The Ministry of Health has warned Covid-19 cases could skyrocket over summer months to around 11,000 per day as New Zealand and Central experience the third wave of the virus.

For the Southern region there were 1,793 new cases in the last week, and 1,788 total active cases (as at 11.59pm, November 27). Nationally there has been a spike with 6,000 cases reported on November 29. 

Last Tuesday (November 22) there were 1,247 fewer cases reported. Fifty eight people have died with Covid-19 in the past week. 

Nationally there were 27,076 new cases of Covid-19, and 328 people with the virus are in hospital – ten of them in intensive care.

New variants of Omicron including BQ1.1, BA 2.75 and XBB along with BA.5 and BA.4 have been detected in wastewater testing (see the publicly accessible Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR) Wastewater surveillance dashboard here.)

Otago University epidemiologist Professor Michael Baker is urging caution as the festive season kicks off with workplace Christmas functions and socialising back on the agenda for many people.

Wear your mask to lower your risk of contracting Covid-19 when you are travelling

Tips to minimise the risk of catching Covid-19 over the holiday season include:

• Consider an outside get together in the fresh air; a picnic or backyard frisbee
• Carry out a rapid antigen test (RAT) before attending any function, so you are not unwittingly spreading the virus
• Take your mask and wear it if you will be inside
• Wear your mask while travelling on public transport, including inside at the airport, train station or bus depot
• Stay home if you are sick
• Check if you are eligible for a booster
• Follow isolation rules - stay home for seven days, but it could be longer if your symptoms continue.

Local primary schools are seeing cases crop up in tamariki, but with senior high school students having completed the year already high schools are not seeing the same increase in cases.

Cromwell College principal Mason Stretch said they had six student cases and no staff cases. 

Dunstan High School principal Reece Goldsmith said they have seen a rise in the number of cases but it was nothing like what they were dealing with earlier in 2022.

“We are averaging around one case per day. This includes staff as well as students.

“However, [we have] had a handful of senior students who have needed to apply for derived grades for external exams because they have had to miss exams due to Covid-19.” 

Advice is to keep children with symptoms at home and test them for Covid-19. 

You can collect RAT tests for free from a variety of sites in Central.

Is Covid-19 affecting you or your workplace in the lead up to Christmas? Let our reporters know how you are coping. Email: [email protected]