casual plus contact of the recent Auckland community cases, has tested positive for Covid-19.

The Ministry of Health confirmed the case in a statement this evening.

The new case developed symptoms on Tuesday 23 February, and is regarded as being potentially infectious from Sunday 21 February.

The person was tested yesterday and the result was received this afternoon.

The high school student sibling had returned three recent negative tests and is asymptomatic.

Public health officials are undertaking interviews to help establish how this new case was infected.

The household has five people and testing is now underway, the ministry said, with results expected this evening.

Genome sequencing is also underway and expected later tonight.

A number of locations of interest, which will be available on the ministry’s website, will be updated progressively from this evening.

Additional information will be provided in an update tonight, the ministry said.

For up-to-date information on testing locations in Auckland, visit Auckland Regional Public Health Service’s website and all testing locations nationwide, visit the Healthpoint website.

• If you have symptoms of the coronavirus, call the NZ Covid-19 Healthline on 0800 358 5453 (+64 9 358 5453 for international SIMs) or call your GP – don’t show up at a medical centre

This story by RNZ is republished with permission

Tonga’s Ministry of Health says it plans to vaccinate up to 70 percent of the population by the end of the year.

The COVAX facility, an initiative set up to provide equitable access to vaccines, has put Tonga on the tentative list to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine, which was recently approved by the World Health Organisation.

Chief Executive Officer, Dr Siale ‘Akau’ola, said Tonga initially tried to obtain the Pfizer vaccine when it was approved, but it had decided to prioritise countries where people were sick with Covid-19.

Tonga had yet to record a case of the coronavirus.

‘Akau’ola said Tonga would receive the AstraZeneca vaccine as it was easier to store and use.

“This is a suitable vaccine for the context of Pacific Islands. The cold chain requirements are similar to what we are familiar with.

“There is no need for any sophisticated cooling system as in the other vaccine and of course the data on its use provided to us is very reassuring, it protects people with severe illness, high percentage of the protective effects it provides and I think as a start for us it’s a very good vaccine.”

‘Akau’ola said he hoped the country could achieve herd immunity while protecting front-line workers, the elderly and those with chronic illnesses.

Tonga does not have ultra-cold storage for the Pfizer vaccine.

The exact amount of vaccine doses will be confirmed once Tonga submits its final National Deployment and Vaccination Plan to COVAX and AstraZeneca.

“There will be two doses – the first vaccine, and then after six or so weeks, the second dose will be administered,” ‘Akau’ola explained.

By Sela Jane Hopgood of RNZ. This story is republished with permission

Statistics NZ’s latest official child poverty figures show Māori and Pacific children were higher across almost all measures, compared with all children.

For the year ended June 2020, one in four Pasifika children lived in households experiencing material hardship.

That is a similar reading to the report ended June 2019 where almost one in four Māori children (23.3 percent) lived in households that are doing without six or more of the 17 material basic needs, and the rate was higher for Pacific children at 28.6 percent.

Stats NZ describes material hardship as the “number of households missing out on more than 6 of the 17 basic things most people would regard as essentials.

“Examples of essential items lacked include the household respondent reporting serious restriction on eating fresh fruit or vegetables, putting off a visit to the doctor because of a lack of money, or not being able to pay the gas or electricity bill on time.”

Children’s Commissioner Judge Andrew Becroft said the figures for Pasifika, Māori and disability stopped him in his tracks and should be a profound concern for all New Zealanders.

“They’re deeply distressing figures especially when for European, it’s one in eleven, a much smaller figure and that’s something that ought to be of enduring concern.

“The government have introduced a series of packages such as the child poverty reduction package, there’s the child wellbeing strategy, and if we really want to hit child poverty on the head we need to have sustained, continuous, bold and ongoing packages and commitment.

“We need specific targeting for Pacific and Māori, there’s no way around that. I mean, how can a western world country not feel shame when the level of disproportionalities is laid bare,” Becroft said.

