Covid-19 case numbers have dropped for the third day in a row.

On Tuesday, the Ministry of Health reported 17,148 cases. This dropped to 15,918 on Wednesday and 15,250 on Thursday.

Today, the Ministry is reporting 13,475 new cases.

Of those, 688 are in the Bay of Plenty and 355 are in the Lakes district.

Today, there is also 764 hospitalisations and 17 deaths.

The seven-day rolling average of case numbers continues to decline, Today's seven-day rolling average is 14,171, while the seven-day rolling average of cases as at last Friday was 17,197.

"Getting boosted continues to be one of the most important ways people can protect themselves from Omicron and severe illness," says an MOH spokesperson.

"There is a much lower risk of being hospitalised if you are up to date with your vaccinations, which, for Omicron, includes a third or booster dose if eligible.

"Our national vaccination programme continues, with many opportunities around the country.

"It will be a big weekend for the Bay of Plenty, with a host of iwi-led Covid-19 vaccination events right across the rohe, supported by the local DHB. Tomorrow there will be tamariki/children-focused events in Katikati, Tauranga, Te Puke, Kawerau, Ōpōtiki and Whakatāne. Tauranga and Whakatāne will have events on Sunday as well.

"Parents and whānau can also take the opportunity to get vaccinated alongside the kids.

"There will be food, stress free spaces, and activities for everyone."

Find out when and where from the BoP DHB website.

Covid-19 deaths

The deaths being reported today include people who have died over the past seven days, including 15 in the past two days.

Delays to reporting can be associated with people dying with, rather than from Covid-19, and Covid being discovered only after they have died, says the Ministry of Health.

These deaths take the total number of publicly reported deaths with Covid-19 to 355 and the 7-day rolling average of reported deaths is 17.

Of the people whose deaths we are reporting today, seven were from the Auckland region, two from Waikato, one from Bay of Plenty, one from Lakes DHB, one from Hawke's Bay, one from the Wellington region, one from Canterbury, one from the West Coast, and two from Southern.

Two people were in their 50s, four people were in their 60s, five people were in their 70s, three in their 80s and three were over-90.

Fifteen were male and two were female.

"Our thoughts and condolences are with their whānau and friends at this sad time.

"Out of respect, we will be making no further comment."

Vaccinations administered in New Zealand

• Vaccines administered to date: 4,025,712 first doses; 3,974,611 second doses; 34,335 third primary doses; 2,584,235 booster doses: 259,029 paediatric first doses and 82,692 paediatric second doses
• Vaccines administered yesterday: 109 first doses; 216 second doses; 26 third primary doses; 2,235 booster doses; 152 paediatric first doses and 2,615 paediatric second doses

People vaccinated

• All Ethnicities (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 4,055,558 first dose (96.4%); 4,002,938 second dose (95.1%), 2,582,505 boosted (72.7% of those eligible)
• Māori (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 520,420 first dose (91.1%); 502,899 second dose (88.1%), 229,207 boosted (57.7% of those eligible)
• Pacific Peoples (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 281,555 first dose (98.2%); 276,413 second dose (96.4%), 136,476 boosted (59.3% of those eligible)
• 5 to 11-year-olds all ethnicities: 257,129 first dose (54%); 80,870 second dose (17%)
• 5 to 11-year-olds - Māori: 40,337 first dose (34.9%); 9,070 second dose (7.8%)
• 5 to 11-year-olds - Pacific Peoples: 23,262 first dose (47.1%); 4,276 second dose (8.7%)

Note that the number for 'People vaccinated” differs slightly from 'Vaccines administered” as it includes those that have been vaccinated overseas.

