Covid-19 cases

Four people have died with Covid, and there are 10,239 new community cases today, the Ministry of Health says. There are 848 people in hospital with the ...

One of the people was in their 80s and three were in their 90s. Yesterday the ministry reported 20 people had died with Covid in the previous 24 hours. A booster would restore the vaccine's effectiveness against Omicron to 90 per cent, after it declined following a second dose. "This is driven by a decrease in hospitalisations across Auckland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty, some of the first regions to be affected by Omicron." "Out of respect, we will be making no further comment." And while many people will be relishing a return to socialising and gathering, there are concerns the easing of restrictions will force some people to become more isolated, with worrying repercussions for their wellbeing. Eleven of those who died were in Auckland and Waikato with the rest spread across the country. The youngest was aged in their 40s, the oldest in their 90s. However just 34.8 per cent of Māori children in that age group have had a first dose and 6.5 per cent have had a second, while for Pacific children the rate is 47 per cent and 7.4 per cent. Yesterday 2,921 people got their booster shot, while 92 people had a first dose of the vaccine, 179 had their second, and five had their third primary shot. "This reflects the decrease in hospitalisations across Auckland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty, some of the first regions to be affected by Omicron." Across New Zealand 72.6 per cent of eligible people have been boosted, though the rate is just 57.8 per cent for Māori and 59.3 per cent for Pacific peoples.