The stats released this week are echoed in the Salvation Army’s State of the Nation report released this month.

It shows Māori and Pasifika child poverty rates are more than 50 percent higher than those for European children and rates of material hardship were two to three times higher.

A policy analyst Ronji Tanielu said she was sick and tired of seeing how bad the statistics were for Pacific people.

“There’s a systems’ problem here, there’s a structural problem here, but there’s also challenges for Pasifika people, some of our communities need to ask themselves hard questions such as why are we giving to churches, to the point where it puts our families at risk?

“When it comes to Pasifika and the poverty out there, some of it unfortunately are the bad decisions families make, but a lot of it is the limited options they have,” Tanielu said.

“One of the most challenging cases are to do with housing and children – there was a solo Pasifika mother in her 20s with four kids living in emergency housing.

“Her situation was risky because there were gangs living there also, dealing with meth in the motel and this mother is trying to raise her kids in that environment.

“That’s one of many horror stories out there, but as a Christian church and charity and we have remained hopeful for our community as we do see stories of transformation out there,” he said.

Although Stats NZ’s report ended in the early stages of the pandemic last year, Becroft is almost certain that the situation for poverty is now worse for families that are struggling.

“The real question for this country is realise the burden of Covid-19 is disproportionately shared by children and particularly children doing it tough.

“We have a choice; do we want the burden to be shared by children doing it tough or not? We can fix it if we want to. We’ve got money, there’s surpluses, we’re told it’s kept for a rainy day.

“Ask children who are really in material hardship, they will tell you it’s pouring down outside.

“This is the time to act. Covid-19 can’t be an excuse to do less, it’s an opportunity to do better,” Becroft said.

Across the wider New Zealand population, one in nine children were living in material hardship, down from one in eight a year earlier.

By Kate Green of RNZ. This story is republished with permission

Exhausted Covid-19 testers in South Auckland are bracing for a big surge after three new cases of infection were confirmed in the cluster around Papatoetoe High School.

Yesterday, a student considered a casual plus contact was confirmed to have the coronavirus and last night, two siblings, a teenager and an infant, also tested positive.

The teenager recently finished school and had been working at Kmart Botany. They were at work on Friday 19 February and Saturday 20 February between 4pm and 10pm. People who visited the store during those times are being asked to isolate and call Healthline.

The parents and a third older sibling have returned negative tests so far, the ministry said in a statement. The family has been transferred to the Auckland quarantine facility.

Papatoetoe High School opened on Monday and Tuesday this week, having been shut all last week and now school remains closed until further notice.

Principal Vaughan Couillault said it was tough but they just had to get on with it.

“We’re probably feeling a little bit crestfallen, but once you get over yourself, because it’s not about you, the team just clicked back into action,” he said.

The school is re-testing all staff and students.

When asked whether the school should have remained shut this week, Couillault said they followed the advice from authorities.

“I’m not one to second guess Dr Bloomfield and Minister Hipkins. They’ve done a pretty good job of keeping New Zealand safe up to now, as has the Prime Minister, and it’s just an unfortunate set of circumstances.

“I don’t believe it’s the decisions that are wrong, it’s the virus that’s the pain,” Couillault said.

On Wednesday morning some 1500 students were being asked to stay home and complete their classes online.

Year 13 student Yash said the situation was difficult.

“Our schoolwork is messed up, it’s like we’re supposed to be doing stuff for our class that we can’t do, it’s getting delayed, so it’s stressful,” he said.

“A week of school being closed was good and all, but then having another week closed, it’s just too much,” Yash said.

Joseph, 17, hopes things return to normal as quickly as possible.

“To be honest it’s pretty dumb, because I come to school to enjoy myself and come and learn as well. Since it is my last year I was hoping to end it with a good year, but I guess I can’t,” Joseph said.

Faazio, also in his final year of high school, said he was coping but finding things tough.

“Right now it’s kind of difficult because we’re getting assignments slowly and lockdown came in, and yeah, it’s kind of hard for me right now but the support from the teachers is really helping,” said Faazio.

