Today, the Ministry of Health is reporting 10,424 community cases, 788 current hospitalisations, and 21 deaths.

The seven-day rolling average of community case numbers today is 9528.

"Today we are sadly reporting the deaths of 21 people with Covid-19," says a ministry spokesperson.

"They include one death from April and one death from June, which are being reported following completion of the cause of death assessment. In some instances, it can take some time for the full clinical assessments to be finalised.

"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 case, death and hospitalisation numbers emphasise 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 people are now eligible for a second booster dose, and flu vaccinations, which are free for many people."

Covid-19 hospitalisations

• Covid-19 Cases in hospital: total number 788: Northland: 28; Waitematā: 135; Counties Manukau: 57; Auckland: 102; Waikato: 60; Bay of Plenty: 43; Lakes: 20; Hawke's Bay: 35; MidCentral: 34; Whanganui: 17; Taranaki: 15; Tairāwhiti: 4; Wairarapa: 7; Capital & Coast/Hutt: 50; Nelson Marlborough: 15; Canterbury/West Coast: 115; South Canterbury: 9; Southern: 42.
• Weekly Covid-19 hospitalisations - 7 day rolling average: 764 (This time last week 613)
• Average age of current Covid-19 hospitalisations: 64
• Cases in ICU or HDU: 20
• Vaccination status of new admissions to hospital*: Unvaccinated or not eligible (58 cases); partially immunised

*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

• Vaccines administered to date: 4,028,950 first doses; 3,981,628 second doses; 33,697 third primary doses; 2,696,257 first booster doses: 191,349 second booster doses: 265,262 paediatric first doses and 140,939 paediatric second doses
• Vaccines administered yesterday: 30 first doses; 39 second doses; 30 third primary doses; 976 first booster doses; 13,564 second booster doses; 73 paediatric first doses and 464 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) 3,210
• Number of Rapid Antigen Tests reported total (last 24 hours): 18,167
• PCR tests rolling average (last 7 days): 3,297
• Number of Rapid Antigen Tests dispatched (last seven days as of 18 July 2022): 3.9 million

Covid-19 cases

• Total number of new community cases: 10,424
• Number of new cases that have recently travelled overseas: 348
• Seven day rolling average of community cases: 9,528
• Seven day rolling average of community cases (as at same day last week): 9,554
• Number of active cases (total): 66,653 (cases identified in the past seven days and not yet classified as recovered)
• Confirmed cases (total): 1,508,837
• 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 takes the total number of publicly reported deaths with Covid-19 to 1,870 and the seven-day rolling average of reported deaths is 23.

Of the people whose deaths we are reporting today: two were from Auckland region, one was from Waikato, one was from Lakes, two were from MidCentral, one was from Whanganui, three were from Wellington region, four were from Nelson/Marlborough, three were from Canterbury/West Coast and four were from Southern.

One person was in their 40s, one was in their 60s, four were in their 70s, 10 were in their 80s and five were aged over 90. Of these people, 13 were women and eight 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."