The Ministry of Health has revealed COVID-19 cases have slightly dropped in New Zealand with 9047 new infections and 484 people in hospital.
Another 13 deaths of people with COVID-19 were also reported on Thursday. That count included people who had died in the past nine days, apart from two deaths on April 4.
The 13 deaths reported brings New Zealand's total to 723.
What you need to know:
- All of New Zealand is at the orange COVID traffic light setting
- New Zealand recorded 9047 new community COVID cases on Thursday.
- Fifteen additional deaths of people with COVID-19 were reported.
- There were 484 people in hospital on Thursday, 15 of whom were in ICU.
These live updates are now over.
1:10pm - 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: 4,026,504 first doses; 3,977,718 second doses; 31,714 third primary doses; 2,625,636 booster doses: 261,243 paediatric first doses and 112,871 paediatric second doses
- Vaccines administered yesterday: 46 first doses; 123 second doses; 20 third primary doses; 1,600 booster doses; 104 paediatric first doses and 1,121 paediatric second doses.
People vaccinated
- All Ethnicities (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 4,056,187 first dose (96.4%); 4,006,777 second dose (95.2%), 2,621,890 boosted (71% of those eligible)
- Māori (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 520,959 first dose (91.2%); 503,961 second dose (88.3%), 233,979 boosted (54.8% of those eligible)
- Pacific Peoples (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 281,834 first dose (98.3%); 276,928 second dose (96.6%), 139,456 boosted (57% of those eligible)
- 5 to 11-year-olds all ethnicities: 258,552 first dose (54.3%); 110,228 second dose (23.1%)
- 5 to 11-year-olds - Māori: 40,754 first dose (35.3%); 12,458 second dose (10.8%)
- 5 to 11-year-olds - Pacific Peoples: 23,447 first dose (47.5%); 6,209 second dose (12.6%)
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 (88%); boosted (67.8%)
- Auckland DHB: first dose (99.2%); second dose (98.3%); boosted (72.9%)
- Counties Manukau DHB: first dose (96.2%); second dose (95%); boosted (65.9%)
- Waitemata DHB: first dose (96.5%); second dose (95.6%); boosted (70.7%)
- Waikato DHB: first dose (95.1%); second dose (93.6%); boosted (66.6%)
- Bay of Plenty DHB: first dose (95.1%); second dose (93.4%); boosted (66%)
- Lakes DHB: first dose (93.2%); second dose (91.4%); boosted (66.4%)
- MidCentral DHB: first dose (96.4%); second dose (95.2%); boosted (72.2%)
- Tairāwhiti DHB: first dose (93.2%); second dose (91%); boosted (65.9%)
- Whanganui DHB: first dose (91.9%); second dose (90.4%); boosted (71.5%)
- Hawke’s Bay DHB: first dose (97.2%); second dose (95.6%); boosted (69.8%)
- Taranaki DHB: first dose (94.6%); second dose (93.3%); boosted (68.1%)
- Wairarapa DHB: first dose (96.5%); second dose (95%); boosted (73%)
- Capital & Coast DHB: first dose (98.5%); second dose (97.8%); boosted (79.4%)
- Hutt Valley DHB: first dose (96.6%); second dose (95.7%); boosted (75%)
- Nelson Marlborough DHB: first dose (96.4%); second dose (95.2%); boosted (73.4%)
- West Coast DHB: first dose (92.7%); second dose (91.3%); boosted (71.6%)
- Canterbury DHB: first dose (99.7%); second dose (98.8%); boosted (74.5%)
- South Canterbury DHB: first dose (94.7%); second dose (93.7%); boosted (74.5%)
- Southern DHB: first dose (98.5%); second dose (97.4%); boosted (73.2%).
*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 484: Northland: 36; Waitemata: 74; Counties Manukau: 60; Auckland: 105; Waikato: 33; Bay of Plenty: 14; Lakes: 3; Tairāwhiti: 1; Hawke’s Bay: 12; Taranaki: 7; Whanganui: 3; MidCentral: 7; Wairarapa: 2; Hutt Valley: 14; Capital and Coast: 9; Nelson Marlborough: 6; Canterbury: 60; South Canterbury: 4; West Coast: 1; Southern: 33
- *Average age of current hospitalisations: 59
- Cases in ICU or HDU: 15
- Vaccination status of current hospitalisations (Northern Region only, excluding Emergency Departments): Unvaccinated or not eligible (45 cases / 17.31%); partially immunised <7 days from second dose or have only received one dose (5 cases / 1.92%); double vaccinated at least 7 days before being reported as a case (79 cases / 30.38%); Received booster at least 7 days before being reported as a case (124 cases / 47.69%); Unknown (7 cases / 2.69%)
*Please note the average age of current hospitalisations is for the Northern Region admissions only at this stage. This data is recorded and extracted from the same source as the vaccination status of patients in Northern Region hospitals.
We are currently working on a data solution which would include the average age of current hospitalisations from additional DHBs.
