COVID case numbers have tumbled for the fifth straight day in New Zealand with 8810 new infections and 690 people in hospital.
It has been 38 days - February 24 - since the last time daily COVID cases were below 10,000.
The health ministry also reported 18 virus-related deaths on Sunday, taking the total number of publicly reported COVID deaths to 396 and the 7-day rolling average of reported deaths to 20.
What you need to know:
- 8810 new community COVID cases recorded on Sunday.
- Eighteen additional deaths of people with COVID-19 reported.
- Location of new community cases: Northland (385), Auckland (1,555), Waikato (729), Bay of Plenty (414), Lakes (226), Hawke’s Bay (420), MidCentral (502), Whanganui (222), Taranaki (342), Tairāwhiti (102), Wairarapa (91), Capital and Coast (635), Hutt Valley (389), Nelson Marlborough (364), Canterbury (1,463), South Canterbury (172), Southern (735), West Coast (57), Unknown (7)
- There are 690 people in hospital, including 26 in ICU
- The average age of current hospitalisations: 59
- Locations of hospitalisations: Northland: 27; Waitemata: 106; Counties Manukau: 135; Auckland: 98; Waikato: 73; Bay of Plenty: 30; Lakes: 13; Tairāwhiti: 3, Hawke’s Bay: 37; Taranaki: 19; Whanganui: 5; MidCentral: 22; Hutt Valley: 18; Capital and Coast: 14; Nelson Marlborough: 17; Canterbury: 44; Southern: 29.
- Number of new cases identified at the border: 31
These live updates have now finished.
1:06pm - Here is the latest data from the Ministry of Health on the outbreak and vaccination campaign:
Vaccinations administered in New Zealand
- Vaccines administered to date: 4,025,727 first doses; 3,974,893 second doses; 34,381 third primary doses; 2,588,367 booster doses: 259,383 paediatric first doses and 89,410 paediatric second doses
- Vaccines administered yesterday: 75 first doses; 139 second doses; 8 third primary doses; 1,975 booster doses; 223 paediatric first doses and 3,872 paediatric second doses
People vaccinated
- All Ethnicities (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 4,055,356 first dose (96.3%); 4,002,823 second dose (95.1%), 2,586,290 boosted (72.7% of those eligible)
- Māori (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 520,406 first dose (91.1%); 502,946 second dose (88.1%), 229,678 boosted (57.5% of those eligible)
- Pacific Peoples (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 281,565 first dose (98.2%); 276,432 second dose (96.4%), 136,875 boosted (59.3% of those eligible)
- 5 to 11-year-olds all ethnicities: 257,344 first dose (54%); 87,438 second dose (18.4%)
- 5 to 11-year-olds - Māori: 40,426 first dose (35%); 9,761 second dose (8.4%)
- 5 to 11-year-olds - Pacific Peoples: 23,303 first dose (47.2%); 4,709 second dose (9.5%)
Note that the number for “People vaccinated” differs slightly from “Vaccines administered” as it includes those that have been vaccinated overseas.
Vaccination rates for all DHBs*
- Northland DHB: first dose (90.1%); second dose (87.9%); boosted (69.4%)
- Auckland Metro DHB: first dose (97.2%); second dose (96.1%); boosted (71.2%)
- Waikato DHB: first dose (95.1%); second dose (93.5%); boosted (68.3%)
- Bay of Plenty DHB: first dose (95%); second dose (93.3%); boosted (67.8%)
- Lakes DHB: first dose (93.2%); second dose (91.3%); boosted (68.4%)
- MidCentral DHB: first dose (96.5%); second dose (95.2%); boosted (74.1%)
- Tairāwhiti DHB: first dose (93.2%); second dose (90.9%); boosted (68.2%)
- Whanganui DHB: first dose (91.9%); second dose (90.4%); boosted (73.4%)
- Hawke’s Bay DHB: first dose (97.1%); second dose (95.4%); boosted (71.9%)
- Taranaki DHB: first dose (94.6%); second dose (93.2%); boosted (70%)
- Wairarapa DHB: first dose (96.4%); second dose (94.9%); boosted (74.7%)
- Capital & Coast DHB: first dose (98.5%); second dose (97.8%); boosted (81.1%)
- Hutt Valley DHB: first dose (96.6%); second dose (95.6%); boosted (76.8%)
- Nelson Marlborough DHB: first dose (96.4%); second dose (95.1%); boosted (75.4%)
- West Coast DHB: first dose (92.6%); second dose (91.2%); boosted (73.3%)
- Canterbury DHB: first dose (99.7%); second dose (98.7%); boosted (75.9%)
- South Canterbury DHB: first dose (94.9%); second dose (93.8%); boosted (76.3%)
- Southern DHB: first dose (98.3%); second dose (97.2%); boosted (74.8%)
*Partially and second doses percentages are for those 12+. Boosted percentages are for 18+ who have become eligible 3 months after having their second dose
Percentages are based on 2020 HSU data - a health-specific population denominator. As the population continues to change over time, coverage rates can exceed 100%.
