Wednesday February 16

New Zealand has reached its highest number of community cases today, with 1160 people infected with the virus. 

This is the highest daily case number reported from the Ministry of Health since the pandemic began. 

Of these, 24 are in Northland, 861 are in Auckland, 73 are in Waikato, 5 in Lakes, 33 in Bay of Plenty, 9 in Taranaki, 9 in Tairāwhiti, 15 in Hawke’s Bay, 4 in Whanganui, 5 in Wairarapa, 3 in Mid Central, 32 in Capital and Coast, 20 in Hutt Valley, 15 in Nelson Marlborough, 8 in Canterbury, 3 in South Canterbury, 39 in Southern and 2 are in unknown locations.

There are 56 people in hospital with Covid-19, with no people in intensive care or high dependency units.

The average age of people currently in hospital is 65.

New Zealand is now in Phase 2 of the response to the Omicron variant of Covid-19. The ministry is continuing to encourage everyone eligible to have a vaccine booster. 

The deadline for health and disability sector workers to have their vaccine booster has been extended until 11:59pm on Thursday, February 24.

96 percent of New Zealand's eligible population have had the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, and 95 percent have had a second dose. 62 percent have had their booster dose.

46,156 booster doses were administered yesterday, bringing the total so far to 2,006,361 doses. Booster doses are available to anyone who received their second vaccination three months or more ago.

Click here for a list of updated locations of interest.

* 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.

Top Image: Man entering Covid-19 Vaccination Centre (File photo) Photo: Getty Images

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