That was the number of Covid-19 cases reported in Otago and Southland yesterday and that record figure came with a warning from the Southern District Health Board that the peak of the pandemic had not been reached.
Disability Information Services access adviser and educator John Marrable said yesterday’s decision by the Government to reduce Covid precautions would leave him and his friends worried.
"We are going to be exposed to a lot of unnecessary risk," Mr Marrable, who is paraplegic, said.
"If you look after the most vulnerable then you are looking after everyone."
Disabled and other vulnerable people were already reluctant to go out in public due to the higher risk of contracting Covid-19.
A loosening of restrictions would mean greater isolation for many, rather than less, Mr Marrable said.
"A lot of us have been avoiding crowds since Covid hit.
"Someone said to me today that this announcement feels like they have forgotten about us."
South Dunedin resident David King, who has a learning disability, was also concerned.
"I’m worried that people with learning disabilities will have more chances to get Covid and get sick," he said.
"I will be more nervous to go out and about.
"I will need to wear a mask and stay away from people."
Dunedin disabilities advocate Chris Ford said he was triple-vaxxed but that did not mean he was immune.
"I am keeping a low profile, and this means I will have to keep on limiting my social contact while we are in the peak period.
"The whole process of the Covid-19 response has been a disabling one and it need not be."
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said yesterday the disabled community had been consulted about the changes.
Grey Power Otago president Jo Millar was relieved vaccine mandates remained for most of the health workforce and also for aged residential care workers.
However, many elderly would be cautious about crowds while Omicron was still present, she said.
"We are also concerned that if anything goes wrong with the reopening of the border then some of our people will be too scared to go out."
SDHB modelling had predicted the South’s Omicron peak could arrive this week.
There were 19 people in hospital in the region, 15 in Dunedin, three in Southland and one in Lakes, but none were in intensive care.
Nationally, 20,087 Covid cases were reported yesterday, as well as 11 deaths.
