4 Jul 2022

Covid-19 update: Eight further deaths and 6498 new community cases

1:15 pm on 4 July 2022

Another eight deaths of people with the coronavirus and 6498 new community cases have been reported today.

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In a statement, the Ministry of Health said 487 people were in hospital with Covid-19, including 11 in ICU.

On the deaths being reported today, three were from the Auckland region, two were in Waikato, one was from Taranaki, one was from MidCentral and one was from Whanganui.

One was in their 60s, four were in their 80s, and three were aged over 90. Of these people, four were women and four were men.

That brings the total number of publicly reported deaths with Covid-19 to 1567 and the seven-day rolling average of reported deaths is 14.

On hospitalisations, the ministry said there had been an increase in the number of Covid-19-positive Waitematā inpatients, including an outbreak at a community site.

"There is evidence of visitors to North Shore Hospital passing Covid-19 on to patients. The public is reminded to stay away from hospital if unwell and to respect hospital rules if they do visit - wear an approved mask at all times, practice good hand hygiene and cough/sneeze etiquette as well as maintain physical distancing of at least one metre."

There were also 152 cases of Covid-19 reported at the border.

The seven-day rolling average of community case numbers today is 7046.

The ministry reminded people that a second Covid-19 booster is available for those at increased risk of severe illness from Covid-19 - a minimum of six months after a first booster.

In addition, a second booster is available for all people aged 50 years and over and health, aged care and disability workers aged 30 years and over, the ministry said.

It also reminded people that free flu shots were available to all children aged between 3 and 12, as well as anyone with serious mental health and addiction needs.

This is in addition to Māori and Pacific people aged 55 and over, anyone else aged 65 and over, pregnant people and those with certain underlying conditions, it said.

New Zealand is facing a second wave of coronavirus infections as cases of the Omicron subvariant BA.5 spread around the country. The BA.5 subvariant appears more transmissible and better at evading immunity than others and is expected to overtake BA.2 as the dominant strain within weeks.

On Sunday, 11 deaths of people with Covid-19 and 4924 new community cases of the coronavirus were been reported.

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