COVID-19 cases have dropped for the second consecutive day with 7591 new infections, the Ministry of Health revealed.
The health ministry said 16 people died with COVID-19 on Thursday taking the total virus death toll to 1102.
There were also no new cases of the Omicron subvariant BA.2.12.1 after an infection was reported on Wednesday and there was no cases of BA.4 or BA.5.
Hospitalisations dropped to 355 while 12 people are in ICU or HDU.
The seven-day rolling average of community case numbers has dropped to 7095 - last Thursday, it was 7981.
What you need to know:
- New Zealand recorded 7591 new community cases of COVID-19 on Thursday.
- Sixteen additional deaths of people with COVID-19 were reported.
- There are 368 people in hospital, 11 of whom are in ICU.
- First case of Omicron subvariant BA.2.12.1 detected in a community case, without a clear link to the border, in Hawke’s Bay from a test result returned on May 10.
- Omicron BA.4 and/or BA.5 subvariants detected in wastewater samples at Rosedale on Auckland's North Shore and in Gisborne on Wednesday.
- Location of new community cases (PCR & RAT): Northland (237), Auckland (2,617), Waikato (602), Bay of Plenty (270), Lakes (137), Hawke’s Bay (217), MidCentral (247), Whanganui (78), Taranaki (249), Tairāwhiti (46), Wairarapa (85), Capital and Coast (632), Hutt Valley (221), Nelson Marlborough (356), Canterbury (1,284), South Canterbury (165), Southern (617), West Coast (87), Unknown (3).
- Locations of hospitalisations: Northland: 10; Waitemata: 39; Counties Manukau: 23; Auckland: 61; Waikato: 24; Bay of Plenty: 9; Lakes: 1; Tairāwhiti: 1; Hawke’s Bay: 19; Taranaki: 9; Whanganui: 6; MidCentral: 14; Wairarapa: 3; Hutt Valley: 9; Capital and Coast: 33; Nelson Marlborough: 7; Canterbury: 50; South Canterbury: 17; West Coast: 1; Southern: 32.
These live updates are now over.
1:06pm - 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: 4,027,340 first doses; 3,979,302 second doses; 32,346 third primary doses; 2,653,666 booster doses; 262,637 paediatric first doses and 122,960 paediatric second doses
- Vaccines administered yesterday: 38 first doses; 55 second doses; 34 third primary doses; 902 booster doses; 40 paediatric first doses and 149 paediatric second doses
People vaccinated
- All Ethnicities (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 4,054,724 first dose (96.3%); 4,005,991 second dose (95.2%), 2,646,572 boosted (70.7% of those eligible)
- Māori (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 521,281 first dose (91.3%); 504,474 second dose (88.3%), 237,416 boosted (53.5% of those eligible)
- Pacific Peoples (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 282,056 first dose (98.4%); 277,242 second dose (96.7%), 141,759 boosted (56.4% of those eligible)
- 5 to 11-year-olds all ethnicities: 259,614 first dose (54.5%); 119,965 second dose (25.2%)
- 5 to 11-year-olds - Māori: 40,960 first dose (35.4%); 13,872 second dose (12%)
- 5 to 11-year-olds - Pacific Peoples: 23,632 first dose (47.8%); 7,142 second dose (14.5%)
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 (67.1%)
- Auckland DHB: first dose (99.1%); second dose (98.2%); boosted (73.1%)
- 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 (91.2%); boosted (65.4%)
- MidCentral DHB: first dose (96.3%); second dose (95.1%); boosted (71.5%)
- Tairāwhiti DHB: first dose (92.8%); 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%)
- Taranaki DHB: first dose (94.6%); second dose (93.2%); boosted (67.4%)
- Wairarapa DHB: first dose (96.4%); second dose (95%); boosted (72.3%)
- Capital & Coast DHB: first dose (98.4%); second dose (97.8%); boosted (79.1%)
- Hutt Valley DHB: first dose (96.5%); 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 (70.8%)
- Canterbury DHB: first dose (99.8%); second dose (98.9%); boosted (73.9%)
- South Canterbury DHB: first dose (94.6%); second dose (93.5%); boosted (73.8%)
- 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 355: Northland: 11; Waitemata: 39; Counties Manukau: 21; Auckland: 57; Waikato: 25; Bay of Plenty: 8; Lakes: 5; Tairāwhiti: 1; Hawke’s Bay: 19; Taranaki: 8; Whanganui: 5; MidCentral: 18; Wairarapa: 2; Hutt Valley: 34; Capital and Coast: 32; Nelson Marlborough: 9; Canterbury: 44; South Canterbury: 12; West Coast: 1; Southern: 35.
