Thursday: 10 deaths, 1220 new southern Covid cases

by Peter Newport - Mar 17, 2022

From the Ministry of Health:

Registering your RAT result

The Ministry would like to thank the many people who are getting tested and reporting results

As we are seeing the vast majority of positive results coming from Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT), it’s essential people continue to report their result – whether it is positive or negative.

It is the best way to give public health officials an overview of case numbers in particular areas of New Zealand, to help determine the best spread of public health resources. It is also important if your condition worsens, and you require additional healthcare.

From last Friday (11 March), in addition to reporting the test results through ‘My Covid Record’, parents and caregivers are now able to report test results of children under 12 and other family members by calling the My Covid Record team on 0800 222 478.

To date, more than 13,000 people have recorded RAT results in ‘My Covid Record’ on behalf of family members.

COVID-19 related deaths

Sadly, we are today reporting 10 people who have died with COVID-19.

This takes the total number of publicly reported COVID related deaths to 151 and the 7-day rolling average of reported deaths to 8.

Of these 10 people who have died, one was from Northland, five from Auckland, one from the Bay of Plenty, one from Hawke’s Bay, and one from the Hutt Valley.

One of these people, one was in their 30s, one in their 50s, three in their 70s, two in their 80s and two in their 90s. Four were women and were five were men. Demographic information for one person is not available at this stage.

Our thoughts are with their family and friends at this sad time.

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

Vaccinations administered in New Zealand

Vaccines administered to date: 4,023,623 first doses; 3,970,347 second doses; 34,240 third primary doses; 2,534,283 booster doses: 255,444 paediatric first doses and 19,764 paediatric second doses
Vaccines administered yesterday: 369 first doses; 543 second doses; 28 third primary doses; 6,003 booster doses; 399 paediatric first doses and 4,083 paediatric second doses

People vaccinated

All Ethnicities (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 4,070,293 first dose (96.7%); 4,013,796 second dose (95.4%), 2,535,944 boosted (72.9% of those eligible)
Māori (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 521,304 first dose (91.3%); 502,699 second dose (88%), 223,155 boosted (59.2% of those eligible)
Pacific Peoples (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 281,803 first dose (98.3%); 276,318 second dose (96.4%), 133,151 boosted (59.7% of those eligible)
5 to 11-year-olds all ethnicities: 254,965 first dose (53.5%); 19,363 second dose (4.1%)
5 to 11-year-olds - Māori: 39,559 first dose (34.2%); 2,398 second dose (2.1%)
5 to 11-year-olds - Pacific Peoples: 22,917 first dose (46.4%); 1,286 second dose (2.6%)

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 (90.5%); second dose (88.2%); boosted (69.9%)
Auckland Metro DHB: first dose (97.5%); second dose (96.3%); boosted (70.9%)
Waikato DHB: first dose (95.5%); second dose (93.8%); boosted (68.6%)
Bay of Plenty DHB: first dose (95.5%); second dose (93.6%); boosted (69%)
Lakes DHB: first dose (93.8%); second dose (91.8%); boosted (69.3%)
MidCentral DHB: first dose (97%); second dose (95.5%); boosted (74.7%)
Tairāwhiti DHB: first dose (93.6%); second dose (91.1%); boosted (69.7%)
Whanganui DHB: first dose (92.5%); second dose (90.8%); boosted (74.4%)
Hawke’s Bay DHB: first dose (97.5%); second dose (95.7%); boosted (72.8%)
Taranaki DHB: first dose (95%); second dose (93.4%); boosted (70.2%)
Wairarapa DHB: first dose (96.9%); second dose (95.3%); boosted (75.4%)
Capital & Coast DHB: first dose (98.9%); second dose (98.1%); boosted (81.4%)
Hutt Valley DHB: first dose (97%); second dose (95.9%); boosted (77.4%)
Nelson Marlborough DHB: first dose (97%); second dose (95.6%); boosted (76.3%)
West Coast DHB: first dose (93.2%); second dose (91.5%); boosted (74.2%)
Canterbury DHB: first dose (100%); second dose (99%); boosted (75.8%)
South Canterbury DHB: first dose (95.6%); second dose (94.4%); boosted (76.9%)
Southern DHB: first dose (98.5%); second dose (97.3%); boosted (75.3%)

*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

Percentages are based on 2020 HSU data - a health-specific population denominator. As the population continues to change over time, coverage rates can exceed 100%.

Hospitalisations*

Cases in hospital: total number 930: Northland: 20; North Shore: 170; Middlemore: 250; Auckland: 202; Waikato: 66; Bay of Plenty: 35; Lakes: 7; Tairāwhiti: 2, Hawke’s Bay: 23; Taranaki: 10; MidCentral: 16; Hutt Valley: 22; Capital and Coast: 43; Wairarapa: 7; Nelson Marlborough: 11; Canterbury: 30; Southern: 16.
Average age of current hospitalisations: 58
Cases in ICU or HDU: 23
Vaccination status of current hospitalisations (Northern Region only, excluding Emergency Departments): Unvaccinated or not eligible (102 cases / 21%); partially immunised <7 days from second dose or have only received one dose (22 cases / 4%); double vaccinated at least 7 days before being reported as a case (208 cases / 36%); Received booster at least 7 days before being reported as a case (208 cases / 36%); unknown (41 cases / 7%)

*The figures show that just under 3% of people aged 12 and over in the Northern Region have had no doses of the vaccine, while of those aged 12 and over in Northland and Auckland hospitals with COVID-19 for whom we have vaccination status recorded, 15.7% have had no doses of the vaccine and are five times over-represented in our hospitalisation figures.

Cases

Seven day rolling average of community cases: 18,650
Number of new community cases: 19,566
Number of new community cases (PCR): 534
Number of new community cases (RAT): 19,032
Location of new community cases (PCR & RAT): Northland (700), Auckland (4,867), Waikato (1,820), Bay of Plenty (1,265), Lakes (624), Hawke’s Bay (1,101), MidCentral (821), Whanganui (269), Taranaki (661), Tairāwhiti (385), Wairarapa (260), Capital and Coast (1,405), Hutt Valley (874), Nelson Marlborough (521), Canterbury (2,493), South Canterbury (212), Southern (1,220), West Coast (60); Unknown (8)
Number of new cases identified at the border: 25
Number of active community cases (total): 199,645 (cases identified in the past 10 days and not yet classified as recovered)
Confirmed cases (total): 437,414

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): 5,199
Number of Rapid Antigen Tests reported total (last 24 hours): 43,980
PCR tests rolling average (last 7 days): 4,401
Number of Rapid Antigen Tests dispatched (last 7 days as of 15/03/22): 11.1 million