Total covid cases for Central continue to increase incrementally this week, up by 12 from last week's figures. 

Southern District Health Board figures show 679 new Covid-19 cases as of Wednesday (June 29). For Central there are 256 total active cases (June 29).

A map showing the distribution of cases in the Southern region. PHOTO: SDHB

Date figures released Total active Covid-19 cases in Central 

June 29 256

June 22 244

June 15  216

June 8  190

June 3 165

Total cases for other areas in Southern are for Dunedin 1,666; Queenstown Lakes 426; Invercargill 375; Waitaki 279; Southland 189; Clutha 122 and Gore 92 cases.

Radio NZ said the SDHB has the highest number of cases per 100k population.

The Ministry of Health reported two deaths yesterday of people with Covid-19 in the Southern region.

Visiting restrictions have returned to Dunedin hospital’s ward 4C following a Covid-19 related exposure event.

A spokesperson for SDHB said their priority is patient safety.

“We apologise for the inconvenience to patients on Ward 4C and their families. We know this is distressing for them and we thanks everyone for supporting our health care team to keep our community safe.”

General visiting at Dunedin hospital remains from 2pm daily, and visiting is available on compassionate grounds. People need to contact ward 4C for details. 

SDHB reminded residents that a second booster is available to anyone aged 50 and over and healthcare and aged residential care workers aged 30 and over.

The booster is strongly recommended for: people aged 65 years and over; Māori and Pacific peoples aged 50 years and over; residents of aged care and disability care facilities; severely immunocompromised people who received a three-dose primary course and a fourth dose as a first booster (noting this would be a fifth dose for these people); people aged 16 years and over who have a medical condition that increases the risk of severe breakthrough Covid-19 illness; and people aged 16 years and over who live with disability with significant or complex health needs or multiple comorbidities.

Second boosters are not recommended for healthy pregnant people.

You can book your second booster through bookmyvaccine.co.nz now.