Today, the Ministry of Health is reporting 6498 community cases and 487 current hospitalisations.

The seven-day rolling average of community case numbers today is 7046.

"We are sadly reporting the deaths of eight people with Covid-19. All these deaths occurred in the past two days."

A second Covid-19 booster is now available for those at increased risk of severe illness from Covid-19 – a minimum of six months after a first booster.

In addition, a second booster is available for all people aged 50 years and over and health, aged care and disability workers aged 30 years and over. View the full eligibility criteria for second boosters.

Free flu shots are now available to all children aged between 3 and 12, as well as anyone with serious mental health and addiction needs.

This is in addition to Māori and Pacific people aged 55 and over, anyone else aged 65 and over, pregnant people and those with certain underlying conditions. View full list of conditions.

People can book their flu vaccine at a pharmacy, and their Covid-19 vaccine through BookMyVaccine.nz or by calling the Covid-19 Vaccination Healthline on 0800 28 29 26..

COVID-19 hospitalisations

• COVID-19 Cases in hospital: total number 487: Northland: 7; Waitematā: 114; Counties Manukau: 44; Auckland: 34; Waikato: 38; Bay of Plenty: 22; Lakes: 23; Hawke's Bay: 13; MidCentral: 14; Whanganui: 5; Taranaki: 12; Tairawhiti: 2; Wairarapa: 9; Capital and Coast: 40; Hutt Valley: 7; Nelson Marlborough: 10; Canterbury: 57; South Canterbury: 7; West Coast: 2; Southern: 27.
• Weekly COVID-19 Hospitalisations - 7 day rolling average: 420 (This time last week 335)
• Average age of current COVID-19 hospitalisations: 63
• Cases in ICU or HDU: 11
• Vaccination status of new admissions to hospital*: Unvaccinated or not eligible (42 cases); partially immunised

There has been an increase in the number of COVID-19-positive Waitemata inpatients, including an outbreak at a community site.

There is evidence of visitors to North Shore Hospital passing COVID-19 on to patients. The public is reminded to stay away from hospital if unwell and to respect hospital rules if they do visit – wear an approved mask at all times, practice good hand hygiene and cough/sneeze etiquette as well as maintain physical distancing of at least one metre.

*These are new hospital admissions in the past 7 days prior to yesterday who had COVID at the time of admission or while in hospital, excluding hospitalisations that were admitted and discharged within 24hrs. This data is from DHBs with tertiary hospitals: Auckland, Canterbury, Southern, Counties Manukau, Waikato, Capital & Coast, Waitemata and Northland.

COVID-19 vaccinations administered

• Vaccines administered to date: 4,028,603 first doses; 3,981,016 second doses; 33,153 third primary doses; 2,714,181 booster doses: 264,399 paediatric first doses and 134,972 paediatric second doses
• Vaccines administered yesterday: 15 first doses; 21 second doses; 4 third primary doses; 1,314 booster doses; 35 paediatric first doses and 248 paediatric second doses

More detailed information, including vaccine uptake by DHB area, is available on the Ministry website.

Tests

• Number of PCR tests total (last 24 hours): 2,035
• Number of Rapid Antigen Tests reported total (last 24 hours): 9,555
• PCR tests rolling average (last 7 days): 3,168
• Number of Rapid Antigen Tests dispatched (last seven days as of 29 June 2022): 700,000.

COVID-19 cases

• Total number of new community cases: 6,498
• Number of new cases that have recently travelled overseas: 152
• Seven day rolling average of community cases: 7,046
• Seven day rolling average of community cases (as at same day last week): 5,129
• Number of active cases (total): 49,298 (cases identified in the past seven days and not yet classified as recovered)
• Confirmed cases (total): 1,357,184
• New cases by DHB and other more detailed case information

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.

COVID-19 deaths

Today's reported deaths take the total number of publicly reported deaths with COVID-19 to 1,567 and the seven-day rolling average of reported deaths is 14.

Of the people whose deaths we are reporting today: three were from Auckland region, two were in Waikato, one was from Taranaki, one was from MidCentral, and one was from Whanganui.

One was in their 60s, four were in their 80s, and three were aged over 90. Of these people, four were women and four were men.

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 on these.