There are 18,833 community cases of Covid-19 reported today by the Ministry of Health which is a decrease in daily cases from recent days where over 20,000 cases have been reported.

Sadly, five people with Covid-19 have died. There are 597 people in hospital and ten in ICU.

Of the 18,822 new community cases, 483 are in Northland, 9789 in Auckland , 1575 in Waikato, 1222 in Bay of Plenty, 459 in Lakes. 327 in Hawke's Bay, 417 in MidCentral, 95 in Whanganui, 264 in Taranaki, 153 in Tairāwhiti, 94 in Wairarapa, 1308 in Capital and Coast, 576 in Hutt Valley, 258 in Nelson Marlborough, 1170 in Canterbury, 57 in South Canterbury, 558 in Southern, 17 in West Coast and 11 from unknown district health board regions.

Seven new cases have been identified at the border.

There are now 167,793 active community cases that have been identified in the past ten days and not yet classified as recovered.

Of the 597 cases in hospital, there are four in Northland, 112 in North Shore, 188 in Middlemore, 153 in Auckland, 53 in Waikato, 12 in BOP, 16 in Rotorua, two in Tairawhiti, seven in Hawke's Bay, four in Taranaki, ten in MidCentral, one in Whanganui, five in Hutt Valley, 17 in Capital and Coast, two in Nelson Marlborough, six in Canterbury, and five in Southern. The average age of current hospitalisations is 52 years.

On Friday, vaccinations continued with 255 first doses; 725 second doses; 84 third primary doses; 16,248 booster doses; 1,243 paediatric first doses and 241 paediatric second doses.

Deaths of five people with Covid-19

'Sadly, we are today reporting the deaths of five people with Covid-19,” says a Ministry of Health spokesperson.

'Of these, two were being cared for at North Shore Hospital, two at Middlemore Hospital and one at Auckland City Hospital.”

Three of the patients were in their 80s, one was in their 70s and one was in their 60s. Three were male and two were female.

'Our thoughts and condolences are with these peoples' whānau and friends. Out of respect for privacy, we will be making no further comment.”

Decrease in number of community cases

While decreases in cases can be encouraging, the Ministry of Health urges caution.

'We are expecting cases to jump around, and are continuing to see increases in Covid-19 related hospitalisations,” says a Ministry of Health spokesperson.

Additionally, public health officials consider that one possible reason for the decrease in cases could be related to people not self-reporting Rapid Antigen Test results.

'The Ministry of Health would like to remind everyone to self-report both positive and negative results for RATs through My Covid Record, to help health officials understand the size and trends of the outbreak,” says a Ministry of Health spokesperson.

People who need help recording their result can also call 0800 222 478.

'We would also like to remind parents and caregivers to report test results for their children via the 0800 number.

'It is essential we have has much information as possible to inform public health decision-making,” says a Ministry of Health spokesperson.

'So, today, our message is simple: if you take a Rapid Antigen Test, report the result online through my Covid Record.

'The Ministry would like to thank the tens of thousands of people who have reported a RAT result – you are doing your bit for the health response.”

Instructions for self-reporting RAT results can be found on the Unite Against COVID website

Rapid Antigen Test Update

The Ministry has been made aware of people trying to walk through testing centre drive thrus to collect RATs.

'This is dangerous, and we would like to remind people to check Healthpoint for information about drive-through and walk-in community testing centres,” says a Ministry of Health spokesperson.

'We are continuing to see a high demand for Rapid Antigen Tests and the Ministry continues to assure people that we have good supply of tests.

'With tens of thousands of people collecting RATs from testing centres and collection sites, our request is to, please, be patient and kind to each other and staff.” says a Ministry of Health spokesperson.

'If you are symptomatic or a household contact, you can order RATs through the newly launched RAT requester site. You, or someone of your behalf, can collect your RAT order from a collection site listed on Healthpoint. Please only go to those sites that are listed as collection sites.”

The priority for Covid-19 response for free RATs remains those who are symptomatic or a household contact.

'Please do not order or request RATs from testing centre or collections sites unless you are unwell or a household contact.”

International travel pre-departure testing is not covered under the public health response.

'If you are well, you can still purchase RATs from one of a growing number of retailers which stock them,” says a Ministry of Health spokesperson.

