12 Jul 2022

Covid-19 update: 11,548 new community cases and 19 further deaths

1:15 pm on 12 July 2022

Another 19 people have died with Covid-19 and there are 11,548 new community cases, the Ministry of Health reports.

Coronavirus disease COVID-19 outbreak Microscopic view of a infectious virus Red Virus cell 3D Rendering

Photo: 123rf.com

Of the deaths being reported today, one was from the Auckland region, three were from Bay of Plenty, one was from Taranaki, two were from Whanganui, one was from Hawke's Bay, four were from MidCentral, one was from Lakes, three were from the Wellington region, two were from Canterbury, and one was from Southern.

One was in their 40s, two were in their 60s, three were in their 70s, five were in their 80s and eight were aged over 90.

The ministry said all the deaths being reported today occurred in the past four days.

There were also 710 people in hospital compared with 689 people yesterday, including 17 in intensive care or a high dependency unit, the ministry said in its daily update.

Numbers admitted to hospital have been increasing in the last few days, with the ministry describing the trend as "significant" on Sunday.

"The Ministry of Health and Te Whatu Ora - Health NZ are closely monitoring the continued increase in Covid-19 positive hospitalisations as part of our ongoing review and updating of the response to the current community outbreak," the ministry said.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Andrew Little said he has heard the "despairing comments" doctors have made about the state of the health sector.

"We have a chronic staffing shortage and we are having one of the worst winters we have ever had because of Covid ... because of the flu season we are having at the moment," Little told Morning Report.

He said the government was trying to "the fill the gaps" in healthcare.

There were also 311 new Covid cases reported at the border.

The ministry was reminding people to mask up: "The more layers of protection we put in place - such as mask wearing, vaccinations, and staying home when sick - the more we reduce the risk of spreading respiratory viruses."

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