Another 11 people with Covid-19 have died, bringing New Zealand’s pandemic death toll to exactly 500.
The deaths being reported today include 10 people who have died in the past three days and one person who died 12 days ago. The seven-day rolling average of reported deaths is 14.
Of the new deaths, three people were from the Auckland region, three from Waikato, one from Hawke’s Bay, one from Taranaki, one from the Wellington region, and two from Canterbury. Two were aged in their 60s, three in their 70s, three in their 80s, and three over 90. Five were female and six were male.
There are now 640 people in hospital with Covid-19, including 23 in intensive care.
Another 7,592 cases have been confirmed in the community. “While overall the number of community cases is trending downwards, please continue to follow public health advice to stay at home, away from school or work if you are feeling unwell and, when not at home, use a mask in indoor settings to protect yourself and others,” the Ministry of Health said in its 1pm statement.
The seven-day rolling average of case numbers continues to decline. It’s now sitting 10,169 while last Monday it was 13,218. Remember, however, that the number of reported Covid cases is typically lower over the weekend.
On the vaccine front, 17 people got their first jab yesterday! However, the number of new booster doses being administered remains low with just 860 give out yesterday. Just under 73% of the eligible population has received a booster dose compared with 95.2% who have been double jabbed.
“Vaccination remains our best defence against Covid-19 and a booster, in addition to first and second doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, will give you greater immunity against omicron and severe illness,” said the ministry. “There is a much lower risk of being hospitalised if you are up to date with your vaccinations, which, for omicron, includes a third or booster dose if eligible.”
Booster doses are now on offer to those aged 16 and 17 after the eligible age was lowered last week.