Covid-19 vaccine update

Vaccinations administered in New Zealand

• Vaccines administered to date: 4,021,003 first doses; 3,963,390 second doses; 33,876 third primary doses; 2,440,520 booster doses: 247,053 paediatric first doses and 4,456 paediatric second doses*
• Vaccines administered yesterday: 255 first doses; 725 second doses; 84 third primary doses; 16,248 booster doses; 1,243 paediatric first doses and 241 paediatric second doses

People vaccinated

• All Ethnicities (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 4,065,703 first dose (96.6%); 4,006,235 second dose (95.2%), 2,442,176 boosted (72.3% of those eligible)
• Māori (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 519,919 first dose (91%); 500,124 second dose (87.6%), 210,194 boosted (60.2% of those eligible)
• Pacific Peoples (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 281,093 first dose (98.1%); 275,195 second dose (96%), 125,679 boosted (59.1% of those eligible)
• 5 to 11-year-olds all ethnicities: 246,919 first dose (51.8%); 4,408 second dose (0.9%)
• 5 to 11-year-olds - Māori: 37,134 first dose (32.1%); 722 second dose (0.6%)
• 5 to 11-year-olds - Pacific Peoples: 21,825 first dose (44.2%); 531 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 (69.8%)
• Waikato DHB: first dose (95.4%); second dose (93.6%); boosted (68.4%)
• Bay of Plenty DHB: first dose (95.3%); second dose (93.4%); boosted (69.2%)
• Lakes DHB: first dose (93.7%); second dose (91.5%); boosted (69.6%)
• MidCentral DHB: first dose (96.9%); second dose (95.3%); boosted (74.7%)
• Tairāwhiti DHB: first dose (93.5%); second dose (90.9%); boosted (70.2%)
• 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 (72.2%)
• Taranaki DHB: first dose (94.9%); second dose (93.2%); boosted (69.8%)
• Wairarapa DHB: first dose (96.8%); second dose (95.2%); boosted (76.2%)
• Capital & Coast DHB: first dose (98.8%); second dose (97.9%); boosted (80.6%)
• Hutt Valley DHB: first dose (96.9%); second dose (95.7%); boosted (76.9%)
• Nelson Marlborough DHB: first dose (96.9%); second dose (95.5%); boosted (76.7%)
• West Coast DHB: first dose (93.1%); second dose (91.3%); boosted (75.1%)
• Canterbury DHB: first dose (99.9%); second dose (98.8%); boosted (74.8%)
• South Canterbury DHB: first dose (95.5%); second dose (94.2%); boosted (76.3%)
• Southern DHB: first dose (98.2%); second dose (97%); boosted (75.6%)

*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 597: Northland: 4; North Shore: 112; Middlemore: 188; Auckland: 153; Waikato: 53; BOP: 12; Rotorua: 16; Tairawhiti: 2; Hawke's Bay: 7; Taranaki: 4; MidCentral: 10; Whanganui: 1; Hutt Valley: 5; Capital and Coast: 17; Nelson Marlborough: 2; Canterbury: 6; Southern: 5.
• Average age of current hospitalisations: 52
• Cases in ICU or HDU: 10
• Vaccination status of current hospitalisations (Northern Region only, excluding Emergency Departments): Unvaccinated or not eligible (75 cases / 18.2%); partially immunised

Cases

• Seven day rolling average of community cases: 16,687
• Number of new community cases: 18,833
• Number of new community cases (PCR): 1,173
• Number of new community cases (RAT): 17,660
• Location of new community cases (PCR & RAT): Northland (483), Auckland (9,789), Waikato (1,575), Bay of Plenty (1,222), Lakes (459), Hawke's Bay (327), MidCentral (417), Whanganui (95), Taranaki (264), Tairāwhiti (153), Wairarapa (94), Capital and Coast (1,308), Hutt Valley (576), Nelson Marlborough (258), Canterbury (1,170), South Canterbury (57), Southern (558), West Coast (17); Unknown (11)
• Number of new cases identified at the border: 7 (2 confirmed, 5 probable)
• Number of active community cases (total): 167,793 (cases identified in the past 10 days and not yet classified as recovered)
• Confirmed cases (total): 206,827

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): 14,049
• PCR tests rolling average (last 7 days up to 03/03): 22,549
• Number of Rapid Antigen Tests dispatched (last 7 days): 8.8 million (Please note that this number is not updated over the weekend and reflects the number of tests as of Friday.)