Hospitalisations
- Cases in hospital: total number 690: Northland: 27; Waitemata: 106; Counties Manukau: 135; Auckland: 98; Waikato: 73; Bay of Plenty: 30; Lakes: 13; Tairāwhiti: 3, Hawke’s Bay: 37; Taranaki: 19; Whanganui: 5; MidCentral: 22; Hutt Valley: 18; Capital and Coast: 14; Nelson Marlborough: 17; Canterbury: 44; Southern: 29
- Average age of current hospitalisations: 59
- Cases in ICU or HDU: 26
- Vaccination status of current hospitalisations (Northern Region only, excluding Emergency Departments): Unvaccinated or not eligible (48 cases / 13%); partially immunised <7 days from second dose or have only received one dose (7 cases / 2%); double vaccinated at least 7 days before being reported as a case (75 cases / 21%); Received booster at least 7 days before being reported as a case (102 cases / 29%); unknown (124 / 35%)
Cases
- Seven day rolling average of community cases: 13,543
- Seven day rolling average (as at Sunday last week): 16,325
- Number of new community cases: 8,810
- Number of new community cases (PCR): 186
- Number of new community cases (RAT): 8,624
- Location of new community cases (PCR & RAT): Northland (385), Auckland (1,555), Waikato (729), Bay of Plenty (414), Lakes (226), Hawke’s Bay (420), MidCentral (502), Whanganui (222), Taranaki (342), Tairāwhiti (102), Wairarapa (91), Capital and Coast (635), Hutt Valley (389), Nelson Marlborough (364), Canterbury (1,463), South Canterbury (172), Southern (735), West Coast (57), Unknown (7)
- Number of new cases identified at the border: 31
- Number of active community cases (total): 94,780 (cases identified in the past 7 days and not yet classified as recovered)
- Confirmed cases (total): 691,742
Please note, the Ministry of Health’s daily reported cases may differ slightly from those reported at a DHB 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.
Tests
- Number of PCR tests total (last 24 hours): 2,142
- Number of Rapid Antigen Tests reported total (last 24 hours): 16,239
- PCR tests rolling average (last 7 days): 2,818
- Number of Rapid Antigen Tests dispatched (last 7 days as of 31/03/22): 6.2 million. (Please note that this number is not updated over the weekend and reflects the number of tests as of Friday).
1:05pm - The ministry has provided an update on the Omicron outbreak:
Today we are reporting 8,810 community cases, 690 hospitalisations and 18 deaths.
The seven-day rolling average of case numbers continues to decline, Today's seven-day rolling average is 13,543, while the seven-day rolling average of cases as at last Sunday was 16,325.
While it is encouraging to continue to see case numbers and the seven daily rolling average of cases drop, it’s not unexpected as we generally see lower testing and reporting over weekends. It’s also an important reminder to remain vigilant.
From 11:59pm tomorrow night, there is no requirement to use My Vaccine Pass.
Businesses will still be able to use the system if they would like to.
As restrictions around the pass ease, it is important for people to continue to follow public health advice to stay at home; away from school or work if you’re feeling unwell. Another way to protect you and your whanau is to get vaccinated if you haven’t already done so.
Please if you are due for a vaccination, whether it be a second shot or booster make an appointment today.
There is a much lower risk of being hospitalised or developing severe illness if you are up to date with your vaccinations.
1:03pm - The Ministry of Health has provided an update on the COVID-19 related deaths:
Today we are sadly reporting the deaths of 18 people with COVID-19. The deaths being reported today include people who have died over the past 5 days. Delays to reporting can be associated with people dying with COVID-19, rather than from COVID-19, and COVID being discovered only after they have died.
These deaths take the total number of publicly reported deaths with COVID-19 to 396 and the 7-day rolling average of reported deaths is 20.
Of the people whose deaths we are reporting today, two were from Northland, seven from the Auckland region, three from Waikato, one from Whanganui, one from Hawke’s Bay, one from the Wellington region, two from Canterbury, and one from Southern.
One person was in their 30s, three in their 60s, eight in their 70s, three in their 80s, and three were over-90.
Twelve were men and six were women.
Out of respect, we will be making no further comment.
1:02pm - COVID case numbers have tumbled for the fifth straight day in New Zealand with 8810 new infections and 690 people in hospital.
The health ministry also said 18 people have died with COVID-19 on Sunday with two from Northland, seven from the Auckland region, three from Waikato, one from Whanganui, one from Hawke’s Bay, one from the Wellington region, two from Canterbury, and one from Southern.
It has been 38 days - February 24 - since the last time COVID cases were below 10,000.
Of the new community cases, Northland (385), Auckland (1,555), Waikato (729), Bay of Plenty (414), Lakes (226), Hawke’s Bay (420), MidCentral (502), Whanganui (222), Taranaki (342), Tairāwhiti (102), Wairarapa (91), Capital and Coast (635), Hutt Valley (389), Nelson Marlborough (364), Canterbury (1,463), South Canterbury (172), Southern (735), West Coast (57), Unknown (7).
The ministry announced there are 690 people in hospital with 26 in ICU or HDU.
Of the 690 people in hospital: Northland: 27; Waitemata: 106; Counties Manukau: 135; Auckland: 98; Waikato: 73; Bay of Plenty: 30; Lakes: 13; Tairāwhiti: 3, Hawke’s Bay: 37; Taranaki: 19; Whanganui: 5; MidCentral: 22; Hutt Valley: 18; Capital and Coast: 14; Nelson Marlborough: 17; Canterbury: 44; Southern: 29.
There are 31 new COVID cases recorded at the border in Managed Isolation and Quarantine.
12:50pm - The Ministry of Health will release a statement with the latest updates on the COVID-19 outbreak very shortly.
Stay tuned, as we will publish the newest developments live as soon as the statement is available.
12:40pm - As we wait for Wednesday's case data, here's a look at the Ministry of Health's summary on the current COVID-19 situation.
12:30pm - Kia ora, good afternoon and welcome to Newshub's live updates of the COVID-19 outbreak for Sunday.
