Today, the Ministry of Health is reporting 11,548 community cases, 710 current hospitalisations, and 19 deaths.

The seven-day rolling average of community case numbers today is 9550.

Today's reported cases are a sharp increase on Monday, when 8395 Covid community cases were reported.

"Today we are sadly reporting the deaths of 19 people with Covid-19. All these deaths occurred in the past four days," says a spokesperson for the ministry.

"The Ministry of Health and Te Whatu Ora – Health NZ are closely monitoring the continued increase in Covid-19 positive hospitalisations as part of our ongoing review and updating of the response to the current community outbreak.

"The increase in hospitalisations also emphasises the importance of everybody doing the basics well to help New Zealand get through winter in good shape.

"In particular, people should stay home if they are unwell, take a rapid antigen test (RAT) and upload the result on MyCovidRecord, and isolate if positive or while still symptomatic.

"And now is the time to ensure you are up to date with your Covid-19 vaccinations, including those who are eligible for a second booster dose, as well as having a flu vaccination, which is free for many people."

With the increase in cases numbers, people are being urged to wear a mask when out in public.

"The more layers of protection we put in place - such as mask wearing, vaccinations, and staying home when sick - the more we reduce the risk of spreading respiratory viruses.

"Even if you're fully vaccinated, or have had Covid-19, continuing to wear a face mask is important in keeping you, your whanau and your community safe.

"As a general rule, we urge people to wear a mask in public indoor settings outside the home and in poorly ventilated spaces, or when it is hard to physically distance from other people.

"You must wear a mask on public transport and at transport hubs like airports and bus stations, inside public venues like museums and libraries, when visiting a health care service, and inside retail businesses like supermarkets and shopping malls."

The ministry says masking up is particularly important when around more vulnerable members of the community, especially those who are older, those in aged residential care and healthcare settings where appropriate.

It says wearing a mask also helps protect healthcare and aged residential care staff, reducing their chances of becoming unwell and supporting them to continue to provide care to those that need it.

"There are many tips to help reduce your chance of serious illness this winter."

See the information in the links below.

• View a video of these tips on the Ministry's Facebook page
• Guidance if you or someone you know tests positive or becomes a household contact
• Information on mask use at Orange
• Getting a flu jab

Covid-19 hospitalisations

• Covid-19 Cases in hospital: total number 710: Northland: 16; Waitematā: 141; Counties Manukau: 59; Auckland: 85; Waikato: 58; Bay of Plenty: 36; Lakes: 9; Hawke's Bay: 25; MidCentral: 26; Whanganui: 13; Taranaki: 13; Tairawhiti: 4; Wairarapa: 11; Capital & Coast: 37; Hutt Valley: 27; Nelson Marlborough: 16; Canterbury: 78; West Coast: 2; South Canterbury: 17; Southern: 37.
• Weekly COVID-19 Hospitalisations - 7 day rolling average: 613 (This time last week 436)
• Average age of current COVID-19 hospitalisations: 64
• Cases in ICU or HDU: 17
• Vaccination status of new admissions to hospital*: Unvaccinated or not eligible (56 cases); double vaccinated at least 7 days before being reported as a case (79 cases); received booster at least 7 days before being reported as a case (339 cases).

*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 Districts with tertiary hospitals: Auckland, Canterbury, Southern, Counties Manukau, Waikato, Capital & Coast, Waitemata and Northland.

Covid-19 vaccinations administered

Vaccinations administered in New Zealand

• Vaccines administered to date: 4,028,776 first doses; 3,981,373 second doses; 33,421 third primary doses; 2,689,610 first booster doses: 107,468 second booster doses: 264,762 paediatric first doses and 137,800 paediatric second doses
• Vaccines administered yesterday: 35 first doses; 43 second doses; 51 third primary doses; 1,029 first booster doses; 16,507 second booster doses; 74 paediatric first doses and 618 paediatric second doses
• More detailed information, including vaccine uptake by District, is available on the Ministry website.

Tests

• Number of PCR tests total (last 24 hours): 3,336
• Number of Rapid Antigen Tests reported total (last 24 hours): 19,414
• PCR tests rolling average (last 7 days): 3,286
• Number of Rapid Antigen Tests dispatched (last seven days as of 11 July 2022): 2.5 million

Covid-19 cases

• Total number of new community cases: 11,548
• Covid re-infection in community cases 435, of which 122 were cases between 29 and 90 days of a previous infection
• Number of new cases that have recently travelled overseas: 311
• Seven day rolling average of community cases: 9,550
• Seven day rolling average of community cases (as at same day last week): 7,246
• Number of active cases (total): 66,803 (cases identified in the past seven days and not yet classified as recovered)
• Confirmed cases (total): 1,441,186
• Location of new community cases by district over past 24 hours

Please note, the Ministry of Health's daily reported cases may differ slightly from those reported at a District 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 1707 and the seven-day rolling average of reported deaths is 17.

Of the people whose deaths we are reporting today: one was from the Auckland region, three were from Bay of Plenty, one was from Taranaki, two were from Whanganui, one was from Hawke's Bay, four were from MidCentral, one was from Lakes, three were from the Wellington region, two were from Canterbury, and one was from Southern.

One was in their 40s, two were in their 60s, three were in their 70s, five were in their 80s and eight were aged over 90. Of these people, ten were women and nine 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 today's reported deaths," says the ministry.