There have been 17,148 new cases of Covid-19 in the community and 34 more deaths reported today.

Director of Public Health Caroline McElnay says the deaths reported today have occurred over the past 10 days.

"Delays in reporting can be associated with people dying rather than of Covid-19 and Covid being discovered after they died.

"Evidence to date suggests some of these deaths will not be caused directly by Covid-19, however, we are seeing many people who are dying with Covid-19 who are older and may have other pre-existing conditions that heighten their risk."

Of the 34 deaths, 27 were over the age of 70.

"Our thoughts are with all their whānau and friends."

The deaths take the total of publicly reported deaths with Covid-19 to 303.

Despite the deaths, it was encouraging to see an overall and sustained drop in case numbers, Dr McElnay says.

Yesterday 12,882 new community cases of Covid-19 were reported and a further 11 deaths of people with the virus.

Education Ministry figures show more than 200,000 children have been staying home from school every day this month during the Omicron surge.

The numbers across district health board areas are: Northland (730), Auckland (2,899), Waikato (1,566), Bay of Plenty (967), Lakes (479), Hawke’s Bay (1,015), MidCentral (910), Whanganui (447), Taranaki (706), Tairāwhiti (250), Wairarapa (210), Capital and Coast (1,035), Hutt Valley (617), Nelson Marlborough (690), Canterbury (2,816), South Canterbury (318), Southern (1,404), West Coast (79); Unknown (10).