Vaccination rates for all DHBs

• Northland DHB: first dose (90.1%); second dose (88%); boosted (69.5%)
• Auckland Metro DHB: first dose (97.2%); second dose (96.1%); boosted (71.2%)
• Waikato DHB: first dose (95.1%); second dose (93.5%); boosted (68.3%)
• Bay of Plenty DHB: first dose (95%); second dose (93.3%); boosted (68%)
• Lakes DHB: first dose (93.2%); second dose (91.3%); boosted (68.4%)
• MidCentral DHB: first dose (96.5%); second dose (95.2%); boosted (74.2%)
• Tairāwhiti DHB: first dose (93.2%); second dose (90.9%); boosted (68.4%)
• Whanganui DHB: first dose (92%); second dose (90.4%); boosted (73.5%)
• Hawke's Bay DHB: first dose (97.1%); second dose (95.4%); boosted (72.1%)
• Taranaki DHB: first dose (94.6%); second dose (93.2%); boosted (70.1%)
• Wairarapa DHB: first dose (96.4%); second dose (94.9%); boosted (74.8%)
• Capital & Coast DHB: first dose (98.6%); second dose (97.8%); boosted (81.1%)
• Hutt Valley DHB: first dose (96.6%); second dose (95.6%); boosted (76.9%)
• Nelson Marlborough DHB: first dose (96.4%); second dose (95.2%); boosted (75.5%)
• West Coast DHB: first dose (92.7%); second dose (91.2%); boosted (73.4%)
• Canterbury DHB: first dose (99.7%); second dose (98.7%); boosted (75.9%)
• South Canterbury DHB: first dose (94.9%); second dose (93.8%); boosted (76.4%)
• Southern DHB: first dose (98.2%); second dose (97.1%); boosted (74.9%)

Partially and second doses percentages are for those 12+. Boosted percentages are for 18+ who have become eligible 3 months after having their second dose

Percentages are based on 2020 HSU data - a health-specific population denominator. As the population continues to change over time, coverage rates can exceed 100%.

Hospitalisations

• Cases in hospital: total number 764: Northland: 28; North Shore: 108; Middlemore: 148; Auckland: 111; Waikato: 82; Bay of Plenty: 27; Lakes: 17; Tairāwhiti: 3, Hawke's Bay: 40; Taranaki: 22; Whanganui: 8; MidCentral: 25; Hutt Valley: 20; Capital and Coast: 20; Wairarapa: 1; Nelson Marlborough: 15; Canterbury: 50; South Canterbury: 8; West Coast: 1; Southern: 30
• Average age of current hospitalisations: 58
• Cases in ICU or HDU: 31
• Vaccination status of current hospitalisations (Northern Region only, excluding Emergency Departments): Unvaccinated or not eligible 51 cases / 13.5%); partially immunised

Please note, the Ministry of Health's daily reported cases may differ slightly from those reported at a DHB or local public health unit level. This is because of different reporting cut off times and the assignment of cases between regions, for example when a case is tested outside their usual region of residence. Total numbers will always be the formal daily case tally as reported to the WHO.

Cases

• Seven day rolling average of community cases: 14,171
• Seven day rolling average (as at Friday last week): 17,197
• Number of new community cases: 13,475
• Number of new community cases (PCR): 344
• Number of new community cases (RAT): 13,131

• Location of new community cases (PCR & RAT): Northland (563), Auckland (2,392), Waikato (1,182), Bay of Plenty (688), Lakes (355), Hawke's Bay (712), MidCentral (774), Whanganui (332), Taranaki (526), Tairāwhiti (172), Wairarapa (155), Capital and Coast (876), Hutt Valley (483), Nelson Marlborough (578), Canterbury (2,122), South Canterbury (267), Southern (1,243), West Coast (56); Unknown (5)

• Number of new cases identified at the border: 49
• Number of active community cases (total): 99,185 (cases identified in the past 7 days and not yet classified as recovered)
• Confirmed cases (total): 671,254

Tests

• Number of PCR tests total (last 24 hours): 3,427
• Number of Rapid Antigen Tests reported total (last 24 hours): 26,996
• PCR tests rolling average (last 7 days): 2,770
• Number of Rapid Antigen Tests dispatched (last 7 days as of 29/03/22): 6.2 million