Today we are reporting 8,609 community cases, 386 hospitalisations and 20 deaths.

Today’s seven-day rolling average of community case numbers is 7,684 – last Thursday it was 7,705 .

The number of community cases today is an important reminder that we all continue to have a part to play in minimising the spread of COVID-19 in our communities. 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 20 people with COVID-19. The deaths being reported today include 18 people who have died over the past five days and an additional two people who have died since 24 April.

Delays to reporting can 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 821 and the 7-day rolling average of reported deaths is 14.

Of the people whose deaths we are reporting today; three people were from Auckland; one from Waikato; five from Bay of Plenty; two from Hawke’s Bay; one from the Greater Wellington region; one from Nelson-Malborough, five from Canterbury and two from Southern.

One person was under-10; one in their 50s, five in their 60s; two in their 70s; seven in their 80s and four were aged over 90.

Of these people, 12 were female and eight were male.

This is a very sad time for whānau and friends and our thoughts and condolences are with them at this time.

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

Northern region hospitalisation data
As indicated yesterday, from today reporting of hospitalisation numbers in Northern region hospitals will include only active COVID-19 cases. To date, reported case numbers in the Northern region have included people who have recovered from COVID-19 but remain in hospital.

The reporting of hospitalisations in other DHBs is unchanged as these already only include active cases.

This change sees the number of daily hospitalisations in the Northern region reduce. This change is part of ensuring nationally consistent reporting of this data.

Vaccinations administered in New Zealand 
Vaccines administered to date: 4,026,748 first doses; 3,978,222 second doses; 31,864 third primary doses; 2,634,272 booster doses: 261,728 paediatric first doses and 117,387 paediatric second doses 
Vaccines administered yesterday: 43 first doses; 82 second doses; 26 third primary doses; 1,083 booster doses; 34 paediatric first doses and 271 paediatric second doses 
People vaccinated 
All Ethnicities (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 4,056,064 first dose (96.4%); 4,006,918 second dose (95.2%), 2,629,766 boosted (70.9% of those eligible) 
Māori (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 521,068 first dose (91.2%); 504,116 second dose (88.3%), 235,014 boosted (54.4% of those eligible) 
Pacific Peoples (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 281,952 first dose (98.4%); 277,078 second dose (96.7%), 140,137 boosted (56.8% of those eligible) 
5 to 11-year-olds all ethnicities: 258,906 first dose (54.4%); 114,601 second dose (24.1%) 
5 to 11-year-olds - Māori: 40,821 first dose (35.3%); 13,074 second dose (11.3%) 
5 to 11-year-olds - Pacific Peoples: 23,505 first dose (47.6%); 6,576 second dose (13.3%) 
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 (88.1%); boosted (67.5%) 
Auckland DHB: first dose (99.2%); second dose (98.3%); boosted (72.9%) 
Counties Manukau DHB: first dose (96.2%); second dose (95%); boosted (65.8%) 
Waitemata DHB: first dose (96.5%); second dose (95.6%); boosted (70.8%) 
Waikato DHB: first dose (95.1%); second dose (93.6%); boosted (66.4%) 
Bay of Plenty DHB: first dose (95.1%); second dose (93.4%); boosted (65.8%) 
Lakes DHB: first dose (93.1%); second dose (91.4%); boosted (66.1%) 
MidCentral DHB: first dose (96.4%); second dose (95.2%); boosted (72%) 
Tairāwhiti DHB: first dose (93.1%); second dose (90.9%); boosted (65.7%) 
Whanganui DHB: first dose (91.9%); second dose (90.4%); boosted (71.3%) 
Hawke’s Bay DHB: first dose (97.3%); second dose (95.7%); boosted (69.5%) 
Taranaki DHB: first dose (94.6%); second dose (93.3%); boosted (67.9%) 
Wairarapa DHB: first dose (96.4%); second dose (95%); boosted (72.8%) 
Capital & Coast DHB: first dose (98.5%); second dose (97.8%); boosted (79.3%) 
Hutt Valley DHB: first dose (96.6%); second dose (95.6%); boosted (74.8%) 
Nelson Marlborough DHB: first dose (96.4%); second dose (95.2%); boosted (73.2%) 
West Coast DHB: first dose (92.7%); second dose (91.3%); boosted (71.3%) 
Canterbury DHB: first dose (99.7%); second dose (98.9%); boosted (74.2%) 
South Canterbury DHB: first dose (94.7%); second dose (93.7%); boosted (74.2%) 
Southern DHB: first dose (98.5%); second dose (97.4%); boosted (73%)
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.

Hospitalisations
Cases in hospital: total number 386: Northland: 10; Waitemata: 40; Counties Manukau: 30; Auckland: 78; Waikato: 32; Bay of Plenty: 22; Lakes: 3; Tairāwhiti: 0; Hawke’s Bay: 14; Taranaki: 7; Whanganui: 1; MidCentral: 15; Wairarapa: 2; Hutt Valley: 6; Capital and Coast: 10; Nelson Marlborough: 14; Canterbury: 68; South Canterbury: 3; West Coast: 1; Southern: 30
*Average age of current hospitalisations: 58
Cases in ICU or HDU: 14
Vaccination status of current hospitalisations (Northern Region only, excluding Emergency Departments): Unvaccinated or not eligible (36 cases / 15%); partially immunised <7 days from second dose or have only received one dose (5 cases / 2%); double vaccinated at least 7 days before being reported as a case (72 cases / 31%); Received booster at least 7 days before being reported as a case (117 cases / 50%); unknown (4 cases / 2%)
*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.



Cases
Seven day rolling average of community cases: 7,684
Seven day rolling average (as at same day last week): 7,705
Number of new community cases: 8,609
Number of new community cases (PCR): 308
Number of new community cases (RAT): 8,301
Location of new community cases (PCR & RAT): Northland (207), Auckland (2,796), Waikato (543), Bay of Plenty (237), Lakes (135), Hawke’s Bay (229), MidCentral (347), Whanganui (104), Taranaki (239), Tairāwhiti (68), Wairarapa (88), Capital and Coast (575), Hutt Valley (242), Nelson Marlborough (323), Canterbury (1,379), South Canterbury (114), Southern (900), West Coast (76), Unknown (7)
Number of new cases identified at the border: 97
Number of active community cases (total): 53,775  (cases identified in the past 7 days and not yet classified as recovered)
Confirmed cases (total): 966,447
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): 4,311
Number of Rapid Antigen Tests reported total (last 24 hours): 16,107
PCR tests rolling average (last 7 days): 3,463
Number of Rapid Antigen Tests dispatched (last 7 days as of 5 May 2022): 1.7 million