The Ministry of Health is reporting 6,242 new community cases of Covid-19, 553 hospitalisations and 11 deaths. There are 23 people in ICU today.

Of the 6,242 new community cases, there are 264 new cases in Bay of Plenty and 105 in the Lakes DHB region.

There are 28 people in Bay of Plenty hospitals with one in ICU, and 11 people in Lakes hospitals.

There have been 41 new cases identified at the border.

Today there are 55,869 active community cases identified in the past seven days and not yet classified as recovered. This brings the number of confirmed cases in New Zealand to a total of 828,906.

Covid-19 deaths

'Today we are sadly reporting the deaths of 11 people with Covid-19,” says a Ministry of Health spokesperson.

'These deaths take the total number of publicly reported deaths with COVID-19 to 597 and the seven-day rolling average of reported deaths is 14.”

Age and location breakdowns of the people who have died over the past two days are unavailable today.

'This is a very sad time for whānau and friends and our thoughts are with them.”

The seven-day rolling average of case numbers continues to decline, with today's seven-day rolling average at 7,986 – last Monday it was 10,169.

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.

Please note that because of the Easter public holidays, some of the Ministry of Health's usual reported breakdowns are unavailable.

'Apologies for any inconvenience,” says a Ministry of Health spokesperson.

Easter weekend reminder

'We are reminding you that if you are travelling home today from your Easter break, you should have plans in place in the event you contract Covid-19 or are identified as a household contact of a case,” says a Ministry of Health spokesperson.

'You would need to self-isolate and likely remain wherever you test positive or become a household contact, so there may be extra costs involved in paying for additional accommodation and changing your travel plans.

'If you have used your own vehicle to travel, you can travel back to your home to isolate, taking public health measures to ensure you don't infect anyone on your way home – such as maintaining social distance and using self-service petrol stations,” says a Ministry of Health spokesperson.

'However, if you have used public transport or travelled between islands, you won't be able to isolate at your home. It is important you have a plan and the ability to isolate where you are holidaying, if you need to do so.”

There are three actions 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 as we know that mask use halves the risk of spread of COVID-19. You must also wear a face mask on all flights and public transport, in taxi and ride-share services — unless you are exempt.

And thirdly – stay home and avoid others if you're unwell, isolating or waiting for the results of a COVID-19 test.

For guidance if you or someone you know tests positive or becomes a household contact, visit the Ministry of Health website.

For more information on mask use at Orange, visit the Unite Against COVID-19 website.

Vaccinations administered in New Zealand

• Vaccines administered to date: 4,026,193 first doses; 3,976,767 second doses; 31,684 third primary doses; 2,613,242 booster doses: 260,506 paediatric first doses and 104,825 paediatric second doses
• Vaccines administered yesterday: 8 first doses; 9 second doses; 0 third primary doses; 119 booster doses; 9 paediatric first doses and 61 paediatric second doses

People vaccinated

• All Ethnicities (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 4,055,930 first dose (96.4%); 4,005,898 second dose (95.2%), 2,610,153 boosted (71.3% of those eligible)
• Māori (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 520,794 first dose (91.2%); 503,720 second dose (88.2%), 232,750 boosted (55.5% of those eligible)
• Pacific Peoples (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 281,751 first dose (98.3%); 276,803 second dose (96.6%), 138,664 boosted (57.4% of those eligible)
• 5 to 11-year-olds all ethnicities: 258,050 first dose (54.2%); 102,431 second dose (21.5%)
• 5 to 11-year-olds - Māori: 40,659 first dose (35.2%); 11,704 second dose (10.1%)
• 5 to 11-year-olds - Pacific Peoples: 23,394 first dose (47.4%); 5,644 second dose (11.4%)

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 (68.1%)
• Auckland Metro DHB: first dose (97.2%); second dose (96.2%); boosted (69.9%)
• Waikato DHB: first dose (95.1%); second dose (93.6%); boosted (66.9%)
• Bay of Plenty DHB: first dose (95%); second dose (93.4%); boosted (66.5%)
• Lakes DHB: first dose (93.2%); second dose (91.4%); boosted (66.9%)
• MidCentral DHB: first dose (96.4%); second dose (95.2%); boosted (72.5%)
• Tairāwhiti DHB: first dose (93.2%); second dose (91%); boosted (66.4%)
• Whanganui DHB: first dose (91.9%); second dose (90.4%); boosted (71.9%)
• Hawke's Bay DHB: first dose (97.1%); second dose (95.5%); boosted (70.2%)
• Taranaki DHB: first dose (94.6%); second dose (93.2%); boosted (68.5%)
• Wairarapa DHB: first dose (96.5%); second dose (95%); boosted (73.3%)
• Capital & Coast DHB: first dose (98.5%); second dose (97.8%); boosted (79.6%)
• Hutt Valley DHB: first dose (96.6%); second dose (95.7%); boosted (75.3%)
• Nelson Marlborough DHB: first dose (96.4%); second dose (95.2%); boosted (73.7%)
• West Coast DHB: first dose (92.7%); second dose (91.2%); boosted (72%)
• Canterbury DHB: first dose (99.7%); second dose (98.8%); boosted (74.8%)
• South Canterbury DHB: first dose (94.8%); second dose (93.8%); boosted (74.9%)
• Southern DHB: first dose (98.5%); second dose (97.4%); boosted (73.5%)

*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 for today: total 553; total in ICU/HDU 23.
• Hospitalisations by DHB: Northern region (including Northland, Waitemata, Auckland and Counties Manukau): 293 (7 in ICU); Waikato: 37 (3 in ICU); Bay of Plenty: 28 (1 in ICU); Lakes: 11; Tairawhiti: 1 (1 in ICU); Hawke's Bay: 10 (2 in ICU); Taranaki: 13 (1 in ICU); Mid Central: 18 (3 in ICU); Whanganui: 3 (1 in ICU); Capital & Coast: 17; Wairarapa: 4; Hutt Valley: 21; Nelson Marlborough: 12 (1 in ICU); Canterbury: 52 (2 in ICU); West Coast: 2; South Canterbury: 3; Southern: 28 (1 in ICU).

Border cases changes

From today (Monday), new arrivals into the country who test positive for Covid-19 within seven days of arrival will be reported as a border case - changing it from the previous definition of within 14 days. Any recent arrivals testing positive for Covid-19 after seven days will now be reported as a community case reflecting where the most likely source of infection after being in the country for more than a week.

Cases

• Seven day rolling average of community cases: 7,986
• Seven day rolling average (as at same day last week): 10,169
• Number of new community cases: 6,242
• Number of new community cases (PCR): 136
• Number of new community cases (RAT): 6,106
• Location of new community cases (PCR & RAT): Northland (295), Waitemata (526), Auckland (453), Counties Manukau (396), Waikato (463), Bay of Plenty (264), Lakes (105), Hawke's Bay (187), MidCentral (269), Whanganui (94), Taranaki (223), Tairāwhiti (53), Wairarapa (69), Capital and Coast (425), Hutt Valley (226), Nelson Marlborough (178), Canterbury (1,066), South Canterbury (136), Southern (746), West Coast (63), Unknown (5).
• Number of new cases identified at the border: 41
• Number of active community cases today (total): 55,869 (cases identified in the past 7 days and not yet classified as recovered)
• Confirmed cases (total): 828,906

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): 1,197
• Number of Rapid Antigen Tests reported total (last 24 hours): 9,594
• PCR tests rolling average (last 7 days): 2,387
• Number of Rapid Antigen Tests dispatched (last 7 days as of 14 April 2022): 3.2 million. This will be next updated on Tuesday 19 April.