The government is warning holidaymakers to take precautions as a new Covid-19 variant becomes dominant in the country.
The BA.2.75 variant, which is a strain of Omicron, now makes up 39 percent of sequenced cases, and more than half of the cases in wastewater samples.
It has surpassed the BA.5 variant, which was the main variant of Omicron in New Zealand for five months and was responsible for the second wave in winter.
In an update this week, the Ministry of Health said there were 42,740 new cases of Covid-19 and 64 deaths of people with the virus over the past week.
The ministry said the new BA.2.75 variant looked like it was more transmissible than other strains but more data was needed to be certain.
However, there is no sign it causes more severe illness.
Health officials are urging people to be cautious of Covid-19 while on holiday. Covid-19 Response Minister Ayesha Verrall said people who still have not had a booster shot should get one. She also reminded people that they have to isolate for seven days if they test positive.
It was important everyone played their part, she said.
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