133 Molesworth Street
PO Box 5013
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
T+64 4 496 2000
5 October 2021
Jessica Patterson
By email: [FYI request #16796 email]
Ref:
H202112742
Tēnā koe Jessica
Response to your request for official information
Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) to the Ministry of
Health (the Ministry) on 19 September 2021 for information regarding COVID-19 cases. Please
find a response to each part of your request below.
“I would like to request the number of children, who have been recorded as COVID cases,
that were asymptomatic and if they were not asymptomatic how many had previous
underlying health conditions in New Zealand.”
As of 19 September 2021, New Zealand has had 489 cases of COVID-19 in children aged 12
and under. Please note, symptomaticity information is not always recorded in the data sources
available.
Of the 489 cases, 179 have been classified as asymptomatic, 270 have been classified
symptomatic and 40 are missing information on symptomaticity. Of the 270 symptomatic
children, 24 had underlying health conditions.
You may be interested in details of confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 in New Zealand
on the Ministry’s website here:
www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-
novel-coronavirus/covid-19-data-and-statistics/covid-19-case-demographics.
“I would also like to know how many of the COVID cases in New Zealand since August
the 1st 2021, have been asymptomatic.”
There have been 1213 COVID-19 cases (community and border) reported between 1 August
2021 and 9 am 19 September 2021. Of the 1213 cases, 259 have been classified as
asymptomatic, 835 have been classified as symptomatic, and 119 are missing information on
symptomaticity.
I trust this information fulfils your request. Under section 28(3) of the Act, you have the right to
ask the Ombudsman to review any decisions made under this request. The Ombudsman may
be contacted by email at:
[email address] or by calling 0800 802 602.
Please note that this response, with your personal details removed, may be published on the
Ministry of Health website at:
www.health.govt.nz/about-ministry/information-releases.
Nāku noa, nā
Gill Hall
Group Manager, COVID-19 Science and Insights
COVID-19 Health System Response
