Today we are reporting 8,242 community cases, 480 hospitalisations and 14 deaths. 

Today’s seven-day rolling average of case numbers is 7,540 –  a reduction from last Friday, when it was 8,166.

With ongoing community transmission across the motu it is important we all 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.

COVID-19 deaths

Today we are sadly reporting the deaths of 14 people with COVID-19. Eleven of the deaths being reported today are for people who have died over the previous seven days. Three deaths were between 12 and 17 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 737 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, one from Bay of Plenty, one from Waikato, one from Taranaki, one from Whanganui, one from MidCentral, one from the Wellington region, five from Canterbury and one from Southern.

One person was in their 50s, two in their 70s, seven in their 80s, and four were over 90.

Eight were women and six were men.

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

Vaccinations administered in New Zealand  

• Vaccines administered to date: 4,026,548 first doses; 3,977,808 second doses; 31,749 third primary doses; 2,627,258 booster doses: 261,367 paediatric first doses and 113,893 paediatric second doses  
• Vaccines administered yesterday: 58 first doses; 92 second doses; 27 third primary doses; 1,584 booster doses; 120 paediatric first doses and 1,011 paediatric second doses  

People vaccinated  

• All Ethnicities (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 4,056,231 first dose (96.4%); 4,006,880 second dose (95.2%), 2,623,401 boosted (71% of those eligible)  
• Māori (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 520,990 first dose (91.2%); 504,001 second dose (88.3%), 234,179 boosted (54.8% of those eligible)  
• Pacific Peoples (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 281,849 first dose (98.3%); 276,947 second dose (96.6%), 139,563 boosted (57% of those eligible)  
• 5 to 11-year-olds all ethnicities: 258,646 first dose (54.3%); 111,214 second dose (23.3%)  
• 5 to 11-year-olds - Māori: 40,768 first dose (35.3%); 12,582 second dose (10.9%)  
• 5 to 11-year-olds - Pacific Peoples: 23,467 first dose (47.5%); 6,264 second dose (12.7%)  

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 (88%); boosted (67.7%)  
• 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 (66.3%)  
• MidCentral DHB: first dose (96.4%); second dose (95.2%); boosted (72.1%)  
• Tairāwhiti DHB: first dose (93.2%); second dose (91%); boosted (65.8%)  
• 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 (96.4%); second dose (95%); boosted (72.9%)  
• 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 (73.3%)  
• West Coast DHB: first dose (92.7%); second dose (91.3%); boosted (71.6%)  
• Canterbury DHB: first dose (99.7%); second dose (98.9%); boosted (74.4%)  
• 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 (73.1%)

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 or 16 and 17 year olds who have become eligible 6 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 480: Northland: 34; Waitemata: 73; Counties Manukau: 65; Auckland: 101; Waikato: 43; Bay of Plenty: 14; Lakes: 2; Tairāwhiti: 0; Hawke’s Bay: 9; Taranaki: 6; Whanganui: 4; MidCentral: 9; Wairarapa: 3; Hutt Valley: 8; Capital and Coast: 6; Nelson Marlborough: 7; Canterbury: 65; South Canterbury: 2; West Coast: 1; Southern: 28
• *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 (44 cases / 16.8%); partially immunised <7 days from second dose or have only received one dose (5 cases / 1.9%); double vaccinated at least 7 days before being reported as a case (73 cases / 28%); Received booster at least 7 days before being reported as a case (129 cases / 49.4%); Unknown (10 cases / 3.8%)

*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: 7,540
• Seven day rolling average (as at same day last week):  8,166
• Number of new community cases: 8,242
• Number of new community cases (PCR): 307
• Number of new community cases (RAT): 7,935

• Location of new community cases (PCR & RAT): Northland (233), Auckland (2,446), Waikato (483), Bay of Plenty (265), Lakes (143), Hawke’s Bay (283), MidCentral (313), Whanganui (118), Taranaki (184), Tairāwhiti (68), Wairarapa (78), Capital and Coast (542), Hutt Valley (196), Nelson Marlborough (284), Canterbury (1,462), South Canterbury (150), Southern (888), West Coast (103), Unknown (3)

• Number of new cases identified at the border: 74
• Number of active community cases (total): 52,771 (cases identified in the past 7 days and not yet classified as recovered) 
• Confirmed cases (total): 920,728

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): 4,040
• Number of Rapid Antigen Tests reported total (last 24 hours): 16,472
• PCR tests rolling average (last 7 days): 3,147
• Number of Rapid Antigen Tests dispatched (last 7 days as of 29 April 2022): 1.4 million