Today we are reporting 17,148 community cases, 842 hospitalisations and 34 deaths.

We have seen an increase today in case numbers across most regions of New Zealand, however it’s not unexpected as we generally see lower testing and reporting over weekends.

Despite today's increase, it's encouraging to see the seven day rolling average of cases decline. Today's seven day rolling average is 15,565; this compares with the seven day rolling average of cases as at last Tuesday of 17,020.

Getting boosted continues to be one of the most important ways people can protect themselves from Omicron and severe illness.

There is a much lower risk of being hospitalised if you are up to date with your vaccinations, which, for Omicron, includes a third or booster dose if eligible.

COVID-19 deaths

Today we are sadly reporting the deaths of 34 people with COVID-19.

These deaths take the total number of publicly reported deaths with COVID-19 to 303 and the 7-day rolling average of reported deaths to 15.

The deaths being reported today include people who have died over the past 10 days but were only recently notified to the Ministry. Delays to reporting can be associated with people dying with, rather than of COVID-19, and COVID being discovered after they have died.  

Of the people whose deaths we are reporting today, 2 were from Northland, 17 from the Auckland region, 2 from Waikato, 1 from the Bay of Plenty, 1 from the Lakes DHB, 2 from Hawke’s Bay, 5 from the Wellington region, 3 from Canterbury, and 1 from Southern.

One person was in their 30s, 1 person was in their 50s, 5 were in their 60s, 9 were in their 70s, 7 in their 80s and 11 were in their 90s.

Seventeen were male and 17 were female.

Our thoughts and condolences are with their whānau and friends at this sad time.

Out of respect, we will be making no further comment. 

Vaccinations administered in New Zealand 

• Vaccines administered to date: 4,025,473 first doses; 3,973,987 second doses; 34,240 third primary doses; 2,577,364 booster doses: 258,608 paediatric first doses and 74,744 paediatric second doses  
• Vaccines administered yesterday: 72 first doses; 172 second doses; 18 third primary doses; 2,156 booster doses; 106 paediatric first doses and 2,929 paediatric second doses

People vaccinated  

• All Ethnicities (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 4,055,064 first dose (96.3%); 4,002,382 second dose (95.1%), 2,575,853 boosted (72.7% of those eligible)  
• Māori (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 520,268 first dose (91.1%); 502,638 second dose (88%), 228,308 boosted (57.9% of those eligible)  
• Pacific Peoples (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 281,531 first dose (98.2%); 276,373 second dose (96.4%), 136,072 boosted (59.4% of those eligible)  
• 5 to 11-year-olds all ethnicities: 256,876 first dose (53.9%); 73,090 second dose (15.3%)  
• 5 to 11-year-olds - Māori: 40,245 first dose (34.8%); 8,098 second dose (7%)  
• 5 to 11-year-olds - Pacific Peoples: 23,231 first dose (47%); 3,878 second dose (7.9%) 

Note that the number for “People vaccinated” differs slightly from “Vaccines administered” as it includes those that have been vaccinated overseas.

Vaccination rates for all DHBs*   

• Northland DHB: first dose (90.1%); second dose (87.9%); boosted (69.4%)  
• Auckland Metro DHB: first dose (97.2%); second dose (96.1%); boosted (71.2%)  
• Waikato DHB: first dose (95.1%); second dose (93.5%); boosted (68.3%)  
• Bay of Plenty DHB: first dose (95%); second dose (93.3%); boosted (68.1%)  
• Lakes DHB: first dose (93.2%); second dose (91.4%); boosted (68.5%)  
• MidCentral DHB: first dose (96.5%); second dose (95.2%); boosted (74.2%)  
• Tairāwhiti DHB: first dose (93.2%); second dose (90.9%); boosted (68.6%)  
• Whanganui DHB: first dose (91.9%); second dose (90.4%); boosted (73.5%)  
• Hawke’s Bay DHB: first dose (97.1%); second dose (95.4%); boosted (72.1%)  
• Taranaki DHB: first dose (94.6%); second dose (93.2%); boosted (70.1%)  
• Wairarapa DHB: first dose (96.4%); second dose (95%); boosted (74.8%)  
• Capital & Coast DHB: first dose (98.6%); second dose (97.8%); boosted (81.1%)  
• Hutt Valley DHB: first dose (96.6%); second dose (95.6%); boosted (76.9%)  
• Nelson Marlborough DHB: first dose (96.5%); second dose (95.2%); boosted (75.6%)  
• West Coast DHB: first dose (92.6%); second dose (91.1%); boosted (73.3%)  
• Canterbury DHB: first dose (99.7%); second dose (98.7%); boosted (75.9%)  
• South Canterbury DHB: first dose (94.9%); second dose (93.8%); boosted (76.4%)  
• Southern DHB: first dose (98.2%); second dose (97.1%); boosted (74.9%)

