Coronavirus: New Zealand has 74 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 and sadly one death

Publish Date
Wednesday, 15 December 2021, 1:15PM

Today New Zealand has 74 new cases of Covid-19 in the community and sadly one death, reports the Ministry of Health.

The death is of a patient with COVID-19 at Tauranga Hospital.

Of today's new cases, 56 are in Auckland, nine are in Waikato, seven are in Bay of Plenty, one is in Canterbury and one is in Lakes.

The total number of cases in this outbreak is now 9,963.

There are 61 people in hospital, including four patients in intensive care.

To date, 94% of New Zealanders have had their first dose and 89% are fully vaccinated.

All three Auckland DHBs have reached 90%.

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 12,773 confirmed cases since the pandemic began last year and 47 deaths.

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