The Ministry of Health are today reporting 10,294 community cases, 524 hospitalisations and 18 deaths.

A Ministry of Health spokesperson says it's really important people continue to follow public health advice to stay at home; away from school or work if you're feeling unwell.

'Today we are sadly reporting the deaths of 18 people with Covid-19.

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

These deaths take the total number of publicly reported deaths with COVID-19 to 633 and the 7-day rolling average of reported deaths is 12.

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

Two people were in their 50s, two in their 60s, three in their 70s, seven in their 80s, and four were over 90. 10 were men and eight were women.

Out of respect to people's family and whānau at this difficult time, The Ministry of Health will be making no further comment.

Of the 524 cases of Covid-19 in hospital, 39 are in Northland, Waitemata: 93; Counties Manukau: 78; Auckland: 84; Waikato: 38; Bay of Plenty: 22; Lakes: 9; Tairāwhiti: 0, Hawke's Bay: 15; Taranaki: 12; Whanganui: 2; MidCentral: 8; Wairarapa: 4; Hutt Valley: 16; Capital and Coast: 18; Nelson Marlborough: 9; Canterbury: 53; South Canterbury: 3; West Coast: 1; Southern: 20

There are currently 14 people in ICU or HDU with the virus and the average age of current hospitalisations is 60 years-old.

The seven-day rolling average of case numbers continues to decline, today's seven-day rolling average is 7,935, while the seven-day rolling average of cases as at last Thursday was 8,990.

The spokesperson says another way to protect you and your whanau is to get vaccinated if you haven't already done so.

'Vaccination remains our best defence against Covid-19 and getting boosted is an important way people can protect themselves, their whānau and their friends from the virus.

'Please if you are due for a vaccination, whether it be a second shot or booster, make an appointment today.”

Vaccinations administered in New Zealand

Vaccines administered to date: 4,026,305 first doses; 3,977,092 second doses; 31,646 third primary doses; 2,617,033 booster doses: 260,678 paediatric first doses and 107,089 paediatric second doses

Vaccines administered yesterday: 51 first doses; 155 second doses; 20 third primary doses; 1,608 booster doses; 89 paediatric first doses and 1,027 paediatric second doses

People vaccinated

All Ethnicities (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 4,056,080 first dose (96.4%); 4,006,270 second dose (95.2%), 2,613,748 boosted (71.2% of those eligible)

Māori (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 520,846 first dose (91.2%); 503,783 second dose (88.2%), 233,074 boosted (55.2% of those eligible)

Pacific Peoples (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 281,763 first dose (98.3%); 276,818 second dose (96.6%), 138,878 boosted (57.3% of those eligible)

5 to 11-year-olds all ethnicities: 258,152 first dose (54.2%); 104,622 second dose (22%)

5 to 11-year-olds - Māori: 40,683 first dose (35.2%); 11,890 second dose (10.3%)

5 to 11-year-olds - Pacific Peoples: 23,404 first dose (47.4%); 5,768 second dose (11.7%)

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%)

Auckland DHB: first dose (99.2%); second dose (98.3%); boosted (72.9%)

Counties Manukau DHB: first dose (96.2%); second dose (95%); boosted (66%)

Waitemata DHB: first dose (96.5%); second dose (95.6%); boosted (70.8%)

Waikato DHB: first dose (95.1%); second dose (93.6%); boosted (66.8%)

Bay of Plenty DHB: first dose (95.1%); second dose (93.4%); boosted (66.3%)

Lakes DHB: first dose (93.2%); second dose (91.4%); boosted (66.7%)

MidCentral DHB: first dose (96.4%); second dose (95.2%); boosted (72.4%)

Tairāwhiti DHB: first dose (93.2%); second dose (91%); boosted (66.1%)

Whanganui DHB: first dose (91.9%); second dose (90.4%); boosted (71.8%)

Hawke's Bay DHB: first dose (97.2%); second dose (95.5%); boosted (70.1%)

Taranaki DHB: first dose (94.6%); second dose (93.3%); boosted (68.4%)

Wairarapa DHB: first dose (96.5%); second dose (95%); boosted (73.2%)

Capital & Coast DHB: first dose (98.5%); second dose (97.8%); boosted (79.5%)

Hutt Valley DHB: first dose (96.6%); second dose (95.7%); boosted (75.2%)

Nelson Marlborough DHB: first dose (96.4%); second dose (95.2%); boosted (73.6%)

West Coast DHB: first dose (92.7%); second dose (91.3%); boosted (71.9%)

Canterbury DHB: first dose (99.7%); second dose (98.8%); boosted (74.7%)

South Canterbury DHB: first dose (94.8%); second dose (93.8%); boosted (74.8%)

Southern DHB: first dose (98.5%); second dose (97.4%); boosted (73.4%)

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 524: Northland: 39; Waitemata: 93; Counties Manukau: 78; Auckland: 84; Waikato: 38; Bay of Plenty: 22; Lakes: 9; Tairāwhiti: 0, Hawke's Bay: 15; Taranaki: 12; Whanganui: 2; MidCentral: 8; Wairarapa: 4; Hutt Valley: 16; Capital and Coast: 18; Nelson Marlborough: 9; Canterbury: 53; South Canterbury: 3; West Coast: 1; Southern: 20

Average age of current hospitalisations: 60

Cases in ICU or HDU: 14

Vaccination status of current hospitalisations (Northern Region only, excluding Emergency Departments): Unvaccinated or not eligible (53 cases / 19%); partially immunised

Cases

Seven day rolling average of community cases: 7,935

Seven day rolling average (as at Thursday last week): 8,990

Number of new community cases: 10,294

Number of new community cases (PCR): 266

Number of new community cases (RAT): 10,028

Location of new community cases (PCR & RAT): Northland (448), Auckland (2,274), Waikato (751), Bay of Plenty (424), Lakes (203), Hawke's Bay (362), MidCentral (413), Whanganui (153), Taranaki (331), Tairāwhiti (93), Wairarapa (131), Capital and Coast (633), Hutt Valley (325), Nelson Marlborough (368), Canterbury (1,682), South Canterbury (241), Southern (1,346), West Coast (110), Unknown (6)

Number of new cases identified at the border: 66

Number of active community cases (total): 55,515 (cases identified in the past 7 days and not yet classified as recovered)

Confirmed cases (total): 858,576

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): 2,591

Number of Rapid Antigen Tests reported total (last 24 hours): 18,757

PCR tests rolling average (last 7 days): 1,913

Number of Rapid Antigen Tests dispatched (last 7 days as of 21 April 2022): 503,480