Video / NZ HeraldBy RNZEpidemiologist Michael Baker is predicting New Zealand's Covid-19 case numbers will rise again over the coming months - resulting in increased hospitalisations and deaths. Baker said he was not surprised at confirmation yesterday that the BA.5 variant had entered Aotearoa, and expected it has already spread into the community. Baker said new variants were among several factors that would force our Covid-19 numbers upwards this winter. It's just that because we've got high vaccine coverage in New Zealand, although we've got some gaps, that's what's protecting us from the worst of it." Baker said case numbers were already showing signs of a rise, with new cases in Auckland growing 12 percent a week for the last three weeks.

Source: New Zealand Herald May 09, 2022 05:42 UTC