The Ministry of Health has reported 18,833 new community cases of Covid-19 today, with 597 people in hospitals, including 10 people who need intensive care.

This photo taken on August 13, 2021 shows a laboratory technician wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) working on samples to be tested for the Covid-19 coronavirus at a Covid-19 testing facility in Yangzhou in China's eastern Jiangsu province. Photo: AFP

 

The Ministry has also reported the deaths of five people with the coronavirus.

Yesterday there were 22,527 new community cases, 562 in hospital including 11 in intensive care, and five deaths reported.

What’s been happening?

Auckland health officials said yesterday that case numbers may have reached a peak in the country’s biggest city, but warn the number of people in hospital could continue to rise for the next week.

A leading immunisation specialist says parents should not be worried about US research showing plummeting immunity among children who received the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine, as there’s a straightforward explanation, and other studies show the vaccine is effective.

Health providers andmembers of the disabled community say there are gaps in communication to the disabled community about the outbreak and what services are available, and many have concerns about carers becoming sick.