Today we are reporting 8,531 community cases, 635 hospitalisations and 11 deaths.

Case numbers are continuing to decline, along with the seven-day rolling average. Today's seven-day average is 10,843, while last Saturday it was 13,804.

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

A reminder that people aged 16 and 17 can now receive a free booster dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at least six months after completion of their primary course.

A booster, in addition to first and second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, is the best defence 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. 

So, if you are due for a COVID-19 vaccination, whether it be a second dose or booster, 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 people who have died over the past 14 days. 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 477 and the seven-day rolling average of reported deaths is 14.

Of the people whose deaths we are reporting today, four people were from the Auckland region, one from Waikato, one from the Lakes DHB area, one from Hawke’s Bay, one from Whanganui, two from the Wellington region and one from Canterbury.

Four were aged in their 60s, four in their 80s, and three over 90.

Five were female and six were male.

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

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

Vaccinations administered in New Zealand  

• Vaccines administered to date: 4,025,869 first doses; 3,975,794 second doses; 34,558 third primary doses; 2,598,888 booster doses: 259,919 paediatric first doses and 97,476 paediatric second doses  
• Vaccines administered yesterday: 65 first doses; 163 second doses; 24 third primary doses; 2,257 booster doses; 91 paediatric first doses and 1,589 paediatric second doses   

People vaccinated  

• All Ethnicities (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 4,055,719 first dose (96.4%); 4,005,052 second dose (95.2%), 2,596,399 boosted (72.7% of those eligible)  
• Māori (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 520,621 first dose (91.2%); 503,437 second dose (88.2%), 231,014 boosted (57.3% of those eligible)  
• Pacific Peoples (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 281,659 first dose (98.2%); 276,664 second dose (96.5%), 137,527 boosted (59.2% of those eligible)  
• 5 to 11-year-olds all ethnicities: 257,676 first dose (54.1%); 95,296 second dose (20%)  
• 5 to 11-year-olds - Māori: 40,545 first dose (35.1%); 10,757 second dose (9.3%)  
• 5 to 11-year-olds - Pacific Peoples: 23,335 first dose (47.2%); 5,135 second dose (10.4%)  

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 (95.1%); second dose (93.3%); boosted (67.7%)  
• Lakes DHB: first dose (93.2%); second dose (91.4%); boosted (68.2%)  
• MidCentral DHB: first dose (96.4%); second dose (95.2%); boosted (74%)  
• Tairāwhiti DHB: first dose (93.2%); second dose (90.9%); boosted (68.1%)  
• Whanganui DHB: first dose (91.9%); second dose (90.4%); boosted (73.4%)  
• Hawke’s Bay DHB: first dose (97.1%); second dose (95.5%); boosted (71.9%)  
• Taranaki DHB: first dose (94.6%); second dose (93.2%); boosted (69.9%)  
• Wairarapa DHB: first dose (96.4%); second dose (95%); 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 (76.8%)  
• Nelson Marlborough DHB: first dose (96.4%); second dose (95.2%); boosted (75.2%)  
• West Coast DHB: first dose (92.7%); second dose (91.2%); boosted (73.3%)  
• 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 635: Northland: 26; Waitemata: 96; Counties Manukau: 113; Auckland: 104; Waikato: 77; Bay of Plenty: 27; Lakes: 9; Tairāwhiti: 4; Hawke’s Bay: 15; Taranaki: 11; Whanganui: 9; MidCentral: 24; Wairarapa: 2; Hutt Valley: 15; Capital and Coast: 16; Nelson Marlborough: 11; Canterbury: 45; South Canterbury: 6; West Coast: 1; Southern: 24
• *Average age of current hospitalisations: 58
• Cases in ICU or HDU: 18
• Vaccination status of current hospitalisations (Northern Region only, excluding Emergency Departments): Unvaccinated or not eligible (35 cases / 11%); partially immunised <7 days from second dose or have only received one dose (7 cases / 2%); double vaccinated at least 7 days before being reported as a case (57 cases / 17%); Received booster at least 7 days before being reported as a case (72 cases / 22%); unknown (158 cases / 48%)

*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: 10,843
• Seven day rolling average (as at same day last week): 13,804
• Number of new community cases: 8,531
• Number of new community cases (PCR): 249
• Number of new community cases (RAT): 8,282

• Location of new community cases (PCR & RAT): Northland (479), Auckland (1,456), Waikato (744), Bay of Plenty (408), Lakes (165), Hawke’s Bay (356), MidCentral (425), Whanganui (206), Taranaki (312), Tairāwhiti (80), Wairarapa (79), Capital and Coast (572), Hutt Valley (365), Nelson Marlborough (313), Canterbury (1,343), South Canterbury (162), Southern (991), West Coast (72), Unknown (3)

• Number of new cases identified at the border: 26
• Number of active community cases (total): 75,871 (cases identified in the past 7 days and not yet classified as recovered) 
• Confirmed cases (total): 758,888

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): 2,601
• Number of Rapid Antigen Tests reported total (last 24 hours): 18,498
• PCR tests rolling average (last 7 days): 3,672
• Number of Rapid Antigen Tests dispatched (last 7 days as of 8 April 2022): 3.6 million