*Partially and second doses percentages are for those 12+. Boosted percentages are for 18+ who have become eligible 3 months after having their second dose

Percentages are based on 2020 HSU data - a health-specific population denominator. As the population continues to change over time, coverage rates can exceed 100%.

Hospitalisations

• Cases in hospital: total number 842: Northland: 26; North Shore: 143; Middlemore: 173; Auckland: 151; Waikato: 75; Bay of Plenty: 28; Lakes: 9; Tairāwhiti: 1, Hawke’s Bay: 41; Taranaki: 17; Whanganui: 8; MidCentral: 19; Hutt Valley: 16; Capital and Coast: 30; Wairarapa: 1; Nelson Marlborough: 11; Canterbury: 64; South Canterbury: 3; West Coast: 3; Southern: 23
• Average age of current hospitalisations: 58
• Cases in ICU or HDU: 26
• Vaccination status of current hospitalisations (Northern Region only, excluding Emergency Departments): Unvaccinated or not eligible (80 cases / 18%); partially immunised <7 days from second dose or have only received one dose (14 cases / 3%); double vaccinated at least 7 days before being reported as a case (122 cases / 27%); Received booster at least 7 days before being reported as a case (168 cases / 37%); unknown (65 cases / 14%)

The figures show that just under 3% of people aged 12 and over in the Northern Region have had no doses of the vaccine, while of those aged 12 and over in Northland and Auckland hospitals with COVID-19 for whom we have vaccination status recorded, 14% have had no doses of the vaccine and are more than four times over-represented in our hospitalisation figures.

Cases 

• Seven day rolling average of community cases: 15,565
• Seven day rolling average (as at Tuesday last week): 17,020
• Number of new community cases: 17,148
• Number of new community cases (PCR): 225
• Number of new community cases (RAT): 16,923
• Location of new community cases (PCR & RAT): Northland (730), Auckland (2,899), Waikato (1,566), Bay of Plenty (967), Lakes (479), Hawke’s Bay (1,015), MidCentral (910), Whanganui (447), Taranaki (706), Tairāwhiti (250), Wairarapa (210), Capital and Coast (1,035), Hutt Valley (617), Nelson Marlborough (690), Canterbury (2,816), South Canterbury (318), Southern (1,404), West Coast (79); Unknown (10)
• Number of new cases identified at the border: 44
• Number of active community cases (total): 108,942 (cases identified in the past 7 days and not yet classified as recovered) 
• Confirmed cases (total): 626,501

Please note, the Ministry of Health’s daily reported cases may differ slightly from those reported at a DHB or local public health unit level. This is because of different reporting cut off times and the assignment of cases between regions, for example when a case is tested outside their usual region of residence. Total numbers will always be the formal daily case tally as reported to the WHO.

Tests 

• Number of PCR tests total (last 24 hours): 2,208
• Number of Rapid Antigen Tests reported total (last 24 hours): 34,977
• PCR tests rolling average (last 7 days): 2,697
• Number of Rapid Antigen Tests dispatched (last 7 days as of 29/03/22): 12.2 million