Today we are reporting 15,540 new community cases, 952 people in hospital with the virus, and two Covid-19 related deaths.

We know the Omicron variant can cause serious illness and death either directly or by its impact on other health conditions, particularly for our older and more vulnerable New Zealanders. The importance of getting boosted cannot be under-estimated.

Getting vaccinated and boosted will help reduce your risk of severe Covid-19 illness and could save your life. Getting boosted will not only reduce your risk of severe illness, but it will also help to protect our most vulnerable communities.

Covid-19 related deaths

The Ministry of Health is today reporting the deaths of two people with Covid-19. Of these deaths, one occurred in Waikato, and one in Canterbury. Both people were women aged over 70 years.

The total number of publicly reported Covid-19 related deaths to date is now 115.

Our thoughts and sympathies are with the whānau and friends of all those who have died.

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

Testing

Please continue to get tested if you have symptoms. Even if you think you might have Covid-19, it’s better to test and know for sure.

If you have symptoms, but you’re unsure whether or not to get a test, please contact your health professional or Health on 0800 358 5453 and follow advice. Getting tested remains one of the best ways to find any undetected community transmission.

Please continue with all the usual precautions of staying home when sick; wearing masks as directed; washing hands and scanning as you go.

Registering your result

If you test positive with a rapid antigen test, it’s essential you register your positive result How to report your RAT results | Unite against COVID-19 (covid19.govt.nz)

As we’re seeing the vast majority of positive results coming from rapid antigen tests, it’s essential people continue to register their result, whether it is positive or negative.

We want to know if you test positive. It’s the best way to give public health officials an overview of case numbers in particular areas of New Zealand, to help determine the best spread of public health resources. It’s also important if your condition worsens and you require additional healthcare.

The Ministry would like to thank the many people who are reporting their Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) results – both positive and negative.

Vaccinations administered in New Zealand

• Vaccines administered to date: 4,022,786 first doses; 3,968,709 second doses; 34,299 third primary doses; 2,516,396 booster doses: 254,288 paediatric first doses and 8,257 paediatric second doses
• Vaccines administered yesterday: 74 first doses; 223 second doses; 6 third primary doses; 3,199 booster doses; 334 paediatric first doses and 526 paediatric second doses

People vaccinated

• All Ethnicities (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 4,068,653 first dose (96.7%); 4,011,575 second dose (95.3%), 2,518,035 boosted (72.7% of those eligible)
• Māori (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 520,923 first dose (91.2%); 502,028 second dose (87.9%), 220,656 boosted (59.3% of those eligible)
• Pacific Peoples (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 281,615 first dose (98.2%); 276,021 second dose (96.3%), 132,078 boosted (59.7% of those eligible)
• 5 to 11-year-olds all ethnicities: 254,056 first dose (53.3%); 8,107 second dose (1.7%)
• 5 to 11-year-olds – Māori: 39,258 first dose (34%); 1,253 second dose (1.1%)
• 5 to 11-year-olds – Pacific Peoples: 22,787 first dose (46.1%); 860 second dose (1.7%)

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 (90.5%); second dose (88.2%); boosted (69.9%)
• Auckland Metro DHB: first dose (97.4%); second dose (96.3%); boosted (70.7%)
• Waikato DHB: first dose (95.5%); second dose (93.8%); boosted (68.4%)
• Bay of Plenty DHB: first dose (95.4%); second dose (93.6%); boosted (69.1%)
• Lakes DHB: first dose (93.7%); second dose (91.7%); boosted (69.4%)
• MidCentral DHB: first dose (97%); second dose (95.5%); boosted (74.6%)
• Tairāwhiti DHB: first dose (93.6%); second dose (91.1%); boosted (69.9%)
• Whanganui DHB: first dose (92.5%); second dose (90.7%); boosted (74.2%)
• Hawke’s Bay DHB: first dose (97.4%); second dose (95.6%); boosted (72.8%)
• Taranaki DHB: first dose (95%); second dose (93.4%); boosted (70%)
• Wairarapa DHB: first dose (96.9%); second dose (95.3%); boosted (75.3%)
• Capital & Coast DHB: first dose (98.9%); second dose (98.1%); boosted (81.1%)
• Hutt Valley DHB: first dose (97%); second dose (95.8%); boosted (77.3%)
• Nelson Marlborough DHB: first dose (97%); second dose (95.6%); boosted (76.2%)
• West Coast DHB: first dose (93.2%); second dose (91.4%); boosted (74%)
• Canterbury DHB: first dose (100%); second dose (98.9%); boosted (75.5%)
• South Canterbury DHB: first dose (95.5%); second dose (94.3%); boosted (76.7%)
• Southern DHB: first dose (98.4%); second dose (97.1%); boosted (75.1%)

*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 952: Northland: 23; North Shore: 185; Middlemore: 210; Auckland: 210; Waikato: 78; Bay of Plenty: 34; Lakes: 13; Tairāwhiti: 3, Hawke’s Bay: 23; Taranaki: 9; MidCentral: 20; Whanganui: 3; Hutt Valley: 23; Capital and Coast: 61; Wairarapa: 7; Nelson Marlborough: 9; Canterbury: 29; Southern: 12.
• Average age of current hospitalisations: 58
• Cases in ICU or HDU: 19
• Vaccination status of current hospitalisations (Northern Region only, excluding Emergency Departments): Unvaccinated or not eligible (101 cases / 18%); partially immunised <7 days from second dose or have only received one dose (20 cases / 4%); double vaccinated at least 7 days before being reported as a case (204 cases / 36%); Received booster at least 7 days before being reported as a case (172 cases / 31%); unknown (62 cases / 11%)

*The figures show that just over 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: 19,566
• Number of new community cases: 15,540
• Number of new community cases (PCR): 209
• Number of new community cases (RAT): 15,353
• Location of new community cases (PCR & RAT): Northland (482), Auckland (4730), Waikato (1532), Bay of Plenty (1023), Lakes (457), Hawke’s Bay (680), MidCentral (528), Whanganui (162), Taranaki (343), Tairāwhiti (262), Wairarapa (167), Capital and Coast (1191), Hutt Valley (749), Nelson Marlborough (373), Canterbury (1896), South Canterbury (130), Southern (795), West Coast (31); Unknown (9)
• Number of new cases identified at the border: 22
• Number of active community cases (total): 190,321 (cases identified in the past 10 days and not yet classified as recovered)
• Confirmed cases (total): 376,676.

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): 1762
• Number of Rapid Antigen Tests total (last 24 hours): 34,045
• PCR tests rolling average (last 7 days incl 12/03/22): 3948
• Number of Rapid Antigen Tests dispatched (last 7 days as of 14/03/22): 14.8 million