Today we are reporting 14,175 community cases, 841 hospitalisations and 20 deaths.

It’s encouraging to see the total number of cases in hospital dropping. This is driven by a decrease in hospitalisations across Auckland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty, some of the first regions to be affected by Omicron. 

However, every hospitalisation is a reminder of the importance of getting vaccinated to prevent severe illness from COVID-19. Vaccine effectiveness for Omicron declines after your second dose, however, a booster restores it to about 90%. 

Our best protection both for ourselves, and for our whānau, is to be up to date with vaccinations – which includes a booster. Often those at the greatest risk of becoming sick with COVID-19 are older family members and those with co-morbidities such as asthma, diabetes, and other long-term conditions.  

So, if you’re due any dose of the vaccine, please get vaccinated this weekend to ensure you are well protected against Omicron.

COVID-19 deaths

Today we are sadly reporting the deaths of 20 people with COVID-19.

These deaths take the total number of publicly reported deaths with COVID-19 to 254 and the 7-day rolling average of reported deaths to 13.

Of these deaths we are reporting today, one person is from Northland, six people are from the Auckland region, five are from Waikato, one is from Bay of Plenty, one is from Tairāwhiti, one is from Hawke’s Bay, two are from in Mid Central, one is from the Wellington region, and one is from Nelson Marlborough.

One of these people was in their 40s, one was in their 50s, three people were in their 60s, five people were in their 70s, six people were in their 80s, and three people were in their 90s.

Twelve were men and seven were women.

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

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

The demographics for one of the deceased are currently unavailable and will be updated online.

Vaccinations administered in New Zealand 

• Vaccines administered to date: 4,025,287 first doses; 3,973,545 second doses; 34,205 third primary doses; 2,571,092 booster doses: 258,035 paediatric first doses and 61,880 paediatric second doses  
• Vaccines administered yesterday: 111 first doses; 244 second doses; 28 third primary doses; 3,332 booster doses; 220 paediatric first doses and 5,389 paediatric second doses  

People vaccinated  

• All Ethnicities (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 4,054,614 first dose (96.3%); 4,001,837 second dose (95.1%), 2,569,716 boosted (72.6% of those eligible)  
• Māori (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 520,203 first dose (91.1%); 502,513 second dose (88%), 227,669 boosted (57.9% of those eligible)  
• Pacific Peoples (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 281,458 first dose (98.2%); 276,282 second dose (96.4%), 135,418 boosted (59.2% of those eligible)  
• 5 to 11-year-olds all ethnicities: 256,593 first dose (53.9%); 60,520 second dose (12.7%)  
• 5 to 11-year-olds - Māori: 40,149 first dose (34.7%); 6,812 second dose (5.9%)  
• 5 to 11-year-olds - Pacific Peoples: 23,169 first dose (46.9%); 3,127 second dose (6.3%)  

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%)  
• Waikato DHB: first dose (95.1%); second dose (93.5%); boosted (68.3%)  
• Bay of Plenty DHB: first dose (95%); second dose (93.2%); boosted (68.1%)  
• Lakes DHB: first dose (93.3%); second dose (91.4%); boosted (68.5%)  
• MidCentral DHB: first dose (96.5%); second dose (95.2%); boosted (74.1%)  
• Tairāwhiti DHB: first dose (93.2%); second dose (90.9%); boosted (68.7%)  
• Whanganui DHB: first dose (91.9%); second dose (90.3%); boosted (73.5%)  
• Hawke’s Bay DHB: first dose (97%); second dose (95.3%); boosted (72%)  
• Taranaki DHB: first dose (94.6%); second dose (93.1%); boosted (70%)  
• Wairarapa DHB: first dose (96.4%); second dose (94.9%); 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 (76.8%)  
• Nelson Marlborough DHB: first dose (96.4%); second dose (95.2%); boosted (75.6%)  
• West Coast DHB: first dose (92.6%); second dose (91.1%); boosted (73.4%)  
• Canterbury DHB: first dose (99.6%); second dose (98.7%); boosted (75.8%)  
• South Canterbury DHB: first dose (94.9%); second dose (93.8%); boosted (76.4%)  
• Southern DHB: first dose (98.1%); second dose (97%); 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 841: Northland: 33; North Shore: 141; Middlemore: 187; Auckland: 144; Waikato: 51; Bay of Plenty: 35; Lakes: 13; Tairāwhiti: 3, Hawke’s Bay: 44; Taranaki: 12; Whanganui: 3; MidCentral: 20; Hutt Valley: 15; Capital and Coast: 38; Wairarapa: 3; Nelson Marlborough: 12; Canterbury: 57; South Canterbury: 1; West Coast: 1; Southern: 28
• Average age of current hospitalisations: 58
• Cases in ICU or HDU: 27
• Vaccination status of current hospitalisations (Northern Region only, excluding Emergency Departments): Unvaccinated or not eligible (94 cases / 19.46%); partially immunised <7 days from second dose or have only received one dose (17 cases / 3.52%); double vaccinated at least 7 days before being reported as a case (160 cases / 33.13%); Received booster at least 7 days before being reported as a case (190 cases / 39.34%); unknown (22 cases / 4.55%)

The figures show that almost 4% 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, 17.8% 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: 16,943
• Number of new community cases: 14,175
• Number of new community cases (PCR): 330
• Number of new community cases (RAT): 13,845
• Location of new community cases (PCR & RAT): Northland (517), Auckland (2,652), Waikato (1,305), Bay of Plenty (878), Lakes (392), Hawke’s Bay (770), MidCentral (707), Whanganui (322), Taranaki (513), Tairāwhiti (196), Wairarapa (196), Capital and Coast (869), Hutt Valley (474), Nelson Marlborough (599), Canterbury (2,402), South Canterbury (215), Southern (1101), West Coast (52); Unknown (15)
• Number of new cases identified at the border: 37
• Number of active community cases (total): 118,592 (cases identified in the past 7 days and not yet classified as recovered) 
• Confirmed cases (total): 586,157

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): 3,072
• Number of Rapid Antigen Tests reported total (last 24 hours): 29,502
• PCR tests rolling average (last 7 days): 2,720
• Number of Rapid Antigen Tests dispatched (last 7 days as of 24/03/22): 19.7 million (Please note that this number is not updated over the weekend and reflects the number of tests as of Friday).