The Ministry of Health is reporting 7113 new Covid-19 cases in the community today, as well as a further 33 deaths with the virus.

hands introducing nasal swab of covid antigen test into liquid in foregroundFile photo. Photo: 123rf.com

On the deaths being reported today, four were from the Auckland region, two were from Waikato, two were from Bay of Plenty, one was from Lakes, five were from Hawke’s Bay, one was from Taranaki, two were from MidCentral, two were from Nelson Marlborough, five were from Canterbury, three were from South Canterbury and six were from Southern.

Two were in their 60s, five were in their 70s, 12 were in their 80s and 14 were aged over 90. Of these people, 15 were women and 18 were men.

There were now a total of 1563 deaths confirmed as attributable to Covid-19, either as the underlying cause of death or as a contributing factor, the ministry said.

The seven-day rolling average in total deaths attributable to Covid-19 is now 22.

The ministry also said there were 738 people in hospital with the virus, including 15 in ICU.

The locations of the hospitalisations were in Northland: 16; Waitematā: 77; Counties Manukau: 76; Auckland: 91; Waikato: 109; Bay of Plenty: 22; Lakes: 11; Hawke’s Bay: 38; MidCentral: 44; Whanganui: 9; Taranaki: 21; Tairawhiti: 2; Wairarapa: 5; Capital & Coast/Hutt: 32; Nelson Marlborough: 19; Canterbury/West Coast: 117; South Canterbury: 16 and Southern: 33.

The seven-day rolling average of community case numbers today is 6683 – last Tuesday, it was 8335.

There were also 275 new Covid-19 cases at the border.

Yesterday, the ministry reported 5312 Covid-19 cases in the community and 28 deaths with the virus.

Meanwhile, health officials are being asked to reconsider the evidence used to ban midwives from working if they are unvaccinated against Covid-19.