An earlier version of this story said the Ministry of Health had recently changed its definition of "deceased", the change was actually made in 2022.
Photo: 123rf.com / Composite Image - RNZ
The number of reported cases of Covid-19 across Aotearoa has plummeted, and only three people had died with the virus in the past week.
There have been 728 new cases of Covid-19 reported in New Zealand over the week to Sunday, and three further deaths attributed to the virus.
However, there were still 64 people in hospital with the disease as of midnight on Sunday.
The latest figures were a stark contrast with the previous report, in the week to 8 September, and were a significant fall compared to previous months this year.
Last week, Health NZ Te Whatu Ora reported 1041 new cases and 18 further deaths.
Of the 15 people whose deaths were reported in the past week, five were from the Auckland region, two from Waikato, Nelson/Marlborough and the Southern region and there was one death each from Northland, Tai Rāwhiti, Hawke's Bay and Canterbury.
Last month, Kiwi infectious diseases researcher Dr Richard Webby told RNZ's Sunday Morning that Covid-19 was now endemic, and was likely to be around in the health ecosystem "forever".
"The word [endemic] - [and] you ask 100 different scientists what the word means and you'll get 99 different answers - but to me, it means this virus is now in a position to stay. It's going to be with us forever."
It was still a disease that could kill people, Webby said.
Health NZ has been approached for comment about the latest figures.