There are 5933 new cases of Covid-19 reported in the community today, with ten further deaths.
Photo: AFP
In a statement, the Ministry of Health said there were 537 people in hospital, with 20 in ICU.
While the number of daily cases continues to wobble, seven-day rolling averages are continuing the downwards trend. Today's seven-day average is 8170 today, compared to 10,543 last Sunday.
Today's ten newly reported deaths mean the seven-day rolling average for fatalities is 14.
Since the beginning of the pandemic 586 people have died with Covid-19.
Yesterday there were 13,636 new cases and 30 additional deaths reported, covering a period of two days.
The regional breakdown for the newly reported cases is: Northland (293), Waitemata (467), Auckland (414), Counties Manukau (363), Waikato (425), Bay of Plenty (245), Lakes (110), Hawke's Bay (184), MidCentral (268), Whanganui (103), Taranaki (192), Tairāwhiti (29), Wairarapa (63), Capital and Coast (385), Hutt Valley (230), Nelson Marlborough (201), Canterbury (1,031), South Canterbury (154), Southern (706), West Coast (67), and three cases have not yet been placed into DHB areas.
Today there are 57,159 active community cases across the country (identified in the last seven days and not recovered), and there were 52 new cases detected at the border.
New Zealand has identified a total of 822,643 cases through the entire pandemic.
Easter with Covid-19 circulating in the community
The Ministry said the breakdown of Covid-19 data was reduced today, with less information available, due to the Easter weekend.
And anyone travelling for Easter should make sure they have backup plans organised in case they test positive for Covid-19 or are a household contact of someone who tests positive.
"You would need to self-isolate and likely remain wherever test positive ... so there may be extra costs available in paying for additional accommodation and changing your travel plans," the statement said.
"It is important you have a plan and the ability to isolate where you are holidaying."
Those travelling by car can drive home as long as they follow the public health guidelines, including using self-serve petrol pumps so they don't have to go inside stores or public places.
But those travelling on public transport take it to get home if they test positive or are a household contact.
To reduce the chances of getting Covid-19, the Ministry reminded everyone to have their booster shot, wear masks in public places, and stay home and isolate if any symptoms arise.
Auckland figures lessening, but subvariants are on the radar
Yesterday the Ministry's figures showed that for the first time since the pandemic began, Auckland did not have the highest case numbers in the country, with its 869 cases eclipsed by those reported in Canterbury (2255), Southern DHB (1747) and Waikato (1079).
Covid-19 modeller David Welch told RNZ that new variants are expected, but unlikely to be game changers like Omicron.
The BA.1 and BA.2 subvariants are both circulating in New Zealand.
Australia reported it's first case of XE, while in Melbourne the subvariant BA.4 or BA.5 (which one is yet to be determined) has been detected in wastewater.
Welch said it's likely the subvariants will cause case numbers to stay at about a thousand a day in New Zealand.