New Zealand is reporting 126 new COVID-19 cases today - a decline from yesterday's new record high of 162.
Beyond today's case numbers, here's what you may have missed from the Ministry of Health's latest COVID-19 update.
Locations of new cases
Of Tuesday's 126 new cases, 107 are in Auckland, 18 in Waikato, and one in Northland.
The Northland case is someone living in Kaitaia, who is a household member of the Northland case reported on Monday.
There have been 14 total COVID-19 cases in the region so far, with three classified as recovered.
In Auckland, 582 positive cases are isolating at home. The Ministry of Health says public health officials are supporting these people so they can isolate safely.
Two more staff members at Edmonton Meadows care home in Henderson have tested positive. The total number of active cases there is now 12.
Two COVID-positive residents are receiving appropriate ward-level care at North Shore Hospital.
The source of infection at the care home remains unknown.
Waikato's 18 new cases are in Hamilton (six), Te Awamutu/Kihikihi (five), Ōtorohanga (four), Ngāruawāhia (two), and Kawhia (one). All cases are epidemiologically linked.
There are no new cases in Christchurch. There are still four active cases in the city, all of which are in quarantine.
The Ministry of Health says two community cases reported on Monday were incorrectly classified and have been removed from the total community case count and added to the cases at the border.
One previously reported community case has been confirmed as a historical case and one case was a MIQ worker who has been classified as a community case after investigation.
Auckland Corrections facilities cases
The Ministry of Health says there is a "small number" of cases in Auckland in Corrections custody.
These people were exposed to COVID-19 before coming into custody and there's no evidence of in-facility transmission so far.
"The Department of Corrections has controls in place to minimise risks relating to the transmission of COVID-19, including health screening, separating all newly arrived prisoners for their first 14 days, testing prisoners for COVID-19 on days 0, 5, and 12, and isolating suspected and confirmed cases," the Ministry of Health says.
In New Zealand, 67 percent of prisoners have received their first dose of the vaccine and 50 percent are fully vaccinated. Although the prison population changes daily due to arrests and releases, the ministry says Corrections is working to encourage prisoners to be vaccinated.
"Since the start of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, more than 500 people who have been released from custody have also been fully vaccinated while in prison," the Ministry of Health says.
"Meanwhile, 81 percent of prison-based staff have received their first dose and 66 percent are fully vaccinated."
Vaccination rates by DHBs with active cases
Northland:
- 128,068 first doses (79 percent of eligible population)
- 104,560 second doses (65 percent).
Auckland metro DHBs:
- 1,310,293 first doses (91 percent)
- 1,161,233 second doses (81 percent).
Waikato:
- 310,408 first doses (87 percent)
- 259,827 second doses (73 percent).
Canterbury:
- 441,511 first doses (91 percent)
- 359,535 second doses (74 percent).
All of New Zealand:
- 3,716,740 first doses (88 percent)
- 3,179,817 second doses (76 percent).
Hospitalisations
There are 49 COVID-positive in hospital, down from 53 on Monday.
There are 19 people in Auckland Hospital, 17 in North Shore Hospital, 12 in Middlemore Hospital, and one in Waikato Hospital. Three of these people are in an intensive care unit or high dependency unit.
The average age of people hospitalised is 47 years old.