- *Average age of current hospitalisations: 59
- Cases in ICU or HDU: 12
- Vaccination status of current hospitalisations (Northern Region only, excluding Emergency Departments): Unvaccinated or not eligible (28 cases / 13.0%); partially immunised <7 days from second dose or have only received one dose (8 cases / 4.0%); double vaccinated at least 7 days before being reported as a case (49 cases / 22.90%); Received booster at least 7 days before being reported as a case (126 cases / 58.88%); Unknown (3 cases / 1.40%)
* 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: 7,095
- Seven day rolling average (as at same day last week): 7,981
- Number of new community cases: 7,591
- Number of new community cases (PCR): 252
- Number of new community cases (RAT): 7,339
- Location of new community cases (PCR & RAT): Northland (220), Auckland (2,520), Waikato (566), Bay of Plenty (221), Lakes (122), Hawke’s Bay (211), MidCentral (258), Whanganui (91), Taranaki (250), Tairāwhiti (52), Wairarapa (77), Capital and Coast (538), Hutt Valley (220), Nelson Marlborough (308), Canterbury (1,110), South Canterbury (136), Southern (589), West Coast (95), Unknown (7)
- Number of new imported cases: 69
- Number of active community cases (total): 49,645 (cases identified in the past 7 days and not yet classified as recovered)
- Confirmed cases (total): 1,124,908
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): 3,814
- Number of Rapid Antigen Tests reported total (last 24 hours): 15,586
- PCR tests rolling average (last 7 days): 3,029
- Number of Rapid Antigen Tests dispatched (last 7 days as of 25 May 2022): 700,000
1:03pm - The Ministry of Health has provided an update on the COVID-19 related deaths:
Today we are reporting 7,591 community cases, 355 hospitalisations and 16 deaths.
The seven-day rolling average of community case numbers today is 7,095 – last Thursday, it was 7,981.
COVID-19 deaths
Today we are sadly reporting the deaths of 16 people with COVID-19.
These deaths take the total number of publicly reported deaths with COVID-19 to 1,102 and the seven-day rolling average of reported deaths is 12.
Of the people whose deaths we are reporting today; seven were from the Auckland region, three were from Canterbury, three were from the Wellington region, one was from Lakes, one was from Bay of Plenty, and one was from Southern.
Two people were their 60s, two were in their 70s, eight were in their 80s, and four were aged over 90.
Of these people, nine were female and seven were 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 dropped in New Zealand with 7591 new infections and 355 people in hospital, the Ministry of Health revealed.
The health ministry also said 16 people have died with COVID-19 on Thursday taking the total number of publicly reported deaths to 1102
Of the new community cases, Northland (220), Auckland (2,520), Waikato (566), Bay of Plenty (221), Lakes (122), Hawke’s Bay (211), MidCentral (258), Whanganui (91), Taranaki (250), Tairāwhiti (52), Wairarapa (77), Capital and Coast (538), Hutt Valley (220), Nelson Marlborough (308), Canterbury (1,110), South Canterbury (136), Southern (589), West Coast (95), Unknown (7).
The ministry announced there are 355 people in hospital with 12 in ICU or HDU.
Of the 355 people in hospital: Northland: 11; Waitemata: 39; Counties Manukau: 21; Auckland: 57; Waikato: 25; Bay of Plenty: 8; Lakes: 5; Tairāwhiti: 1; Hawke’s Bay: 19; Taranaki: 8; Whanganui: 5; MidCentral: 18; Wairarapa: 2; Hutt Valley: 34; Capital and Coast: 32; Nelson Marlborough: 9; Canterbury: 44; South Canterbury: 12; West Coast: 1; Southern: 35.
There are 69 new COVID cases recorded at the border in Managed Isolation and Quarantine.
12:55pm - There is no press conference planned for Thursday, 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 - A "humbled" Boris Johnson said he took full responsibility but would not quit after a damning official report on Wednesday (local time) detailed a series of illegal lockdown parties at the British leader's Downing Street office.
Johnson has faced repeated calls to resign from opposition politicians and some in his own party over the alcohol-fuelled gatherings, after it was revealed that he and officials had broken COVID-19 rules that all but banned people from socialising outside their households.
"I ... am humbled and I have learned a lesson," Prime Minister Johnson told parliament, saying he would not quit over the scandal.
His foreign minister Liz Truss, seen as a possible successor, said she backed him "100%" after his apology.
The report by senior official Sue Gray did not specifically blame Johnson, but gave graphic details and included photographs from more than a dozen gatherings.
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 Wednesday's figures:
12:40pm - Kia ora, good afternoon and welcome to Newshub's live updates of the COVID-19 outbreak for Thursday.
