Coronavirus: New Zealand has 56 new confirmed cases of COVID-19

Today New Zealand has 56 new cases of Covid-19 in the community, reports the Ministry of Health.

Of today's new cases, 33 are in Auckland, six are in Waikato, four are in Lakes, one is in Hutt Valley, one is in Taranaki and 11 are in Bay of Plenty.

The total number of cases in this outbreak is now 10,375.

There are 51 people in hospital, including seven patients in intensive care.

Six new cases of Omicron have been detected in recent returnees in managed isolation and quarantine facilities. That takes the total number of international arrivals to New Zealand with the Omicron variant to 28.

To date, 94% of New Zealanders have had their first dose and 90% are fully vaccinated.

New Zealand is now in the new traffic light system, with Auckland, Northland, Taupō and Rotorua Lakes Districts, Kawerau, Whakatane, Ōpōtiki Districts, Gisborne District, Wairoa District, Rangitikei, Whanganui and Ruapehu Districts at red.

The rest of the North Island and the whole of the South Island is at orange.

All red regions - except Northland - will move to orange at 11.59pm on Thursday 30 December.

New Zealand has had 13,219 confirmed cases since the pandemic began last year and 47 deaths.