The Ministry of Health is reporting 6,718 community cases, 604 hospitalisations and 12 deaths today.

Of these new community cases, there are 300 new cases in the Bay of Plenty District Health Board region and 112 in Lakes.

There are 22 people in ICU across New Zealand, with 30 cases of Covid-19 in Bay of Plenty hospitals, and seven in Lakes hospitals.

The seven-day rolling average of case numbers continues to decline, with today's seven-day rolling average at 10,543 – last Sunday it was 13,543.

'While it is encouraging to see case numbers continuing to drop, it is not unexpected as we generally see lower testing and reporting over weekends,” says a Ministry of Health spokesperson.

'It is also an important reminder to remain vigilant. Please continue to follow public health advice to stay at home, away from school or work if you are feeling unwell.

'Another way to protect you and your whānau and friends is to get vaccinated, if you haven't already done so. It is free and available for everyone aged five and over.”

The Ministry of Health says that vaccination remains NZ's best defence against Covid-19.

'And a booster, in addition to first and second doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, will give you greater immunity against Omicron and severe illness.

'There is a much lower risk of being hospitalised if you are up to date with your vaccinations, which, for Omicron, includes a third or booster dose if eligible.

'So, if you or your whānau are due for a Covid-19 vaccination – whether it be a first or second dose or a booster – please, make an appointment today.”

Covid-19 deaths

'Today we are sadly reporting the deaths of 12 people with Covid-19,” says a Ministry of Health spokesperson.

The deaths being reported today include people who have died over the past 17 days. Delays to reporting can be associated with people dying with Covid-19, rather than from Covid-19, and Covid-19 being discovered only after they have died.

These deaths take the total number of publicly reported deaths with Covid-19 to 489 and the seven-day rolling average of reported deaths is 13.

'Of the people whose deaths we are reporting today, eight people were from the Auckland region, two from MidCentral, one from the Lakes DHB area, and one from Hawke's Bay.”

One was aged in their 40s, one in their 50s, three in their 60s, two in their 70s, two in their 80s, and three over 90. Six were female and six were male.

'This is a very sad time for whānau and friends and our thoughts and condolences are with them. Out of respect, we will be making no further comment.”

Vaccinations administered in New Zealand

• Vaccines administered to date: 4,025,915 first doses; 3,975,935 second doses; 34,563 third primary doses; 2,601,057 booster doses: 260,102 paediatric first doses and 99,767 paediatric second doses
• Vaccines administered yesterday: 52 first doses; 136 second doses; 5 third primary doses; 2,093 booster doses; 183 paediatric first doses and 2,291 paediatric second doses

People vaccinated

• All Ethnicities (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 4,055,857 first dose (96.4%); 4,005,275 second dose (95.2%), 2,598,554 boosted (72.7% of those eligible)
• Māori (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 520,648 first dose (91.2%); 503,477 second dose (88.2%), 231,324 boosted (57.3% of those eligible)
• Pacific Peoples (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 281,681 first dose (98.3%); 276,693 second dose (96.5%), 137,908 boosted (59.3% of those eligible)
• 5 to 11-year-olds all ethnicities: 257,788 first dose (54.1%); 97,523 second dose (20.5%)
• 5 to 11-year-olds - Māori: 40,604 first dose (35.1%); 11,055 second dose (9.6%)
• 5 to 11-year-olds - Pacific Peoples: 23,375 first dose (47.3%); 5,391 second dose (10.9%)

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 (69.4%)
• Auckland Metro DHB: first dose (97.2%); second dose (96.2%); boosted (71.4%)
• Waikato DHB: first dose (95.1%); second dose (93.6%); boosted (68.3%)
• Bay of Plenty DHB: first dose (95.1%); second dose (93.3%); boosted (67.6%)
• Lakes DHB: first dose (93.2%); second dose (91.4%); boosted (68.2%)
• MidCentral DHB: first dose (96.4%); second dose (95.2%); boosted (74%)
• Tairāwhiti DHB: first dose (93.2%); second dose (90.9%); boosted (68.1%)
• Whanganui DHB: first dose (91.9%); second dose (90.4%); boosted (73.3%)
• Hawke's Bay DHB: first dose (97.1%); second dose (95.5%); boosted (71.8%)
• Taranaki DHB: first dose (94.6%); second dose (93.2%); boosted (69.8%)
• Wairarapa DHB: first dose (96.4%); second dose (95%); boosted (74.6%)
• Capital & Coast DHB: first dose (98.5%); second dose (97.8%); boosted (81.1%)
• Hutt Valley DHB: first dose (96.6%); second dose (95.6%); boosted (76.8%)
• Nelson Marlborough DHB: first dose (96.4%); second dose (95.2%); boosted (75.1%)
• West Coast DHB: first dose (92.7%); second dose (91.2%); boosted (73.2%)
• Canterbury DHB: first dose (99.7%); second dose (98.8%); boosted (75.9%)
• South Canterbury DHB: first dose (94.8%); second dose (93.8%); boosted (76.3%)
• Southern DHB: first dose (98.5%); second dose (97.4%); boosted (74.8%)

*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 604: Northland: 23; Waitemata: 94; Counties Manukau: 109; Auckland: 104; Waikato: 60; Bay of Plenty: 30; Lakes: 7; Tairāwhiti: 3; Hawke's Bay: 14; Taranaki: 8; Whanganui: 10; MidCentral: 20; Wairarapa: 0; Hutt Valley: 13; Capital and Coast: 16; Nelson Marlborough: 14; Canterbury: 45; South Canterbury: 3; West Coast: 5; Southern: 26
• *Average age of current hospitalisations: 59
• Cases in ICU or HDU: 22
• Vaccination status of current hospitalisations (Northern Region only, excluding Emergency Departments): Unvaccinated or not eligible (35 cases / 11%); partially immunised

*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.

We are currently working on a data solution which would include the average age of current hospitalisations from additional DHBs.

Cases

• Seven day rolling average of community cases: 10,543
• Seven day rolling average (as at same day last week): 13,543
• Number of new community cases: 6,718
• Number of new community cases (PCR): 169
• Number of new community cases (RAT): 6,549

• Location of new community cases (PCR & RAT): Northland (344), Auckland (1,202), Waikato (514), Bay of Plenty (300), Lakes (112), Hawke's Bay (268), MidCentral (334), Whanganui (152), Taranaki (215), Tairāwhiti (80), Wairarapa (84), Capital and Coast (458), Hutt Valley (249), Nelson Marlborough (228), Canterbury (1,170), South Canterbury (118), Southern (819), West Coast (65), Unknown (6)

• Number of new cases identified at the border: 31
• Number of active community cases (total): 73,785 cases identified in the past 7 days and not yet classified as recovered)
• Confirmed cases (total): 765,609

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): 1,812
• Number of Rapid Antigen Tests reported total (last 24 hours): 13,402
• PCR tests rolling average (last 7 days): 3,625
• Number of Rapid Antigen Tests dispatched (last 7 days as of 8 April 2022): 3.6 million