There are 263 people with Covid-19 in hospital today, up from 237 yesterday, the Ministry of Health has reported. Five cases are in ICU, up from three yesterday. There are 13,606 new Covid-19 cases in the community.

“The growth in hospitalisations and patients in ICU is not unexpected, has been planned for and is another reminder that vaccination is our best defence against Covid-19,” said the ministry in a statement.

Parliament protesters showing up at hospitals around the country

“We are also beginning to see people who have attended the protest at parliament, a location of interest and potential super-spreader event, showing up in hospitals around the country after returning home,” said the ministry. “We advise all those currently at the protest, or who have been at the protest, who are displaying cold and flu symptoms to get a test and isolate until they receive their result.”

Of today’s new cases, 10,993 were confirmed positive by rapid antigen testing, with 2,613 by PCR. Auckland remains the epicentre of the outbreak, with 9,262 new cases. Waikato saw 1,154, Bay of Plenty 690, Lakes 185, Hawke’s Bay 106, MidCentral 123, Whanganui 28, Taranaki 52, Tairāwhiti 48, Wairarapa 18, Capital and Coast 413, Hutt Valley 130, Nelson Marlborough 176, Canterbury 469, South Canterbury 20, Southern 505 and West Coast three. The location of six new cases is unknown.

In the last 24 hours, 31,016 PCR tests were taken, with a positivity rate of 28.38%. The ministry is not providing the number of rapid antigen tests carried out in the last 24 hours.

Six new cases were identified at the border.