Today we are reporting 14,120 community cases, 692 hospitalisations and 23 deaths.

Although we have seen a slight increase in case numbers from yesterday, it’s not unexpected as we generally see lower testing and reporting over the weekends. We are continuing to see a decline in the seven-day rolling average of cases. Today's seven-day average is 12,785, while last Tuesday it was 15,565.

Vaccination is still our best defence against COVID-19 and getting boosted is an important way people can protect themselves, their whanau and their friends from the virus.

If you are due for a vaccination, whether it is your second shot or booster, please make an appointment today.

COVID-19 deaths

Today we are sadly reporting the deaths of 23 people with COVID-19. The deaths being reported today include people who have died over the past nine days. 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 428 and the 7-day rolling average of reported deaths is 18.

Of the people whose deaths we are reporting today, eight people were from the Auckland region, six from Waikato, two from Bay of Plenty, two from Lakes, one from Whanganui, two from the Wellington region, one from Canterbury, and one from Southern.

One person was in their 40s, five in their 60s, two in their 70s, eight in their 80s, and seven were over-90.

Ten were women and thirteen were men.

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

Vaccinations administered in New Zealand  

• Vaccines administered to date: 4,025,668 first doses; 3,975,064 second doses; 34,418 third primary doses; 2,590,992 booster doses: 259,550 paediatric first doses and 92,126 paediatric second doses  
• Vaccines administered yesterday: 62 first doses; 161 second doses; 24 third primary doses; 1,735 booster doses; 69 paediatric first doses and 1,232 paediatric second doses  

People vaccinated  

• All Ethnicities (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 4,055,360 first dose (96.3%); 4,002,909 second dose (95.1%), 2,588,768 boosted (72.7% of those eligible)  
• Māori (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 520,446 first dose (91.1%); 503,024 second dose (88.1%), 229,978 boosted (57.5% of those eligible)  
• Pacific Peoples (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 281,583 first dose (98.2%); 276,454 second dose (96.4%), 137,066 boosted (59.3% of those eligible)  
• 5 to 11-year-olds all ethnicities: 257,445 first dose (54.1%); 90,088 second dose (18.9%)  
• 5 to 11-year-olds - Māori: 40,467 first dose (35%); 10,104 second dose (8.7%)  
• 5 to 11-year-olds - Pacific Peoples: 23,313 first dose (47.2%); 4,840 second dose (9.8%)  

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 (69.5%)  
• Auckland Metro DHB: first dose (97.2%); second dose (96.1%); boosted (71.3%)  
• Waikato DHB: first dose (95.1%); second dose (93.5%); 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 (91.3%); boosted (68.4%)  
• MidCentral DHB: first dose (96.5%); second dose (95.2%); boosted (74.1%)  
• Tairāwhiti DHB: first dose (93.2%); second dose (90.9%); boosted (68.3%)  
• 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 (74.7%)  
• 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 (95.1%); 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 (98.7%); boosted (75.9%)  
• South Canterbury DHB: first dose (94.9%); second dose (93.8%); boosted (76.3%)  
• Southern DHB: first dose (98.3%); second dose (97.2%); 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 692: Northland: 31; Waitemata: 105; Counties Manukau: 127; Auckland: 101; Waikato: 77; Bay of Plenty: 35; Lakes: 14; Tairāwhiti: 2; Hawke’s Bay: 28; Taranaki: 11; Whanganui: 4; MidCentral: 21; Wairarapa: 2; Hutt Valley: 15; Capital and Coast: 15; Nelson Marlborough: 13; Canterbury: 49; South Canterbury: 8; West Coast: 5; Southern: 29
• *Average age of current hospitalisations: 58
• Cases in ICU or HDU: 30
• Vaccination status of current hospitalisations (Northern Region only, excluding Emergency Departments): Unvaccinated or not eligible (46 cases / 13.03%); partially immunised <7 days from second dose or have only received one dose (9 cases / 2.55%); double vaccinated at least 7 days before being reported as a case (72 cases / 20.4%); Received booster at least 7 days before being reported as a case (89 cases / 25.21%); unknown (137 cases / 38.81%)

*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: 12,785
• Seven day rolling average (as at same day last week): 15,565
• Number of new community cases: 14,120
• Number of new community cases (PCR): 238
• Number of new community cases (RAT): 13,882
• Location of new community cases (PCR & RAT): Northland (713), Auckland (2,351), Waikato (1,217), Bay of Plenty (742), Lakes (365), Hawke’s Bay (693), MidCentral (773), Whanganui (337), Taranaki (556), Tairāwhiti (178), Wairarapa (128), Capital and Coast (902), Hutt Valley (489), Nelson Marlborough (577), Canterbury (2,225), South Canterbury (279), Southern (1,456), West Coast (127), Unknown (12)
• Number of new cases identified at the border: 48
• Number of active community cases (total): 89,477 (cases identified in the past 7 days and not yet classified as recovered) 
• Confirmed cases (total): 716,151

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): 5,967
• Number of Rapid Antigen Tests reported total (last 24 hours): 23,363
• PCR tests rolling average (last 7 days): 3,377
• Number of Rapid Antigen Tests dispatched (last 7 days as of 4 April 2022): 3.5 million