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Covid-19: Nine deaths, 6000 community cases

May 23, 2022

Nine people have died with Covid-19 and another 6000 cases have been detected in the community, the Ministry of Health says.

In its latest media update, the ministry said there were 363 people in hospital with the virus, including 14 in intensive care.

The rolling seven-day average of new Covid-19 cases is 7553. Last Monday it was 8355.

Of the deaths reported 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.

The locations of the new community cases reported today were in 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) and the location of two were unknown.

There have also been 58 new cases identified at the border.

Yesterday case numbers dipped under 5000 for the first time in three months although the seven-day rolling average increased from 7608 the previous Sunday to 7863 yesterday.

There were 4990 new cases, 10 new deaths and 379 people in hospital with nine in ICU.

Today Professor Michael Baker told First Up that modelling is showing it is likely the country can expect an upsurge in cases during winter.

He said case numbers in Auckland have increased by about 75 percent in the past four weeks.

He expects the most vulnerable - such as older people and those who are immune suppressed - are likely to be offered a fourth vaccine dose from next month.

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