Nine people have died with Covid-19 in the past 24 hours. This takes the total number of publicly reported Covid-related deaths to 175 and the seven-day rolling average of reported deaths to 9.

Of the nine people who have died, one was from the Capital and Coast DHB district, four from Auckland, three from the Bay of Plenty and one from Waikato.

Two of these people were in their 50s, two in their 70s, four in their 80s and one in their 90s. Eight were male and one was female.

There are 957 people in hospital with Covid, an increase on the 939 reported yesterday. Of those in hospital, 26 are in ICU.

Overall case numbers continue their decline, a reflection of the steady decline of numbers in Auckland. Case numbers in other parts of the country fluctuate, the Ministry of Health said. The ministry pointed out that case numbers generally decline over the weekend, likely linked to a lower level of testing.

Travellers from Samoa

Travellers from Samoa to New Zealand on four specific flights over coming weeks are now required to complete two Rapid Antigen Tests after they arrive, the first on Day 0/1 (within 36 hours of arriving) and the second on Day 5/6 (between 120 and 144 hours after arriving). They will be issued testing kits on arrival.

This follows the identification of Covid-19 community transmission in Samoa on Thursday. Yesterday 95 cases were reported in Samoa and the country is now in an Alert Level 3 lockdown.

Travellers from Samoa are still eligible to enter New Zealand without going into quarantine, provided those on the four flights undergo the two tests and report their results either by an automated email survey or by calling 0800 432 010. This requirement does not apply to aircrew.

The four flights are:

19 March flight NZ993 to Auckland (already arrived)
22 March flight NZ993 to Auckland
29 March flight NZ993 to Auckland
10 April flight NZ993 to Auckland