The Ministry of Health is reporting five Covid-19 cases in Tauranga Hospital today, one up from yesterday.

There are a today of 34 new Covid community cases throughout New Zealand today - 21 in Auckland, seven in Waikato, two in the Bay of Plenty, three in the Lakes District and one in Canterbury.

The Ministry says New Zealand's total Covid cases now sits at 13,529, 10, 653 of which are linked to the current community cluster.

A total of 41 people are in hospitals throughout the country - 15 in Auckland, 21 in Middlemore and five in Tauranga.

Eight people are in ICU or HDU.

The Ministry reports there are also 10 new Covid cases at the border.

See below for a full breakdown of today's numbers.

"We're asking everyone to play their part to reduce the spread of the virus over the break," says a MOH spokesperson.

"Anyone with any symptoms that could be Covid-19, is asked to get a test, and remain where they are until they receive a negative result and are feeling better.

"For those away on holiday who test positive you will be contacted regarding your ongoing care."

Testing locations nationwide can be found on the Healthpoint website.

"People who are out and about today are asked to wear a mask and maintain physical distance in crowded or poorly ventilated indoor spaces and scan in using the Covid-19 Tracer app," says the MOH.

"The vaccine remains our key defence against all variants of Covid-19, including Omicron. We continue to ask everyone who is eligible to get vaccinated, including people who are now eligible for a booster dose."

Regional Breakdowns

Auckland

There are 21 new cases being reported in Auckland over the past 24 hours.

Health and welfare providers are now supporting 1,495 people to isolate at home, including 418 cases.

Waikato

There are seven new cases in the Waikato today with four in Te Kūiti, two in Hamilton, and one in Te Kauwhata.

Four were known contacts of previous cases and a fifth case has also been linked. The remainder are under investigation.

For details of dedicated testing sites operating over the holiday period, please visit the dedicated DHB page or DHB Facebook page.

In the Waikato, Public Health, primary care and manaaki providers are supporting 55 cases to isolate at home

Bay of Plenty

There are two new cases being reported in the Bay of Plenty today. Both are in Tauranga.

One of these cases is a known contact of a previous case and investigations into potential connections with the second case are ongoing.

Lakes

There are three new cases being reported in the Lakes DBH area today. All three are in Rotorua.

All three cases are known contacts of previously reported cases.

Canterbury

There is one new case being reported in Canterbury today, who is a contact of an existing case.

There are two active cases in Canterbury, both are in isolation.

COVID-19 vaccine update

• Vaccines administered to date (percentage of eligible people): 3,971,856 first doses (94%); 3,835,627 second doses (91%); 27,958 third primary doses; 274,600 booster doses.
• Vaccines administered yesterday*: 96 first doses; 740 second doses; 8 third primary doses and 903 booster doses.
• Māori (percentage of eligible people): 499,246 first doses (87%); 455,341 second doses (80%)
• Pacific Peoples (percentage of eligible people): 270,808 first doses (94%); 257,120 second doses (89%)

* Lower vaccination numbers yesterday reflect Boxing Day falling on a Sunday so many centres were closed.

Vaccination rates by DHB with active cases (percentage of eligible people)

• Northland DHB: First doses (88%); second doses (84%)
• Auckland Metro DHBs: First doses (96%); second doses (93%)
• Waikato DHB: First doses (93%); second doses (90%)
• Bay of Plenty DHB: First doses (93%); second doses (89%)
• Lakes DHB: First doses (92%); second doses (87%)
• Taranaki DHB: First doses (93%); second doses (89%)
• Hawke's Bay DHB: First doses (94%); second doses (90%)
• Tairāwhiti DHB: First doses (91%); second doses (85%)
• Hutt Valley DHB: First doses (95%); second doses (92%)
• Canterbury DHB: First doses (98%); second doses (95%)

Hospitalisations

• Cases in hospital: 41; Auckland: 15; Middlemore: 21; Tauranga: 5
• Vaccination status of current hospitalisations (Northern Region wards only): Unvaccinated or not eligible (17 cases / 50%); partially immunised
• Average age of current hospitalisations: 52
• Cases in ICU or HDU: 8 (2 in Auckland; 4 in Middlemore; 2 in Tauranga)

Cases

• Seven day rolling average of community cases: 49.7
• Number of new community cases: 34
• Number of new cases identified at the border: 10
• Number of new Omicron cases identified at the border: 4, taking total to 49
• Location of new community cases: Auckland (21), Waikato (7), Bay of Plenty (2), Lakes (3) and Canterbury (1).
• Number of community cases (current community outbreak total): 10,653
• Cases epidemiologically linked (total): 7,935
• Number of active cases (total cases identified in the past 21 days and not yet classed as recovered): 1,323
• Confirmed cases (total): 13,529

Contacts

• Number of active contacts being managed (total): 6,374
• Percentage who have received an outbound call from contact tracers (to confirm testing and isolation requirements): 80%
• Percentage who have returned at least one result: 74%

Tests

• Number of tests total (last 24 hours): 5,716*
• Tests rolling average (last 7 days): 15,919
• Auckland tests total (last 24 hours): 2,249

* Lower testing numbers yesterday reflect Boxing Day falling on a Sunday so many centres were closed.

Wastewater

• No unexpected wastewater detections to report.

NZ COVID Tracer

• Poster scans in 24 hours to midday yesterday: 1,152,898
• Manual diary entries in 24 hours to midday: 25,715

My Vaccine Pass

• My vaccine passes issued total: 4,544,178
• My vaccine passes issued yesterday: 7,383