Today, the Ministry of Health is reporting 9495 community cases, 551 hospitalisations and 15 deaths.

There are 421 new cases in the Bay of Plenty and 176 cases in the Lakes district.

The seven-day rolling average of case numbers continues to decline, with today's seven-day rolling average at 9,288 – last Wednesday it was 12,307, says a Ministry of Health spokesperson.

"The number of reported community cases is expected to continue to fluctuate day to day but the overall trend remains an overall reduction in reported cases.

"There are three actions that everyone can do to help protect themselves and others.

"Firstly – be up to date with vaccinations, including a booster if you've not yet had one.

"Secondly – wear a mask. Masks are still required in many indoor settings. A good rule of thumb is to wear a mask in indoor public settings.

"And thirdly – stay home and avoid others if you're unwell."

Covid-19 deaths

These deaths all occurred over the past eight days, including 11 in the past two days.

These deaths take the total number of publicly reported deaths with Covid-19 to 531 and the seven-day rolling average of reported deaths is 13.

Of the people whose deaths we are reporting today, one was from Northland, four from the Auckland region, one from Waikato, one from Bay of Plenty, one from Lakes DHB area, two from MidCentral, three from Nelson Marlborough, and two from Canterbury.

One person was aged in their 40s, two in their 50s, two in their 60s, four in their 70s, five in their 80s, and one over 90.

Eight were female and seven were male.

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

Vaccinations administered in New Zealand

• Vaccines administered to date: 4,026,036 first doses; 3,976,331 second doses; 31,616 third primary doses; 2,608,343 booster doses: 260,286 paediatric first doses and 102,204 paediatric second doses
• Vaccines administered yesterday: 52 first doses; 166 second doses; 26 third primary doses; 1,708 booster doses; 66 paediatric first doses and 752 paediatric second doses

People vaccinated

• All Ethnicities (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 4,055,904 first dose (96.4%); 4,005,591 second dose (95.2%), 2,605,568 boosted (71.7% of those eligible)
• Māori (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 520,723 first dose (91.2%); 503,611 second dose (88.2%), 232,146 boosted (56.2% of those eligible)
• Pacific Peoples (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 281,701 first dose (98.3%); 276,735 second dose (96.5%), 138,408 boosted (58% of those eligible)
• 5 to 11-year-olds all ethnicities: 257,918 first dose (54.2%); 99,903 second dose (21%)
• 5 to 11-year-olds - Māori: 40,630 first dose (35.2%); 11,386 second dose (9.9%)
• 5 to 11-year-olds - Pacific Peoples: 23,381 first dose (47.3%); 5,500 second dose (11.1%)

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 (90.1%); second dose (88%); boosted (68.7%)
• Auckland Metro DHB: first dose (97.2%); second dose (96.2%); boosted (70.2%)
• Waikato DHB: first dose (95.1%); second dose (93.6%); boosted (67.3%)
• Bay of Plenty DHB: first dose (95.1%); second dose (93.4%); boosted (66.9%)
• Lakes DHB: first dose (93.2%); second dose (91.4%); boosted (67.4%)
• MidCentral DHB: first dose (96.4%); second dose (95.2%); boosted (73.1%)
• Tairāwhiti DHB: first dose (93.2%); second dose (91%); boosted (66.8%)
• Whanganui DHB: first dose (91.9%); second dose (90.4%); boosted (72.5%)
• Hawke's Bay DHB: first dose (97.1%); second dose (95.5%); boosted (70.8%)
• Taranaki DHB: first dose (94.6%); second dose (93.2%); boosted (69%)
• Wairarapa DHB: first dose (96.5%); second dose (95%); boosted (73.8%)
• Capital & Coast DHB: first dose (98.5%); second dose (97.8%); boosted (80.1%)
• Hutt Valley DHB: first dose (96.6%); second dose (95.7%); boosted (75.9%)
• Nelson Marlborough DHB: first dose (96.4%); second dose (95.2%); boosted (74.3%)
• West Coast DHB: first dose (92.6%); second dose (91.2%); boosted (72.6%)
• Canterbury DHB: first dose (99.7%); second dose (98.8%); boosted (75.2%)
• South Canterbury DHB: first dose (94.8%); second dose (93.8%); boosted (75.5%)
• Southern DHB: first dose (98.5%); second dose (97.4%); boosted (73.9%)

*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 551: Northland: 31; Waitemata: 91; Counties Manukau: 92; Auckland: 80; Waikato: 57; Bay of Plenty: 24; Lakes: 4; Tairāwhiti: 2; Hawke's Bay: 12; Taranaki: 12; Whanganui: 5; MidCentral: 19; Wairarapa: 1; Hutt Valley: 26; Capital and Coast: 14; Nelson Marlborough: 10; Canterbury: 38; South Canterbury: 6; West Coast: 1; Southern: 26
• *Average age of current hospitalisations: 58
• Cases in ICU or HDU: 27
• Vaccination status of current hospitalisations (Northern Region only, excluding Emergency Departments): Unvaccinated or not eligible (57 cases / 20%); 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: 9,288
• Seven day rolling average (as at same day last week): 12,307
• Number of new community cases: 9,495
• Number of new community cases (PCR): 219
• Number of new community cases (RAT): 9,276

• Location of new community cases (PCR & RAT): Northland (455), Auckland (1,828), Waikato (718), Bay of Plenty (421), Lakes (176), Hawke's Bay (355), MidCentral (461), Whanganui (181), Taranaki (288), Tairāwhiti (84), Wairarapa (109), Capital and Coast (607), Hutt Valley (375), Nelson Marlborough (307), Canterbury (1,670), South Canterbury (208), Southern (1,148), West Coast (94), Unknown (10)

• Number of new cases identified at the border: 47
• Number of active community cases (total): 64,997 (cases identified in the past 7 days and not yet classified as recovered)
• Confirmed cases (total): 793,740

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): 2,814
• Number of Rapid Antigen Tests reported total (last 24 hours): 15,547
• PCR tests rolling average (last 7 days): 2,249
• Number of Rapid Antigen Tests dispatched (last 7 days as of 8 April 2022): 3.3 million