Today the Ministry of Health are reporting 10,470 community cases, 773 current hospitalisations, and 16 deaths.

The seven-day rolling average of community case numbers today is 9,994.

"Today we are sadly reporting the deaths of 16 people with COVID-19. All these deaths occurred in the past 11 days," says a Ministry of Health spokesperson.

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

"The increase in cases and hospitalisations emphasises the importance of everybody doing the basics well to help prevent infection and serious illness. In particular, people should stay home if they are unwell, take a rapid antigen test (RAT) and upload the result on My Covid Record, and isolate if positive or while still symptomatic.

"If you're heading out to pick up free RATs and masks, please check the Healthpoint website to find your nearest participating pharmacy – as not all pharmacies are providing this service. People can also continue to request free COVID-19 RATs kits online.

"It is important to ensure you are up to date with all vaccinations, including COVID-19 vaccinations. Many are now eligible for a second booster dose, and flu vaccinations, which are free for many people."

• More about COVID-19 vaccine boosters
• More about flu vaccines

Mask up for added protection

"Wearing a mask remains one of the best measures to reduce transmission of infectious respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19.

"The more layers of protection people put in place - such as mask wearing, vaccinations, and staying home when sick - the more they 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, the Ministry urges 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.

"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.

Wider availability of antiviral treatments

"From Monday 18 July 2022, the access criteria for three antiviral treatments for COVID-19 will be widened to include a wider group of people at risk of severe illness from COVID-19 infection. This includes all people aged 75 years and over and those who have been admitted previously to an Intensive Care Unit directly as a result of COVID-19.

"Nirmatrelvir with ritonavir (branded as Paxlovid), molnupiravir (branded as Lagevrio) and remdesivir, an infusion treatment (branded as Veklury) are antivirals used in the community and hospitals to treat people with early COVID-19 at risk of severe illness.

"These antivirals reduce the risk of severe illness, which helps takes pressure off our health system.

"Among other things, this means GPs will be able to provide 'back pocket” prescriptions so that people at risk of acute respiratory illnesses can have their prescription ready should they test positive and can then start taking the medicine promptly."

COVID-19 hospitalisations

• COVID-19 cases in hospital: total number 773: Northland: 22; Waitematā: 141; Counties Manukau: 56; Auckland: 102; Waikato: 63; Bay of Plenty: 38; Lakes: 16; Hawke's Bay: 24; MidCentral: 31; Whanganui: 18; Taranaki: 15; Tairāwhiti: 4; Wairarapa: 12; Hutt Valley: 29; Capital & Coast: 30; Nelson Marlborough: 13; Canterbury: 102; West Coast: 1; South Canterbury: 14; Southern: 42.
• Weekly COVID-19 hospitalisations - 7 day rolling average: 700 (This time last week 499)
• Average age of current COVID-19 hospitalisations: 64
• Cases in ICU or HDU: 14
• Vaccination status of new admissions to hospital*: Unvaccinated or not eligible (52 cases); partially vaccinated

*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: 4,028,897 first doses; 3,981,503 second doses; 33,632 third primary doses; 2,692,730 first booster doses: 152,812 second booster doses: 264,973 paediatric first doses and 139,250 paediatric second doses
• Vaccines administered yesterday: 55 first doses; 39 second doses; 67 third primary doses; 1,028 first booster doses; 16,298 second booster doses; 64 paediatric first doses and 508 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): 3,413
• Number of Rapid Antigen Tests reported total (last 24 hours): 17,560
• PCR tests rolling average (last 7 days): 3,351
• Number of Rapid Antigen Tests dispatched (last seven days as of 14 July 2022): 2.9 million

COVID-19 cases

• Total number of new community cases: 10,470
• COVID-19 re-infection in community cases 412, of which 130 were cases between 29 and 90 days of a previous infection
• Number of new cases that have recently travelled overseas: 333
• Seven day rolling average of community cases: 9,994
• Seven day rolling average of community cases (as at same day last week): 8,310
• Number of active cases (total): 69,924 (cases identified in the past seven days and not yet classified as recovered)
• Confirmed cases (total): 1,474,875
• Location of new community cases by district over past 24 hours

You can also view a detailed breakdown of daily case numbers for each district since the beginning of the pandemic by clicking the ‘download' button on the right hand side of this page: New Zealand COVID-19 data.

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 1,776 and the seven-day rolling average of reported deaths is 16.

Of the people whose deaths we are reporting today: three were from the Auckland region, one was from Waikato, one was from Bay of Plenty, one was from Lakes, one was from MidCentral, two were from Whanganui, five were from the Wellington region, one was from South Canterbury, and one was from Southern.

One person was in their 60s, one was in their 70s, six were in their 80s and eight were aged over 90. Of these people, four were females and 12 were males.

"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."