Today we are reporting 15,250 community cases, 830 hospitalisations and 22 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 rolling average is 14,515; this compares with the seven-day rolling average of cases as at last Wednesday of 16,949.

Getting boosted continues to be one of the most important ways people can protect themselves from 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.

Our national vaccination programme continues, with many opportunities around the country.

As an example, today Randwick Park Community Centre in Manurewa is hosting a pop-up vaccination event between 2pm and 7pm. Parents and caregivers in South Auckland are warmly encouraged to come along for their booster, and also bring along their 5- to 11-year-olds after school to get immunised against COVID-19.

COVID-19 deaths

Today we are sadly reporting the deaths of 22 people with COVID-19. The deaths being reported today include people who have died over the past four weeks but were only recently notified to the Ministry. Delays to reporting can be associated with people dying with, rather than of 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 338 and the 7-day rolling average of reported deaths is 17. Note, one previously reported death is being removed from total as it was reported twice.

Of the people whose deaths we are reporting today, one was from Northland, ten were from the Auckland region, one was from Waikato, two were from Bay of Plenty, two were from the Lakes DHB, two were from the Wellington region, and four were from Canterbury.

Two people were in their 50s, four people were in their 60s, Three people were in their 70s, six in their 80s and seven were over-90.

Fifteen were female and seven were male.

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

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

Vaccinations administered in New Zealand  

• Vaccines administered to date: 4,025,686 first doses; 3,974,426 second doses; 34,279 third primary doses; 2,581,970 booster doses: 258,877 paediatric first doses and 80,070 paediatric second doses  
• Vaccines administered yesterday: 133 first doses; 213 second doses; 34 third primary doses; 2,123 booster doses; 146 paediatric first doses and 2,437 paediatric second doses  

People vaccinated  

• All Ethnicities (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 4,055,392 first dose (96.3%); 4,002,752 second dose (95.1%), 2,580,318 boosted (72.8% of those eligible)  
• Māori (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 520,376 first dose (91.1%); 502,818 second dose (88.1%), 228,919 boosted (57.9% of those eligible)  
• Pacific Peoples (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 281,543 first dose (98.2%); 276,411 second dose (96.4%), 136,337 boosted (59.4% of those eligible)  
• 5 to 11-year-olds all ethnicities: 257,027 first dose (54%); 78,305 second dose (16.4%)  
• 5 to 11-year-olds - Māori: 40,298 first dose (34.9%); 8,772 second dose (7.6%)  
• 5 to 11-year-olds - Pacific Peoples: 23,252 first dose (47.1%); 4,163 second dose (8.4%)  

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 (69.6%)  
• Auckland Metro DHB: first dose (97.2%); second dose (96.1%); boosted (71.2%)  
• 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 (68.1%)  
• Lakes DHB: first dose (93.2%); second dose (91.4%); boosted (68.5%)  
• MidCentral DHB: first dose (96.5%); second dose (95.2%); boosted (74.2%)  
• Tairāwhiti DHB: first dose (93.2%); second dose (90.9%); boosted (68.6%)  
• Whanganui DHB: first dose (91.9%); second dose (90.4%); boosted (73.5%)  
• Hawke’s Bay DHB: first dose (97.1%); second dose (95.4%); boosted (72.1%)  
• Taranaki DHB: first dose (94.6%); second dose (93.2%); boosted (70.2%)  
• Wairarapa DHB: first dose (96.4%); second dose (94.9%); boosted (74.9%)  
• Capital & Coast DHB: first dose (98.6%); second dose (97.8%); boosted (81.2%)  
• Hutt Valley DHB: first dose (96.6%); second dose (95.6%); boosted (77%)  
• Nelson Marlborough DHB: first dose (96.5%); second dose (95.2%); boosted (75.6%)  
• West Coast DHB: first dose (92.6%); second dose (91.1%); boosted (73.5%)  
• 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 (76.5%)  
• Southern DHB: first dose (98.2%); second dose (97.1%); 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 830: Northland: 38; North Shore: 128; Middlemore: 163; Auckland: 142; Waikato: 89; Bay of Plenty: 23; Lakes: 17; Tairāwhiti: 3, Hawke’s Bay: 31; Taranaki: 19; Whanganui: 6; MidCentral: 23; Hutt Valley: 19; Capital and Coast: 22; Wairarapa: 2; Nelson Marlborough: 15; Canterbury: 54; South Canterbury: 7; West Coast: 1; Southern: 28
• Average age of current hospitalisations: 56
• Cases in ICU or HDU: 28
• Vaccination status of current hospitalisations (Northern Region only, excluding Emergency Departments): Unvaccinated or not eligible 62 cases / 13.8%); partially immunised <7 days from second dose or have only received one dose (14 cases / 3.1%); double vaccinated at least 7 days before being reported as a case (110 cases / 24.6%); Received booster at least 7 days before being reported as a case (145 cases / 32.4%); unknown (116 cases / 26%)

Cases 

• Seven day rolling average of community cases: 14,515
• Seven day rolling average (as at Thursday last week): 16,949
• Number of new community cases: 15,250
• Number of new community cases (PCR): 368
• Number of new community cases (RAT): 14,882
• Location of new community cases (PCR & RAT): Northland (662), Auckland (2,708), Waikato (1,352), Bay of Plenty (825), Lakes (348), Hawke’s Bay (917), MidCentral (812), Whanganui (360), Taranaki (608), Tairāwhiti (201), Wairarapa (146), Capital and Coast (1,009), Hutt Valley (587), Nelson Marlborough (729), Canterbury (2,379), South Canterbury (305), Southern (1,212), West Coast (77); Unknown (13)
• Number of new cases identified at the border: 39
• Number of active community cases (total): 101,594 (cases identified in the past 7 days and not yet classified as recovered) 
• Confirmed cases (total): 657,723

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): 3,720
• Number of Rapid Antigen Tests reported total (last 24 hours): 30,153
• PCR tests rolling average (last 7 days): 2,729
• Number of Rapid Antigen Tests dispatched (last 7 days as of 29/03/22): 8.6 million