Ata, 16, is also feeling stressed.

“It’s not easy to learn from home. If we get confused with questions, there’s no one to ask. Everyone is kind of sad as well, because we’re going to be stuck in lockdown again,” Ata said.

The Ministry of Health has said everyone in a Papatoetoe High School household should stay at home until advised otherwise.

Nearly 700 students were tested at the school on Tuesday.

Household contacts are asked to get swabbed at a different testing station, with many heading down the road to Ōtara .

South Seas Healthcare chief executive Silao Vaisola-Sefo, who runs the testing station, said they had doubled worker numbers to cope with the expected influx today – and staff are exhausted.

“It’s more the mental thing than anything, to be honest. It is tiring, it’s long hours, but yeah, it’s just getting as many swabs as possible,” he said, adding that it was tough on the community.

“You can just feel the tension. But I think what’s really pleasing is that people just know what to do straight away. I think when we go up to level two and three, people just know what to do – and I’m not just talking about the workers, I’m talking about the public.

“As soon as that announcement came, I saw people with masks already in the town centre,” he said.

Anyone who feels unwell, should stay at home and call Healthline for advice.

By Travis Meyn and Peter Badel, News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom. 

News Corp can reveal the NRL was unaware a payment had been made to the family involved in Fifita’s bizarre incident during the Christmas break.

Fifita was arrested after allegedly trespassing at a Gold Coast property in December but was later released without charge.

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While the NRL Integrity Unit’s investigation has not formally concluded, it was believed Fifita would escape sanction over the incident given he was not charged by police.

However the NRL is now probing further after being made aware of a potential compensation payout which could have salary cap implications.

NRL chief Andrew Abdo confirmed the league had not been told about the payment and an investigation was underway.

“This is live at the moment,” he said.

“It is fair to say that we obviously weren’t given all the information by the club in the first instance which we are going to deal with. There is an investigation going on.

“The Fifita case was not totally closed by us.

“We have requested some additional information from the Titans and we will review that information.”

The NRL’s investigation will look into whether the money was paid by Fifita or the Titans given there are potential salary cap implications if the club has made the payment.

If the payment is deemed salary cap compliant, Fifita’s actions are still expected to be re-examined as the NRL investigates what transpired to prompt compensation.

Titans CEO Steve Mitchell would not confirm who made the payment, but was adamant the club hadn’t breached salary cap rules.

“The Integrity Unit has asked for more detail which we are supplying,” he said.

“We are completely salary cap compliant.

“It has been a matter of getting it all put to bed and wrapping it up. There are a couple of small pieces they need which we are providing.

“We are always salary compliant and work very hard at that.”

Fifita was arrested by police about 8am on December 27, following reports of trespassing at an address in Clear Island Waters on the Gold Coast.

He was questioned at Broadbeach police station and released without charge. Fifita was later issued an adult police caution.

The NRL’s Integrity Unit made inquiries but no formal sanctions were announced and the incident was put down to being a mix-up, with reports suggesting Fifita had entered the wrong room of an address he had been invited to.

However, revelations a payment was made have raised further questions about what actually transpired.

On a club record three-year deal, Fifita will pocket $1.25 million this season and is arguably the biggest signing in Titans history, rivalling the failed acquisition of Jarryd Hayne from the NFL in 2016.

Fifita, who turns 21 on Thursday, is scheduled to make his first playing appearance in Titans colours on Saturday night in Lismore when Gold Coast faces New Zealand in a trial match.

He featured for the Indigenous All Stars in last Friday’s game against the Maori All Stars in Townsville, but is yet to play for the Titans.

The NRL’s fresh investigation around their star recruit will be an unwanted distraction for the Titans only two weeks before the 2021 season kicks off.

It is not the first time Fifita has been involved in an incident where money has been exchanged.

In November 2019, while contracted to the Broncos, Fifita was detained in a Bali jail for three days following an incident with a nightclub security guard.