Cases
- Seven day rolling average of community cases: 7,705
- Seven day rolling average (as at same day last week): 7,935
- Number of new community cases: 9,047
- Number of new community cases (PCR): 355
- Number of new community cases (RAT): 8,692
- Location of new community cases (PCR & RAT): Northland (276), Auckland (2,519), Waikato (550), Bay of Plenty (335), Lakes (129), Hawke’s Bay (281), MidCentral (344), Whanganui (108), Taranaki (215), Tairāwhiti (137), Wairarapa (95), Capital and Coast (589), Hutt Valley (236), Nelson Marlborough (358), Canterbury (1,505), South Canterbury (185), Southern (1,065), West Coast (113), Unknown (7)
- Number of new cases identified at the border: 80
- Number of active community cases (total): 53,917 (cases identified in the past 7 days and not yet classified as recovered)
- Confirmed cases (total): 912,490
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): 3,412
- Number of Rapid Antigen Tests reported total (last 24 hours): 17,483
- PCR tests rolling average (last 7 days): 2,233
- Number of Rapid Antigen Tests dispatched (last 7 days as of 22 April 2022): 629,000.
1:09pm - The ministry has provided an update on the Omicron outbreak:
Today we are reporting 9,047 community cases, 484 hospitalisations and 13 deaths.
Today’s seven-day rolling average of case numbers is 7,705 – similar to last Thursday, when it was 7,935.
It’s an ongoing reminder to remain vigilant. Please 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, your whānau and friends is to get vaccinated, if you aren’t already. It’s free and available for everyone aged five and over.
Vaccination remains our best defence against COVID-19 and a booster – in addition to first and second doses – gives you greater immunity against Omicron and severe illness. There’s a much lower risk of being hospitalised if you’re up to date with your COVID-19 vaccinations.
So, if you or your whānau are due for a COVID-19 vaccination – whether it be a first or second dose or a booster – please, make an appointment today.
1:07pm -The Ministry of Health has provided an update on the COVID-19 related deaths:
Today we are sadly reporting the deaths of 13 people with COVID-19. The deaths being reported today are for people who have died over the previous nine days, apart from two deaths on 4 April.
Delays to reporting can also 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 723 and the seven-day rolling average of reported deaths is 13.
Of the people whose deaths we are reporting today, two people were from the Auckland region, three from Bay of Plenty, two from Waikato, one from Taranaki, one from MidCentral, one from Hawke’s Bay, and three from Canterbury.
Two were in their 50s, two in their 60s, one in their 70s, three in their 80s, and five were over 90.
Five were women and eight were men.
Out of respect, we will be making no further comment.
1:06pm - The Ministry of Health has revealed COVID cases have dropped in New Zealand with 9047 new infections and 484 people in hospital.
The health ministry also said 13 have died with COVID-19 on Thursday taking the total number of publicly reported deaths with COVID-19 to 723 and the seven-day rolling average of reported deaths is 13.
Of the new community cases, Northland (276), Auckland (2,519), Waikato (550), Bay of Plenty (335), Lakes (129), Hawke’s Bay (281), MidCentral (344), Whanganui (108), Taranaki (215), Tairāwhiti (137), Wairarapa (95), Capital and Coast (589), Hutt Valley (236), Nelson Marlborough (358), Canterbury (1,505), South Canterbury (185), Southern (1,065), West Coast (113), Unknown (7).
The ministry announced there are 484 people in hospital with 15 in ICU or HDU.
Of the 484 people in hospital: Northland: 36; Waitemata: 74; Counties Manukau: 60; Auckland: 105; Waikato: 33; Bay of Plenty: 14; Lakes: 3; Tairāwhiti: 1; Hawke’s Bay: 12; Taranaki: 7; Whanganui: 3; MidCentral: 7; Wairarapa: 2; Hutt Valley: 14; Capital and Coast: 9; Nelson Marlborough: 6; Canterbury: 60; South Canterbury: 4; West Coast: 1; Southern: 33.
There are 80 new COVID cases recorded at the border in Managed Isolation and Quarantine.
12:53pm - There is no press conference planned for Thursday so we are just waiting on a statement with all the data. We'll bring that to you the moment we get it.
12:51pm - Advocates for New Zealanders who were stuck overseas and unable to come home are welcoming a High Court ruling which found the Managed Isolation and Quarantine lottery system was unfair.
London-based Grounded Kiwis spokesperson Alexandra Birt stayed up all night to hear the decision.
"To have recognition that the MIQ lottery was not justified, and was a flawed system that breached the rights of New Zealand citizens overseas, was obviously a huge decision, and very emotional," she said.
Yesterday, the High Court found the MIQ lottery "did not sufficiently allow individual circumstances to be considered and prioritised," and the emergency allocation categories were too tight.
Read the full story here.
12:47pm - Here's the most recent information provided by the Ministry of Health about what the COVID-19 situation looked like after Wednesday's figures:
12:40pm - Kia ora, good afternoon and welcome to Newshub's live updates of the COVID-19 outbreak for Thursday.
