There have been 2772 new cases of Covid-19 reported in New Zealand over the week to Sunday, and 31 further deaths attributed to the virus.

That is an decrease on the 3657 cases and 40 deaths reported by Te Whatu Ora/Health NZ last week.

Last week, there were 3657 new cases of Covid-19 reported in New Zealand over the week, and 40 further deaths attributed to the virus. The number of deaths had nearly doubled from the previous week.

Of the new cases this last week, 1686 are reinfections.There are 173 cases in hospital.

Te Whatu Ora also notes on its website that an issue with reported Covid cases and related hospital admissions, covering the period May 27 to  June 23, led to an undercount being published on June 24.

"The underlying issue was identified and resolved. Affected counts have been updated and will appear higher than previously reported."

Te Whatu Ora/Health NZ announced last week it would scrap Covid sick leave for health workers from July 14.

Chief executive Margie Apa says the organisation would revert to its "normal supports for staff when they are sick".

"As with other organisations, we will manage Covid-19 in the same way as other infectious illnesses."

But the Public Service Association, which represents 25,000 health workers, says people's lives would be put at risk if health workers could not stay home when unwell.

"This is simply irresponsible at a time when we are seeing a surge in Covid cases - taking away sick leave will cause more Covid transmission in hospitals amongst ill and vulnerable people," says the union's health sector lead Andrew Skelly.

The country was just emerging from its sixth big wave of Covid transmission in 30 months, which had seen 55 people a day hospitalised at its peak, he says.

Meanwhile, more than 20 residents at a Wellington retirement village have tested positive to Covid-19 in an outbreak.

Keep testing and stay home if you're unwell is an expert's advice as thousands more cases are notified.

In late May the country is experienced its highest peak in Covid-19 cases since December 2022.

Otago University Biochemistry Professor Kurt Krause says it is important to continue testing for Covid-19 so that health experts knew if the cases were "a ripple" or "a major wave".

Asked what people should do if they suspected they might have Covid but a RAT test was negative, he says he would like a culture to develop that people stayed home if they were sick.

"People should stay home to protect both themselves and their co-workers and if they needed to go out briefly wear a mask.

"Please stay home if you're sick."

People should also consider they might have another winter virus such as influenza-A or another respiratory virus.

"It's not just Covid out there."