Today we are reporting 12,575 community cases, 654 hospitalisations and 15 deaths.

It's encouraging to see case numbers continuing to decline. This supports the trend we are seeing across the seven-day rolling average. Today's seven-day average is 12,307, while last Wednesday it was 14,969.

From tomorrow, people aged 16 and 17 will be able to receive a free booster dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at least six months after completion of their primary course.

A booster dose is particularly recommended for 16 and 17-year-olds who are at higher risk of severe COVID-19 symptoms and hospitalisation. This includes those who are immunocompromised (or living with a family member who is immunocompromised) and Māori and Pacific rangatahi.

A booster, in addition to first and second doses of the vaccine, is the best defence against Omicron.

COVID-19 deaths

Today we are sadly reporting the deaths of 15 people with COVID-19. The deaths being reported today include people who have died over the previous four weeks. Delays to reporting can be associated with people dying with COVID-19, rather than from COVID-19, and COVID being discovered only after they have died.  

These deaths take the total number of publicly reported deaths with COVID-19 to 443 and the 7-day rolling average of reported deaths is 18.

Of the people whose deaths we are reporting today, three people were from the Auckland region, five from Waikato, one from Taranaki, one from Whanganui, one from MidCentral, one from Nelson Marlborough, one from West Coast, one from Canterbury, and one from South Canterbury.

Two were in their 60s, two in their 70s, four in their 80s, and seven were over 90.

Six were women and nine were men.

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

Vaccinations administered in New Zealand  

• Vaccines administered to date: 4,025,689 first doses; 3,975,237 second doses; 34,452 third primary doses; 2,592,636 booster doses: 259,643 paediatric first doses and 93,371 paediatric second doses  
• Vaccines administered yesterday: 81 first doses; 182 second doses; 27 third primary doses; 1,621 booster doses; 88 paediatric first doses and 1,243 paediatric second doses  

People vaccinated  

• All Ethnicities (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 4,055,452 first dose (96.4%); 4,004,440 second dose (95.1%), 2,590,320 boosted (72.7% of those eligible)  
• Māori (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 520,482 first dose (91.1%); 503,225 second dose (88.1%), 230,194 boosted (57.5% of those eligible)  
• Pacific Peoples (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 281,599 first dose (98.2%); 276,586 second dose (96.5%), 137,151 boosted (59.3% of those eligible)  
• 5 to 11-year-olds all ethnicities: 257,498 first dose (54.1%); 91,293 second dose (19.2%)  
• 5 to 11-year-olds - Māori: 40,484 first dose (35%); 10,259 second dose (8.9%)  
• 5 to 11-year-olds - Pacific Peoples: 23,323 first dose (47.2%); 4,905 second dose (9.9%)  

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 (88%); boosted (69.5%)  
• Auckland Metro DHB: first dose (97.2%); second dose (96.1%); boosted (71.3%)  
• Waikato DHB: first dose (95.1%); second dose (93.6%); boosted (68.4%)  
• Bay of Plenty DHB: first dose (95%); second dose (93.3%); boosted (67.8%)  
• Lakes DHB: first dose (93.2%); second dose (91.4%); boosted (68.3%)  
• MidCentral DHB: first dose (96.5%); second dose (95.2%); boosted (74.1%)  
• Tairāwhiti DHB: first dose (93.2%); second dose (90.9%); boosted (68.2%)  
• Whanganui DHB: first dose (91.9%); second dose (90.4%); boosted (73.4%)  
• Hawke’s Bay DHB: first dose (97.1%); second dose (95.4%); boosted (71.9%)  
• Taranaki DHB: first dose (94.6%); second dose (93.2%); boosted (70%)  
• Wairarapa DHB: first dose (96.4%); second dose (94.9%); boosted (74.8%)  
• Capital & Coast DHB: first dose (98.5%); 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 (96.4%); second dose (95.2%); boosted (75.4%)  
• West Coast DHB: first dose (92.6%); second dose (91.1%); boosted (73.4%)  
• Canterbury DHB: first dose (99.7%); second dose (98.8%); boosted (75.9%)  
• South Canterbury DHB: first dose (94.9%); second dose (93.8%); boosted (76.4%)  
• Southern DHB: first dose (98.4%); second dose (97.3%); 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 654: Northland: 25; Waitemata: 100; Counties Manukau: 124; Auckland: 94; Waikato: 57; Bay of Plenty: 36; Lakes: 12; Tairāwhiti: 4; Hawke’s Bay: 25; Taranaki: 15; Whanganui: 8; MidCentral: 18; Wairarapa: 2; Hutt Valley: 15; Capital and Coast: 15; Nelson Marlborough: 13; Canterbury: 57; South Canterbury: 8; West Coast: 2; Southern: 24
• *Average age of current hospitalisations: 57
• Cases in ICU or HDU: 23
• Vaccination status of current hospitalisations (Northern Region only, excluding Emergency Departments): Unvaccinated or not eligible (44 cases / 13.34%); partially immunised <7 days from second dose or have only received one dose (10 cases / 3.03%); double vaccinated at least 7 days before being reported as a case (67 cases / 20.3%); Received booster at least 7 days before being reported as a case (80 cases / 24.24%); unknown (129 cases / 39.09%)

*Please note the average age of current hospitalisations is for the Northern Region admissions only at this stage. This data is recorded and extracted from the same source as the vaccination status of patients in Northern Region hospitals.

We are currently working on a data solution which would include the average age of current hospitalisations from additional DHBs.

Cases 

• Seven day rolling average of community cases: 12,307
• Seven day rolling average (as at same day last week): 14,969
• Number of new community cases: 12,575
• Number of new community cases (PCR): 298
• Number of new community cases (RAT): 12,277

• Location of new community cases (PCR & RAT): Northland (619), Auckland (2,147), Waikato (1,101), Bay of Plenty (604), Lakes (299), Hawke’s Bay (602), MidCentral (678), Whanganui (321), Taranaki (437), Tairāwhiti (128), Wairarapa (149), Capital and Coast (775), Hutt Valley (464), Nelson Marlborough (436), Canterbury (2,108), South Canterbury (249), Southern (1,368), West Coast (81), Unknown (9)

• Number of new cases identified at the border: 43
• Number of active community cases (total): 86,122 (cases identified in the past 7 days and not yet classified as recovered) 
• Confirmed cases (total): 728,764

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): 7,727
• Number of Rapid Antigen Tests reported total (last 24 hours): 24,520
• PCR tests rolling average (last 7 days): 4,015
• Number of Rapid Antigen Tests dispatched (last 7 days as of 5 April 2022): 3 million