Today, there are 8395 Covid community cases, 689 current hospitalisations, and 17 deaths being reported in New Zealand.

The seven-day rolling average of community case numbers today is 9279.

The Ministry of Health is sadly reporting the deaths of 17 people with Covid-19. All these deaths occurred in the past 13 days.

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

"The increase in hospitalisations also emphasises the importance of everybody doing the basics well to help New Zealand get through winter in good shape. In particular, people should stay home if they are unwell, take a rapid antigen test and upload the result on MyCovidRecord, and isolate if positive or while still symptomatic.

"And now is the time to ensure you are up to date with your Covid-19 vaccinations, including those who are eligible for a second booster dose, as well as having a flu vaccination, which is free for many people."

The Ministry says wearing a mask remains one of the best measures to reduce transmission against infectious respiratory illnesses, including Covid-19.

"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.

"Even if you're fully vaccinated, or have had Covid-19, continuing to wear a face mask is important in keeping you, your whanau and your community safe.

"As a general rule, we urge people to wear a mask in public indoor settings outside the home and in poorly ventilated spaces, or when it is hard to physically distance from other people.

"You must wear a mask on public transport and at transport hubs like airports and bus stations, inside public venues like museums and libraries, when visiting a health care service, and inside retail businesses like supermarkets and shopping malls.

'Masking up is particularly important when around more vulnerable members of the community, especially those who are older, those in aged residential care and healthcare settings where appropriate.

"Wearing a mask also helps protect our healthcare and aged residential care staff, reducing their chances of becoming unwell and supporting them to continue to provide care to those that need it."

There are many tips to help reduce your chance of serious illness this winter. See the information in the links below.

• View a video of these tips on the Ministry's Facebook page
• Guidance if you or someone you know tests positive or becomes a household contact
• Information on mask use at Orange
• Getting a flu jab

Covid-19 hospitalisations

• Covid-19 Cases in hospital: total number 689: Northland: 13; Waitematā: 137; Counties Manukau: 49; Auckland: 83; Waikato: 59; Bay of Plenty: 33; Lakes: 10; Hawke's Bay: 27; MidCentral: 28; Whanganui: 16; Taranaki: 13; Tairawhiti: 4; Wairarapa: 11; Capital & Coast/Hutt: 68; Nelson Marlborough: 12; Canterbury/West Coast: 77; South Canterbury: 20; Southern: 29.
• Weekly COVID-19 Hospitalisations - 7 day rolling average: 582 (This time last week 420)
• Average age of current Covid-19 hospitalisations: 64
• Cases in ICU or HDU: 13
• Vaccination status of new admissions to hospital*: Unvaccinated or not eligible (54 cases); double vaccinated at least 7 days before being reported as a case (82 cases); received booster at least 7 days before being reported as a case (326 cases).

*These are new hospital admissions in the past 7 days prior to yesterday who had COVID at the time of admission or while in hospital, excluding hospitalisations that were admitted and discharged within 24hrs. This data is from Districts with tertiary hospitals: Auckland, Canterbury, Southern, Counties Manukau, Waikato, Capital & Coast, Waitemata and Northland.

Covid-19 vaccinations administered

Vaccinations administered in New Zealand

• Vaccines administered to date: 4,028,746 first doses; 3,981,329 second doses; 33,375 third primary doses; 2,688,542 first booster doses: 90,905 second booster doses: 264,687 paediatric first doses and 137,182 paediatric second doses
• Vaccines administered yesterday: 6 first doses; 13 second doses; 1 third primary doses; 394 first booster doses; 2,334 second booster doses; 25 paediatric first doses and 262 paediatric second doses
• More detailed information, including vaccine uptake by District, is available on the Ministry website.

Tests

• Number of PCR tests total (last 24 hours): 2,183
• Number of Rapid Antigen Tests reported total (last 24 hours): 12,714
• PCR tests rolling average (last 7 days): 3,313
• Number of Rapid Antigen Tests dispatched (last seven days as of 11 July 2022): 2.6 million

Covid-19 cases

• Total number of new community cases: 8,395
• Number of new cases that have recently travelled overseas: 280
• Seven day rolling average of community cases: 9,279
• Seven day rolling average of community cases (as at same day last week): 7,053
• Number of active cases (total): 64,912 (cases identified in the past seven days and not yet classified as recovered)
• Confirmed cases (total): 1,429,607
• Location of new community cases by district over past 24 hours

Please note, the Ministry of Health's daily reported cases may differ slightly from those reported at a District 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.

Covid-19 deaths

Today's reported deaths take the total number of publicly reported deaths with Covid-19 to 1688 and the seven-day rolling average of reported deaths is 17.

Of the people whose deaths we are reporting today: one was from Northland, seven were from Auckland region, one was from Waikato, two were from Bay of Plenty, one was from Taranaki, one was from South Canterbury, three were from Capital & Coast/Hutt and one was from Canterbury/West Coast .

Five were in their 70s, five were in their 80s and seven were aged over 90. Of these people, ten were women and seven were men.

"This is a very sad time for whānau and friends and our thoughts and condolences are with them. Out of respect, we will be making no further comment on today's reported deaths."