Today we are reporting 7,592 community cases, 640 hospitalisations and 11 deaths.

The seven-day rolling average of case numbers continues to decline, with today's seven-day rolling average at 10,169 – last Monday it was 13,218.

The number of reported community cases is expected to continue to fluctuate day to day, and is usually lower over the weekend with less reporting of results and testing.

While overall the number of community cases is trending downwards, please continue to follow public health advice to stay at home, away from school or work if you are feeling unwell and, when not at home, use a mask in indoor settings to protect yourself and others.

Vaccination remains our best defence against COVID-19 and a booster, in addition to first and second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, will give you greater immunity against 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. 

If you or your whānau are due for a COVID-19 vaccination, please make an appointment today.

COVID-19 deaths

Today we are sadly reporting the deaths of 11 people with COVID-19. The deaths being reported today include 10 people who have died in the past three days and one person who died 12 days ago. Delays to reporting can be associated with people dying with COVID-19, rather than from COVID-19, and COVID-19 being discovered only after they have died.  

These deaths take the total number of publicly reported deaths with COVID-19 to 500 and the seven-day rolling average of reported deaths is 14.

Of the people whose deaths we are reporting today, three people were from the Auckland region, three from Waikato, one from Hawke’s Bay, one from Taranaki, one from the Wellington region, and two from Canterbury.

Two were aged in their 60s, three in their 70s, three in their 80s, and three over 90.

Five were female and six were male.

This is a very sad time for whānau and friends and our thoughts are with them.

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

 Vaccinations administered in New Zealand  

• Vaccines administered to date: 4,025,932 first doses; 3,976,023 second doses; 34,567 third primary doses; 2,601,940 booster doses: 260,147 paediatric first doses and 100,609 paediatric second doses  
• Vaccines administered yesterday: 17 first doses; 85 second doses; 1 third primary doses; 860 booster doses; 44 paediatric first doses and 842 paediatric second doses  

People vaccinated  

• All Ethnicities (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 4,055,815 first dose (96.4%); 4,005,306 second dose (95.2%), 2,599,366 boosted (72.7% of those eligible)  
• Māori (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 520,647 first dose (91.2%); 503,485 second dose (88.2%), 231,430 boosted (57.2% of those eligible)  
• Pacific Peoples (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 281,686 first dose (98.3%); 276,705 second dose (96.5%), 138,003 boosted (59.2% of those eligible)  
• 5 to 11-year-olds all ethnicities: 257,813 first dose (54.1%); 98,343 second dose (20.6%)  
• 5 to 11-year-olds - Māori: 40,614 first dose (35.1%); 11,175 second dose (9.7%)  
• 5 to 11-year-olds - Pacific Peoples: 23,375 first dose (47.3%); 5,426 second dose (11%)  

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 (69.4%)  
• Auckland Metro DHB: first dose (97.2%); second dose (96.2%); boosted (71.4%)  
• Waikato DHB: first dose (95.1%); second dose (93.6%); boosted (68.3%)  
• Bay of Plenty DHB: first dose (95.1%); second dose (93.4%); boosted (67.6%)  
• Lakes DHB: first dose (93.2%); second dose (91.4%); boosted (68.1%)  
• MidCentral DHB: first dose (96.4%); second dose (95.2%); boosted (74%)  
• Tairāwhiti DHB: first dose (93.2%); second dose (90.9%); boosted (68%)  
• Whanganui DHB: first dose (91.9%); second dose (90.4%); boosted (73.2%)  
• Hawke’s Bay DHB: first dose (97.1%); second dose (95.5%); boosted (71.8%)  
• Taranaki DHB: first dose (94.6%); second dose (93.2%); boosted (69.8%)  
• Wairarapa DHB: first dose (96.4%); second dose (95%); boosted (74.5%)  
• 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 (76.8%)  
• Nelson Marlborough DHB: first dose (96.4%); second dose (95.2%); boosted (75.1%)  
• West Coast DHB: first dose (92.7%); second dose (91.2%); boosted (73.1%)  
• Canterbury DHB: first dose (99.7%); second dose (98.8%); boosted (75.9%)  
• South Canterbury DHB: first dose (94.8%); second dose (93.8%); boosted (76.3%)  
• Southern DHB: first dose (98.5%); second dose (97.4%); boosted (74.8%)

*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 640: Northland: 24; Waitemata: 102; Counties Manukau: 111; Auckland: 102; Waikato: 63; Bay of Plenty: 35; Lakes: 6; Tairāwhiti: 3; Hawke’s Bay: 19; Taranaki: 11; Whanganui: 11; MidCentral: 23; Wairarapa: 3; Hutt Valley: 16; Capital and Coast: 16; Nelson Marlborough: 13; Canterbury: 46; South Canterbury: 6; West Coast: 1; Southern: 29
• *Average age of current hospitalisations: 59
• Cases in ICU or HDU: 23
• Vaccination status of current hospitalisations (Northern Region only, excluding Emergency Departments): Unvaccinated or not eligible (34 cases / 10%); partially immunised <7 days from second dose or have only received one dose (8 cases / 2%); double vaccinated at least 7 days before being reported as a case (54 cases / 16%); Received booster at least 7 days before being reported as a case (72 cases / 22%); unknown (165 cases / 50%)

*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: 10,169
• Seven day rolling average (as at same day last week): 13,218
• Number of new community cases: 7,592
• Number of new community cases (PCR): 129
• Number of new community cases (RAT): 7,463

• Location of new community cases (PCR & RAT): Northland (312), Auckland (1,378), Waikato (667), Bay of Plenty (309), Lakes (150), Hawke’s Bay (284), MidCentral (350), Whanganui (138), Taranaki (248), Tairāwhiti (69), Wairarapa (89), Capital and Coast (549), Hutt Valley (332), Nelson Marlborough (270), Canterbury (1,286), South Canterbury (153), Southern (937), West Coast (68), Unknown (3)

• Number of new cases identified at the border: 39
• Number of active community cases (total): 71,167 cases identified in the past 7 days and not yet classified as recovered) 
• Confirmed cases (total): 773,227

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): 999
• Number of Rapid Antigen Tests reported total (last 24 hours): 14,342
• PCR tests rolling average (last 7 days): 3,534
• Number of Rapid Antigen Tests dispatched (last 7 days as of 8 April 2022): 3.7 million