The Ministry of Health has revealed COVID-19 cases jumped on the first day after the Easter break with 8270 new infections.
New Zealand brought up a grim milestone of over 600 deaths of people with COVID-19 after another five people died on Tuesday, taking the total number of publicly reported deaths to 602.
The Ministry of Health said there are 572 people in hospital, with 19 in ICU or HDU.
What you need to know:
- All of New Zealand is at orange in the COVID Protection Framework.
- New Zealand recorded 8270 new community COVID cases on Tuesday.
- Five additional deaths of people with COVID-19 were reported.
- Location of community cases: Northland (364), Waitemata (708), Auckland (597), Counties Manukau (537), Waikato (641), Bay of Plenty (360), Lakes (149), Hawke’s Bay (282), MidCentral (317), Whanganui (118), Taranaki (277), Tairāwhiti (61), Wairarapa (85), Capital and Coast (524), Hutt Valley (265), Nelson Marlborough (265), Canterbury (1,445), South Canterbury (190), Southern (989), West Coast (87), Unknown (9).
- Locations of hospitalisations: Northland: 45; Waitemata: 91; Counties Manukau: 80; Auckland: 89; Waikato: 38; Bay of Plenty: 25; Lakes: 10; Tairāwhiti: 1; Hawke’s Bay: 16; Taranaki: 13; Whanganui: 5; MidCentral: 18; Wairarapa: 3; Hutt Valley: 23; Capital and Coast: 16; Nelson Marlborough: 9; Canterbury: 51; South Canterbury: 4; West Coast: 1; Southern: 34.
These live updates are now over.
1:12pm - 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: 4,026,200 first doses; 3,976,789 second doses; 31,685 third primary doses; 2,613,482 booster doses: 260,512 paediatric first doses and 104,980 paediatric second doses
- Vaccines administered yesterday: 2 first doses; 18 second doses; 0 third primary doses; 234 booster doses; 6 paediatric first doses and 155 paediatric second doses
People vaccinated
- All Ethnicities (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 4,055,910 first dose (96.4%); 4,005,892 second dose (95.2%), 2,610,367 boosted (71.3% of those eligible)
- Māori (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 520,793 first dose (91.2%); 503,718 second dose (88.2%), 232,758 boosted (55.4% of those eligible)
- Pacific Peoples (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 281,751 first dose (98.3%); 276,803 second dose (96.6%), 138,673 boosted (57.4% of those eligible)
- 5 to 11-year-olds all ethnicities: 258,052 first dose (54.2%); 102,582 second dose (21.5%)
- 5 to 11-year-olds - Māori: 40,658 first dose (35.2%); 11,709 second dose (10.1%)
- 5 to 11-year-olds - Pacific Peoples: 23,394 first dose (47.4%); 5,656 second dose (11.4%)
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 (68.1%)
- Auckland Metro DHB: first dose (97.2%); second dose (96.2%); boosted (69.9%)
- Waikato DHB: first dose (95.1%); second dose (93.6%); boosted (66.9%)
- Bay of Plenty DHB: first dose (95%); second dose (93.4%); boosted (66.4%)
- Lakes DHB: first dose (93.2%); second dose (91.4%); boosted (66.8%)
- MidCentral DHB: first dose (96.4%); second dose (95.2%); boosted (72.5%)
- Tairāwhiti DHB: first dose (93.2%); second dose (91%); boosted (66.3%)
- Whanganui DHB: first dose (91.9%); second dose (90.4%); boosted (71.8%)
- Hawke’s Bay DHB: first dose (97.2%); second dose (95.5%); boosted (70.1%)
- Taranaki DHB: first dose (94.6%); second dose (93.2%); boosted (68.5%)
- Wairarapa DHB: first dose (96.5%); second dose (95%); boosted (73.3%)
- Capital & Coast DHB: first dose (98.5%); second dose (97.8%); boosted (79.5%)
- Hutt Valley DHB: first dose (96.6%); second dose (95.7%); boosted (75.3%)
- Nelson Marlborough DHB: first dose (96.4%); second dose (95.2%); boosted (73.7%)
- West Coast DHB: first dose (92.7%); second dose (91.2%); boosted (72%)
- Canterbury DHB: first dose (99.7%); second dose (98.8%); boosted (74.7%)
- South Canterbury DHB: first dose (94.8%); second dose (93.8%); boosted (74.8%)
- Southern DHB: first dose (98.5%); second dose (97.4%); boosted (73.4%)
*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 572: Northland: 45; Waitemata: 91; Counties Manukau: 80; Auckland: 89; Waikato: 38; Bay of Plenty: 25; Lakes: 10; Tairāwhiti: 1; Hawke’s Bay: 16; Taranaki: 13; Whanganui: 5; MidCentral: 18; Wairarapa: 3; Hutt Valley: 23; Capital and Coast: 16; Nelson Marlborough: 9; Canterbury: 51; South Canterbury: 4; West Coast: 1; Southern: 34.
- *Average age of current hospitalisations: 59
- Cases in ICU or HDU: 19
- Vaccination status of current hospitalisations (Northern Region only, excluding Emergency Departments): Unvaccinated or not eligible (51 cases / 17.35%); partially immunised <7 days from second dose or have only received one dose (8 cases / 2.72%); double vaccinated at least 7 days before being reported as a case (72 cases / 24.49%); Received booster at least 7 days before being reported as a case (150 cases / 51.02%); unknown (13 cases / 4.42%)
Cases
- Seven day rolling average of community cases: 7,585
- Seven day rolling average (as at same day last week): 9,731
- Number of new community cases: 8,270
- Number of new community cases (PCR): 131
- Number of new community cases (RAT): 8,139
- Location of new community cases (PCR & RAT): Northland (364), Waitemata (708), Auckland (597), Counties Manukau (537), Waikato (641), Bay of Plenty (360), Lakes (149), Hawke’s Bay (282), MidCentral (317), Whanganui (118), Taranaki (277), Tairāwhiti (61), Wairarapa (85), Capital and Coast (524), Hutt Valley (265), Nelson Marlborough (265), Canterbury (1,445), South Canterbury (190), Southern (989), West Coast (87), Unknown (9).
