Today we are reporting 9,570 community cases, 425 hospitalisations and 32 deaths.

The seven-day rolling average of community case numbers is 8,024 – last Wednesday it was 7,533.

Getting vaccinated and practicing good public health behaviours are two of the most effective ways to avoid getting COVID-19 this winter and minimise the impacts of the virus.

Stay home and avoid others if you’re unwell, isolating or awaiting results of a COVID-19 test.

Masks are still required in many indoor settings. Wearing a mask halves the risk of spread of COVID-19 and so it is also encouraged in settings where social distancing isn’t practical. You must also wear a face mask on flights and public transport, and in taxi and ride-share services — unless you are exempt.

COVID-19 deaths
Today we are sadly reporting the deaths of 32 people with COVID-19. The total number of deaths is up by 31 from yesterday as we have removed a case which had been previous reported twice. This case was initially reported on 10 March.

The deaths being reported today include people who have died over the previous six weeks, since 5 April.

These deaths take the total number of publicly reported deaths with COVID-19 to 1,017 and the 7-day rolling average of reported deaths is 17.

Of the people whose deaths we are reporting today; two people were from Northland; nine from the Auckland region; two from Bay of Plenty; two from Taranaki; one from Tairawhiti; four from MidCentral; two from Hawke’s Bay; three from the Wellington region; one from Nelson-Marlborough; four from Canterbury and two from Southern.

One person was in their 20s; four people were in their 40s; two in their 50s; four in their sixties; nine in their 70s; nine in their 80s and three were aged over 90.

Of these people, ten were women and twenty-two were men.

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

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

We have today published an update on the reporting of COVID-19 deaths, which includes a breakdown of people who have died with COVID-19 as an underlying cause of death and those who have died with COVID-19 as a contributing cause of death.

Vaccinations administered in New Zealand 
Vaccines administered to date: 4,027,069 first doses; 3,978,904 second doses; 32,175 third primary doses; 2,647,144 booster doses: 262,331 paediatric first doses and 121,234 paediatric second doses 
Vaccines administered yesterday: 40 first doses; 57 second doses; 27 third primary doses; 925 booster doses; 36 paediatric first doses and 170 paediatric second doses 
People vaccinated 
All Ethnicities (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 4,054,940 first dose (96.3%); 4,006,112 second dose (95.2%), 2,640,839 boosted (70.7% of those eligible) 
Māori (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 521,130 first dose (91.3%); 504,294 second dose (88.3%), 236,605 boosted (53.8% of those eligible) 
Pacific Peoples (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 281,985 first dose (98.4%); 277,146 second dose (96.7%), 141,157 boosted (56.5% of those eligible) 
5 to 11-year-olds all ethnicities: 259,363 first dose (54.5%); 118,307 second dose (24.8%) 
5 to 11-year-olds - Māori: 40,904 first dose (35.4%); 13,633 second dose (11.8%) 
5 to 11-year-olds - Pacific Peoples: 23,584 first dose (47.7%); 6,961 second dose (14.1%) 
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 (67.3%) 
Auckland DHB: first dose (99.1%); second dose (98.2%); boosted (73%) 
Counties Manukau DHB: first dose (96.2%); second dose (95%); boosted (65.7%) 
Waitemata DHB: first dose (96.5%); second dose (95.6%); boosted (70.8%) 
Waikato DHB: first dose (95.1%); second dose (93.6%); boosted (66.1%) 
Bay of Plenty DHB: first dose (95.1%); second dose (93.4%); boosted (65.4%) 
Lakes DHB: first dose (93%); second dose (91.3%); boosted (65.6%) 
MidCentral DHB: first dose (96.4%); second dose (95.1%); boosted (71.7%) 
Tairāwhiti DHB: first dose (93%); second dose (90.8%); boosted (65.3%) 
Whanganui DHB: first dose (91.9%); second dose (90.4%); boosted (70.9%) 
Hawke’s Bay DHB: first dose (97.3%); second dose (95.7%); boosted (69.2%) 
Taranaki DHB: first dose (94.6%); second dose (93.2%); boosted (67.5%) 
Wairarapa DHB: first dose (96.4%); second dose (95%); boosted (72.4%) 
Capital & Coast DHB: first dose (98.4%); second dose (97.8%); boosted (79.2%) 
Hutt Valley DHB: first dose (96.6%); second dose (95.6%); boosted (74.5%) 
Nelson Marlborough DHB: first dose (96.4%); second dose (95.2%); boosted (73%) 
West Coast DHB: first dose (92.6%); second dose (91.2%); boosted (71%) 
Canterbury DHB: first dose (99.8%); second dose (98.9%); boosted (74%) 
South Canterbury DHB: first dose (94.6%); second dose (93.6%); boosted (74%) 
Southern DHB: first dose (98.5%); second dose (97.5%); boosted (72.9%)

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 or 16 and 17-year-olds who have become eligible 6 months after having their second dose.

Hospitalisations
Cases in hospital: total number 425: Northland: 13; Waitemata: 50; Counties Manukau: 38; Auckland: 113; Waikato: 25; Bay of Plenty: 11; Lakes: 5; Tairāwhiti: 2; Hawke’s Bay: 16; Taranaki: 10; Whanganui: 1; MidCentral: 20; Wairarapa: 0; Hutt Valley: 6; Capital and Coast: 20; Nelson Marlborough: 8; Canterbury: 49; South Canterbury: 8; West Coast: 2; Southern: 28
*Average age of current hospitalisations: 60
Cases in ICU or HDU: 9
Vaccination status of current hospitalisations (Northern Region only, excluding Emergency Departments): Unvaccinated or not eligible (28 cases / 11%); partially immunised <7 days from second dose or have only received one dose (8 cases / 3%); double vaccinated at least 7 days before being reported as a case (63 cases / 26%); Received booster at least 7 days before being reported as a case (148 cases / 60%)
* 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.




Cases
Seven day rolling average of community cases: 8,024
Seven day rolling average (as at same day last week): 7,533
Number of new community cases: 9,570
Number of new community cases (PCR): 248
Number of new community cases (RAT): 9,322
Location of new community cases (PCR & RAT): Northland (273), Auckland (3,297), Waikato (742), Bay of Plenty (307), Lakes (173), Hawke’s Bay (304), MidCentral (318), Whanganui (124), Taranaki (283), Tairāwhiti (82), Wairarapa (91), Capital and Coast (642), Hutt Valley (241), Nelson Marlborough (314), Canterbury (1,368), South Canterbury (155), Southern (737), West Coast (112), Unknown (7)
Number of new imported cases: 91
Number of active community cases (total): 56,146 (cases identified in the past 7 days and not yet classified as recovered)
Confirmed cases (total): 1,066,062
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): 3,579
Number of Rapid Antigen Tests reported total (last 24 hours): 17,429
PCR tests rolling average (last 7 days): 3,014
Number of Rapid Antigen Tests dispatched (last 7 days as of 18 May 2022): 1.1 million