Coronavirus: New Zealand has 172 new confirmed cases of COVID-19

Today New Zealand has 172 new cases of Covid-19 in the community, reports the Ministry of Health.

Of today's new cases, 142 are in Auckland, two are in Lakes, one is in MidCentral, nine are in Nelson Marlborough, one is in the Bay of Plenty and 15 are in Waikato.

The total number of cases in this outbreak is now 8,745.

To date, a total of 2,642 cases from this outbreak are now reported as having recovered from Covid-19.

The total number of cases in Auckland during this outbreak is 8,037 (2,317 of whom have recovered), 85 cases in Northland (60 of whom have recovered), 476 in Waikato (210 of whom have recovered), 62 active cases in Bay of Plenty, one active case in Hawke's Bay, 28 cases in the Lakes District (four of whom have recovered), six cases in MidCentral (three of whom have recovered), three cases in Wairarapa (one of whom has recovered), 18 in Wellington (17 of whom have recovered), 14 cases in Nelson-Tasman (one of whom has recovered) and nine cases in Canterbury (five of whom have recovered).

There are 86 people in hospital, including nine patients in intensive care.

To date, 93% of New Zealanders have had their first dose and 86% are fully vaccinated.

Auckland is currently at alert level 3 step 2.

The rest of the country is at alert level 2.

New Zealand will move to the new traffic light system at 11.59 tonight, with Auckland, Northland, Taupō and Rotorua Lakes Districts, Kawerau, Whakatane, Ōpōtiki Districts, Gisborne District, Wairoa District, Rangitikei, Whanganui and Ruapehu Districts moving to red.

The rest of the North Island and the whole of the South Island will go to orange.

All businesses, including cafes and restaurants, will be able to open again once in the traffic light system with the use of vaccine certificates.

New Zealand has had 11,525 confirmed cases since the pandemic began last year and 43 deaths.