More details related to the Covid-19 death at Middlemore Hospital reported earlier today have been announced.

The deceased is a man in his 50s who had spent a total of 40 days in the Intensive Care Unit.

A statement from the Ministry of Health confirms the man had underlying health conditions and had been admitted to Middlemore on August 27 from his home.

His family are being supported by their church and community.

'Our thoughts are with his whānau at this deeply sad time”, says Director of Public Health Dr Caroline McElnay, who announced the death at today's 1pm Covid-19 update.

The total death toll from Covid-19 in New Zealand has now risen to 28.

There are a total of 39 new community cases reported today. Of those, 30 are in Auckland and nine in Waikato including cases at Waikato Hospital and in Kawhia and Karāpiro

A weak positive has also been discovered in Whangārei and is under investigation.

The previous Covid-19 death in New Zealand was reported on September 4, a woman in her 90s who had been treated at North Shore hospital.