20,907 new cases; 1016 in hospital; 25 in ICU; 15 deaths 

Today we are reporting 20,907 community cases, 1016 hospitalisations and 15 deaths.

We have seen an increase today in case numbers across most regions of New Zealand, however it’s not unexpected as we generally see lower testing and reporting over weekends.

Getting boosted continues to be one of the most important ways people can protect themselves from Omicron and severe illness.

There is a much lower risk of being hospitalised if you are up to date with your vaccinations, which, for Omicron, includes a third or booster dose.

Covid-19 related deaths

Sadly, we are today reporting an additional 15 people have died.

These deaths take the total number of publicly-reported Covid-related deaths to 199 and the 7-day rolling average of reported deaths to 10.

Of these 15 people who have died, nine are from the Auckland region, three from Waikato, and three from the Wellington region

One of these people was in their 50s, three in their 60s, six in their 70s and five were in their 80s.

Eight were men and seven were women.

Our thoughts and condolences are with their family and friends at this sad time.

Out of respect, we will be making no further comment.

Testing

Testing continues to play an important part in our response to Covid-19.

If you’re symptomatic, please stay at home and get a test.

If you’re unsure whether or not to get a test, please contact your health professional or Health on 0800 358 5453 and follow advice.

If you test positive for Covid-19, you are required to isolate for 7 days. You do not need to be retested after your initial positive result. You can return to work or school after your isolation period ends without another test, unless you work in a high risk workplace like a healthcare setting.

If you still have symptoms after 7 days, stay home until you feel better and then wait another 24 hours.

Your household contacts should also stay at home, have tests at day 3 and 7 or if they develop symptoms.

Vaccinations administered in New Zealand

• Vaccines administered to date: 4,024,664 first doses; 3,972,259 second doses; 34,211 third primary doses; 2,556,753 booster doses: 257,186 paediatric first doses and 44,155 paediatric second doses
• Vaccines administered yesterday: 183 first doses; 322 second doses; 21 third primary doses; 3763 booster doses; 198 paediatric first doses and 3717 paediatric second doses

People vaccinated

• All Ethnicities (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 4,053,907 first dose (96.3%); 4,000,867 second dose (95.1%), 2,555,907 boosted (72.8% of those eligible)
• Māori (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 520,019 first dose (91.1%); 502,059 second dose (87.9%), 225,850 boosted (58.6% of those eligible)
• Pacific Peoples (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 281,308 first dose (98.1%); 276,080 second dose (96.3%), 134,624 boosted (59.5% of those eligible)
• 5 to 11-year-olds all ethnicities: 256,193 first dose (53.8%); 43,223 second dose (9.1%)
• 5 to 11-year-olds – Māori: 39,998 first dose (34.6%); 4950 second dose (4.3%)
• 5 to 11-year-olds – Pacific Peoples: 23,117 first dose (46.8%); 2337 second dose (4.7%)

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 (69.6%)
• Auckland Metro DHB: first dose (97.2%); second dose (96.1%); boosted (71%)
• Waikato DHB: first dose (95.1%); second dose (93.5%); boosted (68.4%)
• Bay of Plenty DHB: first dose (95%); second dose (93.2%); boosted (68.5%)
• Lakes DHB: first dose (93.2%); second dose (91.4%); boosted (68.9%)
• MidCentral DHB: first dose (96.5%); second dose (95.1%); boosted (74.4%)
• Tairāwhiti DHB: first dose (93.2%); second dose (90.8%); boosted (69.3%)
• Whanganui DHB: first dose (91.9%); second dose (90.3%); boosted (73.9%)
• Hawke’s Bay DHB: first dose (97%); second dose (95.3%); boosted (72.4%)
• Taranaki DHB: first dose (94.6%); second dose (93.1%); boosted (70.2%)
• Wairarapa DHB: first dose (96.4%); second dose (94.9%); boosted (75%)
• Capital & Coast DHB: first dose (98.5%); second dose (97.8%); boosted (81.2%)
• Hutt Valley DHB: first dose (96.6%); second dose (95.6%); boosted (77.1%)
• Nelson Marlborough DHB: first dose (96.5%); second dose (95.2%); boosted (75.9%)
• West Coast DHB: first dose (92.6%); second dose (91%); boosted (73.8%)
• Canterbury DHB: first dose (99.6%); second dose (98.7%); boosted (75.8%)
• South Canterbury DHB: first dose (94.9%); second dose (93.8%); boosted (76.6%)
• Southern DHB: first dose (98.1%); second dose (96.9%); boosted (75%)

*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 1016: Northland: 28; North Shore: 170; Middlemore: 227; Auckland: 210; Waikato: 79; Bay of Plenty: 39; Lakes: 10; Tairāwhiti: 4, Hawke’s Bay: 43; Taranaki: 11; Whanganui: 7; MidCentral: 19; Hutt Valley: 23; Capital and Coast: 45; Wairarapa: 8; Nelson Marlborough: 12; Canterbury: 56; South Canterbury: 2; Southern: 23
• Average age of current hospitalisations: 59
• Cases in ICU or HDU: 25
• Vaccination status of current hospitalisations (Northern Region only, excluding Emergency Departments): Unvaccinated or not eligible (109 cases / 19%); partially immunised <7 days from second dose or have only received one dose (21 cases / 4%); double vaccinated at least 7 days before being reported as a case (201 cases / 34%); Received booster at least 7 days before being reported as a case (218 cases / 37%); unknown (36 cases / 6%)

*The figures show that just under 3% of people aged 12 and over in the Northern Region have had no doses of the vaccine, while of those aged 12 and over in Northland and Auckland hospitals with COVID-19 for whom we have vaccination status recorded, 15% have had no doses of the vaccine and are five times over-represented in our hospitalisation figures.

Cases

• Seven day rolling average of community cases: 17,020
• Number of new community cases: 20,907
• Number of new community cases (PCR): 231
• Number of new community cases (RAT): 20,676
• Location of new community cases (PCR & RAT): Northland (802), Auckland (4291), Waikato (1882), Bay of Plenty (1218), Lakes (594), Hawke’s Bay (1243), MidCentral (954), Whanganui (399), Taranaki (636), Tairāwhiti (382), Wairarapa (323), Capital and Coast (1377), Hutt Valley (808), Nelson Marlborough (683), Canterbury (3488), South Canterbury (318), Southern (1439), West Coast (50); Unknown (20)
• Number of new cases identified at the border: 34
• Number of active community cases (total): 119,131 (cases identified in the past 7 days and not yet classified as recovered)
• Confirmed cases (total): 517,495

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): 2007
• Number of Rapid Antigen Tests reported total (last 24 hours): 43,768
• PCR tests rolling average (last 7 days): 3546
• PCR Number of Rapid Antigen Tests dispatched (last 7 days as of 22/03/22): 16.2 million