Coronavirus: Latest on COVID-19 community outbreak - Monday, May 23

COVID-19 cases have increased for the first time in five days with 6000 new infections and 363 people in hospital, the Ministry of Health revealed.

The health ministry said nine people have died with COVID-19 on Monday taking New Zealand's total virus death toll to 1064.

Hospitalisations have decreased for the fifth straight day with 363 people in hospital and 14 people in ICU. 

The seven-day rolling average of community case numbers has increased to 7712 - last Monday it was 7702.

What you need to know:

  • All of New Zealand is at orange in the COVID Protection Framework. 
  • New Zealand recorded 6000 new community cases of COVID-19 on Monday.
  • Nine additional deaths of people with COVID-19 have been reported.
  • There are 363 people in hospital, nine of whom are in ICU.
  • Location of community cases (PCR & RAT): Northland (158), Auckland (2,053), Waikato (463), Bay of Plenty (206), Lakes (77), Hawke’s Bay (163), MidCentral (196), Whanganui (85), Taranaki (179), Tairāwhiti (27), Wairarapa (45), Capital and Coast (444), Hutt Valley (181), Nelson Marlborough (230), Canterbury (878), South Canterbury (90), Southern (461), West Coast (62), Unknown (2).
  • Locations of hospitalisations:  Northland: 8; Waitemata: 40; Counties Manukau: 35; Auckland: 66; Waikato: 22; Bay of Plenty: 7; Lakes: 2; Tairāwhiti: 1; Hawke’s Bay: 17; Taranaki: 8; Whanganui: 6; MidCentral: 14; Wairarapa: 4; Hutt Valley: 9; Capital and Coast: 13; Nelson Marlborough: 7; Canterbury: 56; South Canterbury: 10; West Coast: 2; Southern: 36.

These live updates are now over.

1:05pm - Here is the latest data from the Ministry of Health on the outbreak and vaccination campaign:

Vaccinations administered in New Zealand

  • Vaccines administered to date: 4,027,220 first doses; 3,979,138 second doses; 32,312 third primary doses; 2,650,968 booster doses: 262,525 paediatric first doses and 122,468 paediatric second doses
  • Vaccines administered yesterday: 16 first doses; 13 second doses; 0 third primary doses; 299 booster doses; 17 paediatric first doses and 169 paediatric second doses  

People vaccinated

  • All Ethnicities (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 4,054,808 first dose (96.3%); 4,006,054 second dose (95.2%), 2,644,228 boosted (70.7% of those eligible)  
  • Māori (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 521,201 first dose (91.3%); 504,392 second dose (88.3%), 237,035 boosted (53.6% of those eligible)  
  • Pacific Peoples (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 282,020 first dose (98.4%); 277,194 second dose (96.7%), 141,522 boosted (56.4% of those eligible)  
  • 5 to 11-year-olds all ethnicities: 259,518 first dose (54.5%); 119,494 second dose (25.1%)  
  • 5 to 11-year-olds - Māori: 40,941 first dose (35.4%); 13,798 second dose (11.9%)  
  • 5 to 11-year-olds - Pacific Peoples: 23,611 first dose (47.8%); 7,098 second dose (14.4%).  

Note that the number for “People vaccinated” differs slightly from “Vaccines administered” as it includes those that have been vaccinated overseas.

Vaccination rates for all DHBs*

  • Northland DHB: first dose (90.1%); second dose (88%); boosted (67.2%)  
  • Auckland DHB: first dose (99.1%); second dose (98.2%); boosted (73%)  
  • Counties Manukau DHB: first dose (96.2%); second dose (95%); boosted (65.7%)  
  • Waitemata DHB: first dose (96.5%); second dose (95.6%); boosted (70.8%)  
  • Waikato DHB: first dose (95.1%); second dose (93.6%); boosted (66%)  
  • Bay of Plenty DHB: first dose (95.1%); second dose (93.4%); boosted (65.2%)  
  • Lakes DHB: first dose (93%); second dose (91.3%); boosted (65.5%)  
  • MidCentral DHB: first dose (96.4%); second dose (95.1%); boosted (71.5%)  
  • Tairāwhiti DHB: first dose (92.9%); second dose (90.7%); boosted (65.2%)  
  • Whanganui DHB: first dose (91.8%); second dose (90.3%); boosted (70.8%)  
  • Hawke’s Bay DHB: first dose (97.3%); second dose (95.7%); boosted (69.1%)  
  • Taranaki DHB: first dose (94.6%); second dose (93.2%); boosted (67.4%)  
  • Wairarapa DHB: first dose (96.4%); second dose (94.9%); boosted (72.3%)  
  • Capital & Coast DHB: first dose (98.4%); second dose (97.8%); boosted (79.1%)  
  • Hutt Valley DHB: first dose (96.6%); second dose (95.6%); boosted (74.4%)  
  • Nelson Marlborough DHB: first dose (96.4%); second dose (95.2%); boosted (72.9%)  
  • West Coast DHB: first dose (92.6%); second dose (91.2%); boosted (70.9%)  
  • Canterbury DHB: first dose (99.8%); second dose (98.9%); boosted (73.9%)  
  • South Canterbury DHB: first dose (94.6%); second dose (93.6%); boosted (73.9%)  
  • Southern DHB: first dose (98.5%); second dose (97.5%); boosted (72.8%)

*Partially and second doses percentages are for those 12+. Boosted percentages are for 18+ who have become eligible 3 months after having their second dose or 16 and 17 year olds who have become eligible 6 months after having their second dose.

