Middlemore Hospital's chief medical officer says he would support an increased alert level in Auckland if it helps vaccination rates.
The hospital has been gearing up for a surge in cases that's being predicted by health officials.
Pete Watson told Morning Report moving up the alert level to buy time for more people to get vaccinated is worth considering.
"I know that would be a really tough ask," he said.
"But certainly, the higher the vaccination rates get, the fewer people will require hospital care and certainly intensive care, and that will save lives.
"Vaccination is the key, so whatever we can do to increase it I think is really worth considering, because as we're seeing in Auckland now the numbers are building."
Watson said the hospital had been seeing an increase in the number of positive Covid-19 cases as the number in the community grows.
There were 71 new cases of Covid-19 in the community announced on Thursday. There are 617 active cases in the community.
"I think last count I had last night, we had seen six Covid cases through the emergency department, all were admitted yesterday to the hospital. So the numbers are rising," Dr Watson said.
"We have now I think, 12 positive Covid cases and at Middlemore Hospital, five of those are an ICUs. The numbers are steadily increasing."
