Coronavirus: New Zealand has 167 confirmed new cases of COVID-19 and sadly two deaths

New Zealand has 167 new cases of Covid-19 in the community and sadly two deaths, reports the Ministry of Health.

The first is of a woman in her 80s who has died at Middlemore Hospital.

The second death is of a man in his 90s in North Shore Hospital. He had been living at the Edmonton Meadows Care Home.

Of today's new cases, 142 are in Auckland, one is in Canterbury, one is Bay of Plenty, one is in the Lakes District, five are in Northland and 17 are in Waikato.

There is a second new case in the Bay of Plenty and Canterbury, however, the cases were confirmed after the official 9am cut-off time for reporting and will be formally included in tomorrow’s figures.

There are also two new cases in the MidCentral region today - one is in the town of Ashhurst and one is in Levin. These cases will be formally included in the region's total tomorrow.

The total number of cases in this outbreak is now 6,334.

To date, a total of 2,162 cases are now reported as having recovered from Covid-19.

The total number of cases in Auckland is 5,949 (2,019 of whom have recovered), 282 in Waikato (98 of whom have recovered), 54 cases in Northland (24 of whom have recovered), six active cases in Taranaki, 15 active cases in the Lakes District, two active cases in Bay of Plenty, four active cases in MidCentral and six cases in Canterbury (three of whom have recovered).

There are 85 people in hospital, including six patients in intensive care.

To date, 91% of New Zealanders have had their first dose and 82% are fully vaccinated.

Auckland is currently at alert level 3 step 2.

The rest of the country is at alert level 2.

Previously, the Prime Minister revealed New Zealand will move into a new way of managing Covid-19 when District Health Boards have 90 per cent of their eligible populations vaccinated.

The traffic light system will use vaccine certificates to allow complying businesses to continue to operate at all times - and proposes to end nationwide lockdowns.

New Zealand has had 9,090 confirmed cases since the pandemic began last year and 38 deaths.