- Number of new cases identified at the border: 38
- Number of active community cases today (total): 53,066 (cases identified in the past 7 days and not yet classified as recovered)
- Confirmed cases (total): 837,175
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): 1,519
- Number of Rapid Antigen Tests reported total (last 24 hours): 9,594
- PCR tests rolling average (last 7 days): 2,335
- Number of Rapid Antigen Tests dispatched (last 7 days as of 19 April 2022): 499,000 (please note, none were dispatched over the Easter long weekend)
1:11pm - The ministry has provided an update on the Omicron outbreak:
Today we are reporting 8,270 community cases and five deaths. There are 305 people in hospital and seven people in ICU in Northern Region hospitals.
Hospitalisation data for hospitals outside of the Northern Region is unavailable at this stage today and will be updated on the Ministry of Health’s website as soon as possible.
The seven-day rolling average of case numbers continues to decline, with today's seven-day rolling average at 7,585 – last Tuesday it was 9,731.
The number of reported community cases is expected to continue to fluctuate day to day, but the overall trend remains an overall reduction in reported cases.
1:10pm - The Ministry of Health has provided an update on the COVID-19 related deaths:
Today we are sadly reporting the deaths of five people with COVID-19. These deaths take the total number of publicly reported deaths with COVID-19 to 602 and the seven-day rolling average of reported deaths is 12.
Of the people whose deaths we are reporting today, one was from the Auckland region, one was from Waikato, two were from MidCentral and one was from Tairāwhiti.
One was in their 70s, three were in their 80s, and one was over 90.
One was female and four were male.
This is a very sad time for whānau and friends and our thoughts are with them.
1:08pm - The Ministry of Health has revealed COVID cases have slightly risen on the first day after the Easter break with 8270 new infections.
The health ministry also said five people have died with COVID-19 on Tuesday taking the total number of publicly reported deaths with COVID-19 to 602 and the seven-day rolling average of reported deaths is 12.
Of the new community cases, Northland (364), Waitemata (708), Auckland (597), Counties Manukau (537), Waikato (641), Bay of Plenty (360), Lakes (149), Hawke’s Bay (282), MidCentral (317), Whanganui (118), Taranaki (277), Tairāwhiti (61), Wairarapa (85), Capital and Coast (524), Hutt Valley (265), Nelson Marlborough (265), Canterbury (1,445), South Canterbury (190), Southern (989), West Coast (87), Unknown (9).
There are 38 new COVID cases recorded at the border in Managed Isolation and Quarantine.
12:53pm - There is no press conference planned for Tuesday so we are just waiting on a statement with all the data. We'll bring that to you the moment we get it.
12:50pm - New Zealand singer Neil Finn has tested positive for COVID-19, which has seen Crowded House forced to cancel the final four shows of their Australia tour.
The band were due to perform at Hobart's Mystate Bank Arena today for their next show but their management confirmed the cancellation of the show.
Finn, 63, released a statement about the news saying he was "crushed" to postpone the final four shows.
"I am absolutely crushed to have to postpone the last 4 shows of our Australian tour as I tested positive yesterday morning for COVID," he said.
"In these very difficult conditions for touring, we were staying in our bubble and observing very strict protocols but somehow the virus still slipped through."
The singer is now in isolation and experiencing "mild symptoms".
"I am relieved to be only experiencing mild symptoms at this stage and grateful for the protection that my triple boosted vaccination is providing," he said.
"I am so sorry to disappoint our fans this coming week, but rest assured we will be back to make good."
12:45pm - A woman who had her breast cancer operation delayed twice in the Omicron outbreak feared the "dangerous strangers" in her body would get the better of her.
There were about 2500 fewer planned operations in Auckland the first three months of this year, compared with last year, as hospitals scaled back services to cope with Covid patient numbers and hundreds of sick staff
The 43-year-old mother is one of those who was caught up in the delays.
She found a lump in December and was diagnosed in early January, then suffered an initial hold up for clinical reasons as doctors realised her cancer was in both breasts.
A date was finally set for surgery on 21 March but she got a call a few days beforehand to say there were no theatres available.
She says it was a devastating blow.
"It feels like I've been carrying round a couple of dangerous strangers, unwanted passengers, and the longer that the weeks stretched on the more it seemed like I wasn't going to get there before it started to spread," she said.
Read the full story here.
12:35pm - Three members of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's international travel delegation have tested positive for COVID-19 however all three were weak positives most likely caused by historical infections.
The tests were taken on Monday night local time, as an entry requirement to enter Singapore's official Presidential residence, The Istana, and as a requirement for entry into Japan.
The Prime Minister confirmed in an Instagram post that she tested negative.
Read the full story here.
12:25pm - Here's the most recent information provided by the Ministry of Health about what the COVID-19 situation looked like after Sunday's figures:
12:20pm - Kia ora, good afternoon and welcome to Newshub's live updates of the COVID-19 outbreak for Tuesday.
There is no press conference planned today so the health ministry will provide COVID figures in a press release.
