Coronavirus: New Zealand has 215 confirmed new cases of COVID-19 and sadly one death

Today New Zealand has 215 new cases of Covid-19 in the community and sadly one death, reports the Ministry of Health.

The death is of a patient in their 50s at Auckland City Hospital.

Of today's new cases, 196 are in Auckland, two are in Lakes, one is in Bay of Plenty, one is in MidCentral, four are in Northland and 11 are in Waikato.

The total number of cases in this outbreak is now 7,268.

To date, a total of 2,453 cases from this outbreak are now reported as having recovered from Covid-19.

The total number of cases in Auckland this outbreak is 6,756 (2,281 of whom have recovered), 361 in Waikato (106 of whom have recovered), 18 in Wellington (17 of whom have recovered), 70 cases in Northland (39 of whom have recovered), seven cases in Canterbury (three of whom have recovered), 24 active cases in the Lakes District, four active cases in MidCentral, 18 active cases in Bay of Plenty and three active cases in Wairarapa.

All the cases in Taranaki have now recovered.

There are 88 people in hospital, including six patients in intensive care.

To date, 91% of New Zealanders have had their first dose and 84% 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 on Thursday 2 December.

Once in the traffic light system, lockdowns, if they happen at all, are expected to be rare and more localised.

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 10,025 confirmed cases since the pandemic began last year and 41 deaths.