Overall, 1248 cases of Covid-19 have been reported in the Bay of Plenty by the Ministry of Health today, with 15 people currently hospitalised across our region with the disease.

Across the nation there has been a small decline in the amount of cases today with 22, 527. This brings to an end a streak of record setting community cases per day.

The death in Tauranga Hospital occurred yesterday.

'The person was in hospital for an unrelated condition but had tested positive for Covid-19,” says the MOH in a statement.

Other Covid-19 positive patients passed away in Waikato Hospital, Dunedin Hospital and two at Middlemore. All of these patients had unrelated medial conditions and the two in Waikato and Dunedin respectively are said to have passed away due to these conditions. The patient in Dunedin was receiving palliative care.

'Our thoughts and condolences are with these peoples' family and friends,” says a MOH spokesperson.

'Out of respect for privacy, we will be making no further comment.”

The two deaths reported at Middlemore were from 27 February and March 1.

'Some of these deaths are only being announced today as they have only recently been notified in the Ministry's national reporting systems,” the MOH clarifies.

The Ministry is reminding people to get boosted and to wear a mask when out and about.

They are also aware of some reports of symptomatic individuals testing negative with initial tests and later returning positive results.

'Our advice is that even if you receive a negative test, you should stay at home until well and retest if symptoms persist or worsen,” says a MOH spokesperson.

A full breakdown from the MOH follows…

Covid-19 vaccine update

Vaccinations administered in New Zealand

• Vaccines administered to date: 4,020,752 first doses; 3,962,646 second doses; 33,775 third primary doses; 2,424,158 booster doses: 245,799 paediatric first doses and 4,215 paediatric second doses
• Vaccines administered yesterday: 315 first doses; 743 second doses; 99 third primary doses; 15,195 booster doses; 1,150 paediatric first doses and 223 paediatric second doses

People vaccinated

• All Ethnicities (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 4,065,276 first dose (96.6%); 4,005,356 second dose (95.2%), 2,425,809 boosted (72.2% of those eligible)
• Māori (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 519,794 first dose (91%); 499,819 second dose (87.5%), 208,325 boosted (60.3% of those eligible)
• Pacific Peoples (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 281,031 first dose (98%); 275,094 second dose (96%), 124,751 boosted (59% of those eligible)
• 5 to 11-year-olds all ethnicities: 245,670 first dose (51.6%); 4,179 second dose (0.9%)
• 5 to 11-year-olds - Māori: 36,829 first dose (31.9%); 690 second dose (0.6%)
• 5 to 11-year-olds - Pacific Peoples: 21,704 first dose (43.9%); 525 second dose (1.1%)

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 (90.4%); second dose (88%); boosted (70.2%)
• Auckland Metro DHB: first dose (97.4%); second dose (96.2%); boosted (69.5%)
• Waikato DHB: first dose (95.4%); second dose (93.6%); boosted (68.2%)
• Bay of Plenty DHB: first dose (95.3%); second dose (93.4%); boosted (69.1%)
• Lakes DHB: first dose (93.7%); second dose (91.5%); boosted (69.6%)
• MidCentral DHB: first dose (96.9%); second dose (95.3%); boosted (74.6%)
• Tairāwhiti DHB: first dose (93.5%); second dose (90.9%); boosted (70.1%)
• Whanganui DHB: first dose (92.5%); second dose (90.6%); boosted (74.5%)
• Hawke's Bay DHB: first dose (97.3%); second dose (95.3%); boosted (72.3%)
• Taranaki DHB: first dose (94.9%); second dose (93.2%); boosted (69.4%)
• Wairarapa DHB: first dose (96.8%); second dose (95.1%); boosted (76.2%)
• Capital & Coast DHB: first dose (98.8%); second dose (97.9%); boosted (80.5%)
• Hutt Valley DHB: first dose (97%); second dose (95.7%); boosted (76.8%)
• Nelson Marlborough DHB: first dose (96.9%); second dose (95.4%); boosted (76.8%)
• West Coast DHB: first dose (93.1%); second dose (91.3%); boosted (74.8%)
• Canterbury DHB: first dose (99.9%); second dose (98.8%); boosted (74.7%)
• South Canterbury DHB: first dose (95.5%); second dose (94.2%); boosted (76.1%)
• Southern DHB: first dose (98.1%); second dose (96.9%); boosted (75.7%)

*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 562: Northland: 6; North Shore: 93; Middlemore: 186; Auckland: 148 ; Waikato: 49; BOP: 15; Rotorua: 6; Tairawhiti: 3; Hawke's Bay: 3; Taranaki: 3; MidCentral: 9; Whanganui: 1; Hutt Valley: 5; Capital and Coast: 17; Nelson Marlborough: 3; Canterbury: 8; Southern: 5.
• Average age of current hospitalisations: 53
• Cases in ICU or HDU: 11
• Vaccination status of current hospitalisations (Northern Region only, excluding Emergency Departments): Unvaccinated or not eligible (70 cases / 18.3%); partially immunised

Cases

• Seven day rolling average of community cases: 16,163
• Number of new community cases: 22,527
• Number of new community cases (PCR): 3,748
• Number of new community cases (RAT): 18,779
• Location of new community cases (PCR & RAT): Northland (515), Auckland (13,252), Waikato (1,674), Bay of Plenty (1,248), Lakes (464), Hawke's Bay (325), MidCentral (364), Whanganui (79), Taranaki (257), Tairāwhiti (155), Wairarapa (69), Capital and Coast (1,356), Hutt Valley (577), Nelson Marlborough (304), Canterbury (1,163), South Canterbury (63), Southern (632), West Coast (16); Unknown (14)
• Number of new cases identified at the border: 8 (1 confirmed, 7 probable)
• Number of active community cases (total): 152,358 (cases identified in the past10 days and not yet classified as recovered)
• Confirmed cases (total): 187,964

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): 19,544
• PCR tests rolling average (last 7 days): 22,549
• Number of Rapid Antigen Tests dispatched (last 7 days): 8.8 million