Source: Covid-19 New Zealand Government Announcements
Update from the Ministry of Health
Today we are announcing 8 people who died with COVID-19 yesterday and an additional 16 people who died in the past 3 weeks. Among the 24 deaths reported today are 8 people whom we know died at aged residential care facilities.
Local public health authorities have notified these deaths to the Ministry of Health in the past 24 hours as part of changes to the reporting of deaths announced last week. Delays to reporting can be associated with people dying with, rather than of COVID-19, and COVID being discovered after they have died.
This takes the total number of publicly reported deaths to date to 141. The rolling 7-day average of deaths publicly announced over the past 7 days is 7, up from 4 yesterday.
At this point in the outbreak, we are seeing increasing numbers of people dying with Omicron. Sadly, this trend is not unexpected, and our thoughts are with the families of these people.
As has occurred with Omicron overseas, while COVID-19 cases are usually seen in higher numbers among younger people early in the outbreak, over time the more severe and fatal consequences of the virus fall disproportionately on our older and more vulnerable populations.
The average stay in hospital for COVID-19 patients in the Northern region is lengthening, and the average age increasing. This indicates those being admitted are more likely to be vulnerable because of their older age and pre-existing non-COVID health conditions.
In New Zealand we have taken significant steps to limit the spread of COVID-19 in aged care facilities, such as pausing or limiting visitors, strong infection prevention and control measures, and limiting the rotation of staff among facilities.
One of the best things everyone can do to protect older and more vulnerable people, including family and loved ones, is to get vaccinated and get boosted.
COVID-19 related deaths
Of the 24 people being reported today, 3 died in Northland, 7 in Auckland, 7 in Waikato, 2 in the Bay of Plenty, 2 in MidCentral and 2 in Wairarapa.
One of these people was in their 40s, one in their 50s, 4 in their 60s, 3 in their 70s, 8 in their 80s and 6 in their 90s. 11 were women and 12 were men. Demographic information for one person is not available.
The average age of the people announced today was 79 and this has been increasing over the last week.
Out of respect, we will be making no further comment.
Read the full update on today’s cases | health.govt.nz (external link)