A Broncos employee flew to the Indonesian island immediately to help broker Fifita’s release, which only occurred after a “peace agreement” was reached.

Fifita is believed to have paid $30,000 to secure his release from the jail.

The NRL was made aware of the Bali payment which was paid for by Fifita. There were no salary cap implications due to the transparency.

Fifita was released from the jail after the agreement was finalised and his camp has consistently maintained he was the victim of an extortion plot due to his status as an NRL rising star.

Fifita became the first player born this century to play in the NRL when he made his debut for the Broncos in 2018, playing 11 games in his rookie season.

He played three State of Origin games for Queensland in 2019 but missed last year’s series after undergoing knee surgery following an injury-plagued final season at the Broncos.

In early January, Titans coach Justin Holbrook spoke to media and claimed the Fifita trespassing issue had been “resolved” but would not comment on whether the club imposed any sanctions on their highest-paid player.

“Yeah, I did (speak to him). It’s not good but it’s been resolved now,” he said.

“We’ve got to move on now.”

Fifita made a dramatic shift from the Broncos to Titans in the off-season following an ugly contract spat with Brisbane.

He has only faced the media once since joining the Titans, when he was unveiled in Gold Coast colours last November.

“It feels great to be a Titan,” Fifita said at the time.

“There’s no pressure. I am looking forward to the expectation.

“It’s a new challenge, a new opportunity on the Coast, so all the money stuff, my mum looks after that so I don’t have to worry about that.

“All I need to worry about is getting my body right and ripping in next year.

“It would mean everything to make (the Titans a force). That’s the goal next year — top eight, top four.

“I know myself and the boys will train hard and I can’t wait for round one.

“My ultimate goal is a premiership, 100 per cent.”

It now remains unclear whether he will be allowed to play in Round 1 given the NRL’s hard-line stance on player behaviour.

This RNZ.co.nz story is republished with permission

Two siblings of the latest Covid-19 case from Papatoetoe High School have also tested positive.

Earlier today, the Ministry of Health said a teenager considered to be a casual-plus contact of the community cases had tested positive.

The Papatoetoe High School student had not returned to school on Monday when it reopened, Minister of Covid-19 Response Chris Hipkins said.

The new cases are the siblings of today’s case – a teenager and an infant. The parents and a third older sibling have returned negative tests so far, the ministry said in a statement.

The family has been transferred to the Auckland quarantine facility.

The teenage sibling recently finished school and has been working at Kmart Botany. They were at work on Friday 19 February and Saturday 20 February between 4pm and 10pm.

The ministry said it is now a location of interest and anyone who was there at those times is considered a casual plus contact.

If you are a casual plus contact, you are advised to immediately isolate at home and call Healthline on 0800 358 5453 for advice on isolation timeframes and testing requirements.

Thirty-one staff at Kmart have already been identified as close contacts and are isolating and being provided with public health advice.

Dark Vapes at East Tamaki has also been identified as a location of interest, with a visit on 19 February between 2.30pm and 4pm, and 20 February, between 7pm and 8.30pm.

The up to date locations of interest can be found here.

On the ministry’s website, the advice is for casual plus contacts of these locations to isolate at home for 14 days from date of exposure, have tests at day five and day 12 after exposure, call Healthline 0800 358 5453.

The ministry said more locations of interest for today’s cases were being investigated. The infant does not have childcare outside the home.

A testing centre was set up at the school this afternoon and 672 tests were done today.

Testing will be available again at the school tomorrow for those who were unable to receive it today.

The ministry is advising everyone in a Papatoetoe High School household must stay away from work or any other school, educational facility or community setting (e.g. the supermarket or any other place outside the home).

The school remains closed and no students or staff will be able to return until advised by a Medical Officer of Health.

At this point, household members who are not students or staff do not need to be retested, unless they have symptoms or are asked to do so.

Further updates on contact tracing and genome sequencing of today’s earlier reported case would be available tomorrow, the ministry said.