Friday April 1

17 people with the virus have died over the past seven days - including 15 in the past two days.

There are 13,475 new cases of Covid-19 today. 

Of these, 563 are in Northland, 2,386 are in Auckland, 1,182 in Waikato, 688 in Bay of Plenty, 355 in the Lakes district, 712 in Hawke's Bay, 774 in MidCentral, 332 in Whanganui, 526 in Taranaki, 172 in Tairāwhiti, 155 in Wairarapa, 876 in Capital and Coast, 483 in Hutt Valley, 578 in Nelson Marlborough, 2,122 in Canterbury, 267 in South Canterbury, 1,243 in the Southern district, 56 in the West Coast and 5 in unknown locations.

The total number of active cases is 99,185.

The Ministry of Health defines active cases as those identified in the last seven days and not yet classified as recovered.

The total number of confirmed cases since the pandemic began is 671,254.

Hospitalisations and Covid-19 related deaths

The Ministry is reporting today that 17 people with Covid-19 have died over the past seven days, bringing the total to date to 355.

Of these deaths, 15 people with the virus have died in the past two days.

Of the people whose deaths have been reported by the Ministry of Health today, seven were from the Auckland region, two from Waikato, one from Bay of Plenty, one from the Lakes district, one from Hawke’s Bay, one from the Wellington region, one from Canterbury, one from the West Coast, and two from Southern.

Two people were in their 50s, four people were in their 60s, five people were in their 70s, three in their 80s and three were over 90.

Fifteen were male and two were female.

There are 764 people in hospital, with 31 of those people in intensive care or high dependency units.

The average age of people currently in hospital is 58. 

Testing 

The number of PCR tests processed in the last 24 hours is 3,427. 

The number of Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) processed in the last 24 hours is 26,996.

If you take a RAT you must report the result, positive or negative. This can be done online through My Covid Record, or by calling 0800 222 478 between 8am and 8pm. 

Vaccinations

96.4 percent of New Zealand's eligible population have had the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, and 95.1 percent have had a second dose.

72.7 percent of New Zealand's eligible population have had their booster dose.

This year, the Government has announced it is making two million flu shots available and it is widening the eligibility for those who can get vaccinated for free.

Health Minister Andrew Little said on Friday that “with the Omicron wave still working its way through the country, we need to protect our most vulnerable from getting the flu as well, and our health system from coming under more pressure". 

“We already make the flu shot available for free for everyone over the age of 65, and for those who are pregnant or at risk of becoming seriously ill because of other underlying conditions.

“This winter, on the advice of doctors, we’re widening eligibility to include Māori and Pacific people aged 55 and over, which means an extra 39,000 people can have the vaccine for free.”

Little said the programme starts across the country from today, with flu vaccinations available from family doctors, pharmacists, and some Māori and Pacific health providers.

Top image: People wearing masks at a market in Wellington. Photo: Michael Madden-Smith/Re:

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