There are 8,529 new cases being reported in the Auckland Region today, representing 56 percent of the total new cases – down from 61 percent of total new cases a week ago. This number is still high and the outbreak is still very active in the Auckland region, but numbers have levelled off there in the last week. We will know in the next few days if this signals that the outbreak has peaked there.

The number of people in hospital with COVID-19 remains steady, with 19 people now in an intensive care unit (ICU) or high dependency unit (HDU). This represents 2.5 percent of current hospitalisations, around one fifth of the rate seen at the peak of the Delta outbreak when 13 percent of hospitalised people required ICU or HDU care.

Once again, most cases today are a result of people reporting positive rapid antigen tests (RATs). It is very important for people to record positive RAT results, either through ‘My Covid Record’ or by calling 0800 222 478. Thank you to all those who have tested and reported their results to date.

COVID-19 related deaths

Sadly, we are today reporting the deaths of four people with COVID-19. Of these people, two deaths occurred in Lakes, one in Tairāwhiti, and one in Counties Manukau.

Our thoughts and condolences are with the patients’ family and friends.

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

COVID-19 vaccine update

Vaccinations administered in New Zealand  

• Vaccines administered to date: 4,021,832 first doses; 3,965,736 second doses; 34,147 third primary doses; 2,479,546 booster doses: 250,933 paediatric first doses and 5,746 paediatric second doses  
• Vaccines administered yesterday: 231 first doses; 987 second doses; 68 third primary doses; 9,226 booster doses; 628 paediatric first doses and 245 paediatric second doses.  

People vaccinated  

• All Ethnicities (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 4,067,123 first dose (96.6%); 4,008,592 second dose (95.2%), 2,481,185 boosted (72.5% of those eligible)  
• Māori (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 520,382 first dose (91.1%); 500,973 second dose (87.7%), 215,652 boosted (59.9% of those eligible)  
• Pacific Peoples (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 281,376 first dose (98.1%); 275,617 second dose (96.1%), 129,130 boosted (59.5% of those eligible)  
• 5 to 11-year-olds all ethnicities: 250,762 first dose (52.6%); 5,658 second dose (1.2%)  
• 5 to 11-year-olds - Māori: 38,362 first dose (33.2%); 936 second dose (0.8%)  
• 5 to 11-year-olds - Pacific Peoples: 22,355 first dose (45.3%); 689 second dose (1.4%).  

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 (90.4%); second dose (88.1%); boosted (70.2%)  
• Auckland Metro DHB: first dose (97.4%); second dose (96.2%); boosted (70.3%)  
• Waikato DHB: first dose (95.4%); second dose (93.7%); boosted (68.5%)  
• Bay of Plenty DHB: first dose (95.4%); second dose (93.5%); boosted (69.2%)  
• Lakes DHB: first dose (93.7%); second dose (91.6%); boosted (69.7%)  
• MidCentral DHB: first dose (96.9%); second dose (95.4%); boosted (74.8%)  
• Tairāwhiti DHB: first dose (93.5%); second dose (91%); boosted (70%)  
• Whanganui DHB: first dose (92.5%); second dose (90.7%); boosted (74.6%)  
• Hawke’s Bay DHB: first dose (97.4%); second dose (95.5%); boosted (72.6%)  
• Taranaki DHB: first dose (94.9%); second dose (93.3%); boosted (69.7%)  
• Wairarapa DHB: first dose (96.8%); second dose (95.2%); boosted (75.8%)  
• Capital & Coast DHB: first dose (98.8%); second dose (98%); boosted (80.9%)  
• Hutt Valley DHB: first dose (97%); second dose (95.8%); boosted (77.1%)  
• Nelson Marlborough DHB: first dose (97%); second dose (95.6%); boosted (76.3%)  
• West Coast DHB: first dose (93.1%); second dose (91.3%); boosted (74.7%)  
• Canterbury DHB: first dose (99.9%); second dose (98.8%); boosted (75.1%)  
• South Canterbury DHB: first dose (95.5%); second dose (94.3%); boosted (76.6%)  
• Southern DHB: first dose (98.3%); second dose (97%); boosted (75%)

*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

Hospitalisations*

• Cases in hospital: total number 742: **Auckland region: 507; Waikato: 67; BOP: 26; Rotorua: 7; Tairāwhiti: 3, Hawke’s Bay: 17; Taranaki: 5; MidCentral: 18; Whanganui: 2; Wairarapa: 8; Hutt Valley: 12; Capital and Coast: 38; Nelson Marlborough: 3; Canterbury: 18; Timaru: 2; Southern: 9.
• Average age of current hospitalisations: 57
• Cases in ICU or HDU: 19
• Vaccination status of current hospitalisations (Northern Region only, excluding Emergency Departments): Unvaccinated or not eligible (93 cases / 17.31%); partially immunised <7 days from second dose or have only received one dose (15 cases / 2.79%); double vaccinated at least 7 days before being reported as a case (209 cases / 38.92%); Received booster at least 7 days before being reported as a case (132 cases / 24.58%); unknown (88 cases / 16.39%)

**Please note we are waiting on hospital data for Northland and Auckland DHBs.

*While still early in the Omicron outbreak, the figures show that, based on the data available, just 3% of eligible people aged 12 and over in New Zealand have had no doses of the vaccine, however, of those aged 12 and over in Northland and Auckland hospitals with COVID-19 for whom we have vaccination status recorded, 19% have had no doses of the vaccine.

Cases

• Seven day rolling average of community cases: 18,800
• Number of new community cases: 22,454
• Number of new community cases (PCR): 558
• Number of new community cases (RAT): 21,896
• Location of new community cases (PCR & RAT): Northland (716), Auckland (8,529), Waikato (2,109), Bay of Plenty (1,427), Lakes (633), Hawke’s Bay (707), MidCentral (655), Whanganui (202), Taranaki (536), Tairāwhiti (373), Wairarapa (166), Capital and Coast (1,879), Hutt Valley (1,062), Nelson Marlborough (452), Canterbury (2,024), South Canterbury (120), Southern (835), West Coast (20); Unknown (9)
• Number of new cases identified at the border: 12
• Number of active community cases (total): 202,141 (cases identified in the past 10 days and not yet classified as recovered) 
• Confirmed cases (total): 285,906

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): 4,719
• PCR tests rolling average (last 7 days up to 03/03): 10,460
• Number of Rapid Antigen Tests dispatched (last 7 days): 12.2 million (note:  due to a system issue, this number has not been updated since yesterday)