By RNZ.co.nz. Republished with permission.
There have been 175 new community cases reported in New Zealand today, with 93 people now in hospital.
There was no media conference today. In a statement, the Ministry of Health said there were 159 cases in Auckland, two in Northland, and eight in Waikato.
Nine of the 93 cases in hospital are in intensive care.
Close to 60 percent – 50 cases – of those in hospital with Covid-19 are either unvaccinated or not eligible. Eight cases in hospital are fully vaccinated.
Earlier today, the Health Ministry confirmed there had been a positive case reported in Taupō.
It said the person’s four household contacts were being tested today.
There were also five cases in Taranaki added to the total, although these were part of the six Stratford cases revealed on Thursday night.
The ministry did say there are five other close contacts of the Stratford cases – three have returned negative results, including two people who had been in Wairarapa, and results on the other two are pending.
The one Taranaki case who had been admitted to Taranaki Base Hospital for Covid-19 related reasons has now been discharged and is at home isolating with the five remaining cases.
The two new Northland cases have clear links to known cases.
Seven of the eight new cases in Waikato are known contacts and public health staff are today investigating the remaining case to determine any links to known cases.
Four of the cases are from Hamilton, three from Ōtorohanga, and one location is yet to be confirmed.
There were also two new cases of the coronavirus in managed isolation today.
There were 201 new community cases reported in New Zealand yesterday, with 185 reported on Thursday.
There have now been 5371 cases in the current community outbreak and there have been 8121 cases in New Zealand since the pandemic began.
The Health Ministry said there were 22,951 vaccine doses given yesterday, including 6343 first doses and 16,608 second doses.
It said there were 3333 people isolating at home in Auckland, including 1655 cases.