Hospitalisations

  • Cases in hospital: total number 363: Northland: 8; Waitemata: 40; Counties Manukau: 35; Auckland: 66; Waikato: 22; Bay of Plenty: 7; Lakes: 2; Tairāwhiti: 1; Hawke’s Bay: 17; Taranaki: 8; Whanganui: 6; MidCentral: 14; Wairarapa: 4; Hutt Valley: 9; Capital and Coast: 13; Nelson Marlborough: 7; Canterbury: 56; South Canterbury: 10; West Coast: 2; Southern: 36.
  • *Average age of current hospitalisations: 60
  • Cases in ICU or HDU: 14
  • Vaccination status of current hospitalisations (Northern Region only, excluding Emergency Departments): Unvaccinated or not eligible (29 cases / 13%); partially immunised <7 days from second dose or have only received one dose (8 cases / 3%); double vaccinated at least 7 days before being reported as a case (59 cases / 25%); Received booster at least 7 days before being reported as a case (140 cases / 59%); Unknown (4 cases / 2%)

* Please note the average age of current hospitalisations is for the Northern Region admissions only at this stage. This data is recorded and extracted from the same source as the vaccination status of patients in Northern Region hospitals.

Cases 

  • Seven day rolling average of community cases: 7,712
  • Seven day rolling average (as at same day last week): 7,702
  • Number of new community cases: 6,000
  • Number of new community cases (PCR): 95
  • Number of new community cases (RAT): 5,905
  • Location of new community cases (PCR & RAT): Northland (158), Auckland (2,053), Waikato (463), Bay of Plenty (206), Lakes (77), Hawke’s Bay (163), MidCentral (196), Whanganui (85), Taranaki (179), Tairāwhiti (27), Wairarapa (45), Capital and Coast (444), Hutt Valley (181), Nelson Marlborough (230), Canterbury (878), South Canterbury (90), Southern (461), West Coast (62), Unknown (2)
  • Number of new imported cases: 58
  • Number of active community cases (total): 53,964 (cases identified in the past 7 days and not yet classified as recovered) 
  • Confirmed cases (total): 1,100,701.

Please note, the Ministry of Health’s daily reported cases may differ slightly from those reported at a DHB or local public health unit level. This is because of different reporting cut off times and the assignment of cases between regions, for example when a case is tested outside their usual region of residence. Total numbers will always be the formal daily case tally as reported to the WHO.

Tests 

  • Number of PCR tests total (last 24 hours): 2,197
  • PCR tests rolling average (last 7 days): 3,054
  • Number of Rapid Antigen Tests dispatched (last 7 days as of 23 May 2022): 1 million

1:03pm - The Ministry of Health has provided an update on the COVID-19 related deaths:

Today we are reporting 6,000 community cases, 363 hospitalisations and 9 deaths.

The seven-day rolling average of community case numbers is 7,712 – last Monday it was 7,702.

COVID-19 deaths

Today we are sadly reporting the deaths of 9 people with COVID-19.

These deaths take the total number of publicly reported deaths with COVID-19 to 1,064 and the 7-day rolling average of reported deaths is 12.

Of the people whose deaths we are reporting today; one was from the Auckland region, two were from Taranaki, two were from Bay of Plenty, two were from Wellington and two were from Canterbury.

One person was in their 30s, three were in their 80s and five were in aged over 90.

Of these people, eight were female and one was male.

This is a very sad time for whānau and friends and our thoughts and condolences are with them.

Out of respect, we will be making no further comment on these deaths.

1:02pm COVID-19 cases have increased for the first time in five days with 6000 new infections and 363 people in hospital, the Ministry of Health revealed.

The health ministry also said nine people have died with COVID-19 on Monday taking the total number of deaths to 1064

Of the new community cases, Northland (158), Auckland (2,053), Waikato (463), Bay of Plenty (206), Lakes (77), Hawke’s Bay (163), MidCentral (196), Whanganui (85), Taranaki (179), Tairāwhiti (27), Wairarapa (45), Capital and Coast (444), Hutt Valley (181), Nelson Marlborough (230), Canterbury (878), South Canterbury (90), Southern (461), West Coast (62), Unknown (2).

The ministry announced there are 363 people in hospital with 14  in ICU or HDU.

Of the 363 people in hospital: Northland: 8; Waitemata: 40; Counties Manukau: 35; Auckland: 66; Waikato: 22; Bay of Plenty: 7; Lakes: 2; Tairāwhiti: 1; Hawke’s Bay: 17; Taranaki: 8; Whanganui: 6; MidCentral: 14; Wairarapa: 4; Hutt Valley: 9; Capital and Coast: 13; Nelson Marlborough: 7; Canterbury: 56; South Canterbury: 10; West Coast: 2; Southern: 36.

There are 58 new COVID cases recorded at the border in Managed Isolation and Quarantine.

12:55pm - There is no press conference planned for Monday, so we are just waiting on a statement with all the data. We'll bring that to you the moment we get it.

12:50pm - Wellington City Mayor Andy Foster has tested positive for COVID-19, his office has confirmed.

Foster tested positive for the virus on Sunday after becoming lightly symptomatic. 

At this stage, Foster's symptoms were light to moderate, his office said on Monday morning.

As a result, the Mayor will be required to isolate until Sunday, May 29. He will carry out "light duties" remotely until then.

Read the full story here. 

12:45pm - Here's the most recent information provided by the Ministry of Health about what the COVID-19 situation looked like after Sunday's figures:

Coronavirus: Latest on COVID-19 community outbreak - Monday, May 23
Photo credit: Ministry of Health

12:40pm - Kia ora, good afternoon and welcome to Newshub's live updates of the COVID-19 outbreak for Monday.