The Ministry of Health is reporting 21,616 new community cases, 960 people in hospital with the virus, and two Covid-19 related deaths.

There are 1424 new cases in the Bay of Plenty and 633 cases in the Lakes District.

Today's case number is higher than yesterday's number, but the Ministry says it's not unexpected to see variability.

"It's also not unusual to have a lower number of tests on a weekend compared to the number of tests on a weekday and this can have a follow on impact for cases identified.

"The three day rolling average of community cases is currently 17,136 and the seven day rolling average is 19,226.

"Getting boosted remains one of the best defences against Omicron. We know the Omicron variant can cause serious illness and death either directly or by its impact on other health conditions, particularly for our older and more vulnerable New Zealanders.

"Getting boosted will not only reduce your risk of severe illness, but it will also help to protect our most vulnerable communities."

Covid-19 related deaths

The Ministry is reporting another two deaths of people with Covid-19.

Of these people, one death occurred in Southern and one in Capital & Coast DHBs. Both people, one man and one woman, were aged over 70.

"Our thoughts and condolences are with the patients' family and friends.

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

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

accinations administered in New Zealand

• Vaccines administered to date: 4,022,990 first doses; 3,969,211 second doses; 34,340 third primary doses; 2,522,474 booster doses: 254,654 paediatric first doses and 11,778 paediatric second doses
• Vaccines administered yesterday: 224 first doses; 478 second doses; 47 third primary doses; 5,954 booster doses; 360 paediatric first doses and 3,520 paediatric second doses.

People vaccinated

• All Ethnicities (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 4,069,076 first dose (96.7%); 4,012,238 second dose (95.3%), 2,524,117 boosted (72.8% of those eligible)
• Māori (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 521,030 first dose (91.2%); 502,215 second dose (87.9%), 221,452 boosted (59.3% of those eligible)
• Pacific Peoples (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 281,666 first dose (98.3%); 276,116 second dose (96.3%), 132,474 boosted (59.8% of those eligible)
• 5 to 11-year-olds all ethnicities: 254,351 first dose (53.4%); 11,556 second dose (2.4%)
• 5 to 11-year-olds - Māori: 39,342 first dose (34%); 1,559 second dose (1.3%)
• 5 to 11-year-olds - Pacific Peoples: 22,828 first dose (46.2%); 989 second dose (2%)

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 (90.5%); second dose (88.2%); boosted (70%)
• Auckland Metro DHB: first dose (97.4%); second dose (96.3%); boosted (70.8%)
• Waikato DHB: first dose (95.5%); second dose (93.8%); boosted (68.5%)
• Bay of Plenty DHB: first dose (95.4%); second dose (93.6%); boosted (69.1%)
• Lakes DHB: first dose (93.7%); second dose (91.7%); boosted (69.4%)
• MidCentral DHB: first dose (97%); second dose (95.5%); boosted (74.7%)
• Tairāwhiti DHB: first dose (93.6%); second dose (91.1%); boosted (69.8%)
• Whanganui DHB: first dose (92.5%); second dose (90.7%); boosted (74.4%)
• Hawke's Bay DHB: first dose (97.4%); second dose (95.6%); boosted (72.8%)
• Taranaki DHB: first dose (95%); second dose (93.4%); boosted (70%)
• Wairarapa DHB: first dose (96.9%); second dose (95.3%); boosted (75.4%)
• Capital & Coast DHB: first dose (98.9%); second dose (98.1%); boosted (81.3%)
• Hutt Valley DHB: first dose (97%); second dose (95.9%); boosted (77.3%)
• Nelson Marlborough DHB: first dose (97%); second dose (95.6%); boosted (76.3%)
• West Coast DHB: first dose (93.2%); second dose (91.4%); boosted (74.1%)
• Canterbury DHB: first dose (100%); second dose (98.9%); boosted (75.6%)
• South Canterbury DHB: first dose (95.5%); second dose (94.3%); boosted (76.8%)
• Southern DHB: first dose (98.4%); second dose (97.2%); boosted (75.2%)

*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.

Percentages are based on 2020 HSU data - a health-specific population denominator. As the population continues to change over time, coverage rates can exceed 100%.

Hospitalisations*

• Cases in hospital: total number 960: Northland: 23; North Shore: 187; Middlemore: 245; Auckland: 200; Waikato: 77; Bay of Plenty: 35; Lakes: 9; Tairāwhiti: 1, Hawke's Bay: 23; Taranaki: 14; MidCentral: 20; Whanganui: 2; Hutt Valley: 22; Capital and Coast: 33; Wairarapa: 7; Nelson Marlborough: 12; Canterbury: 33; South Canterbury: 3; Southern: 14.
• Average age of current hospitalisations: 58
• Cases in ICU or HDU: 22
• Vaccination status of current hospitalisations (Northern Region only, excluding Emergency Departments): Unvaccinated or not eligible (103 cases / 18%); partially immunised

*The figures show that just under 3% of people aged 12 and over in the Northern Region have had no doses of the vaccine, while of those aged 12 and over in Northland and Auckland hospitals with COVID-19 for whom we have vaccination status recorded, 14% have had no doses of the vaccine and are four times over-represented in our hospitalisation figures.

Cases

• Seven day rolling average of community cases: 19,226
• Number of new community cases: 21,616
• Number of new community cases (PCR): 317
• Number of new community cases (RAT): 21,316
• Location of new community cases (PCR & RAT): Northland (708), Auckland (6,085), Waikato (2,062), Bay of Plenty (1,424), Lakes (633), Hawke's Bay (1,111), MidCentral (888), Whanganui (276), Taranaki (510), Tairāwhiti (446), Wairarapa (229), Capital and Coast (1,584), Hutt Valley (987), Nelson Marlborough (524), Canterbury (2,642), South Canterbury (217), Southern (1,238), West Coast (43); Unknown (9)
• Number of new cases identified at the border: 17
• Number of active community cases (total): 193,108 (cases identified in the past 10 days and not yet classified as recovered)
• Confirmed cases (total): 398,329

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): 2,529
• Number of Rapid Antigen Tests taken total (last 24 hours): 51,110
• PCR tests rolling average (last 7 days incl 14/03/22): 3,722
• Number of Rapid Antigen Tests dispatched (last 7 days as of 15/03/22): 12.3 million.