Seven more deaths of people with Covid-19 have been reported in New Zealand, with community case numbers rising by 18,699 today.
Photo: AFP / Science Photo Library
In a statement, the Ministry of Health said there were 853 people in hospital with Covid-19, including 17 in ICU.
The seven new deaths mean the total number of publicly reported Covid-19 related deaths is now 105.
Three of the deaths were in the Auckland region, and one each in Bay of Plenty, MidCentral, Wellington and Canterbury. One person was in their 50s, two were in their 70s, two were in their 80s, and two were in their 90s. Four were male and three were female.
Auckland health authorities remain cautiously optimistic that the Omicron outbreak may have peaked in the country's biggest city, and community case numbers in the region continue to slowly fall, with 6077 cases reported today, down from 7240 yesterday and less than half the number reported last week.
Today's other community cases were in Northland (670), Waikato (1700), Bay of Plenty (1247), Lakes (496), Hawke's Bay (730), MidCentral (667), Whanganui (162), Taranaki (462), Tairāwhiti (377), Wairarapa (169), Capital and Coast (1545), Hutt Valley (937), Nelson Marlborough (424), Canterbury (2028), South Canterbury (118), Southern (848) and West Coast (32) DHBs.
The seven day rolling average of community cases is 19,888.
There were 20,989 new cases and seven new deaths reported yesterday.
Sixteen cases were also reported at the border today.
There have now been 346,621 cases of Covid-19 in New Zealand.
The ministry said 8598 booster doses were given yesterday, along with 207 first doses; 643 second doses; 52 third primary doses; 635 paediatric first doses and 525 paediatric second doses.