Covid 19 Omicron outbreak: Today's cases overcounted in Ministry of Health computer glitch

Today's Covid-19 cases were overcounted by more than 4000 because of a computer glitch.

The Ministry of Health today announced there were 13,334 new positive infections, but revealed this evening that total was 4206 cases too high after it discovered a computer glitch had altered the figures.

"The correct figure is 9318, which is around the same level as case numbers reported for the past three days," the ministry's website read.

"A corrected statement is being published on the ministry website and updated case figures for individual districts are also being published now."

The number of imported cases - people who had recently travelled overseas - was also affected by the glitch, the correct figure being 275 instead of the 390 incorrectly published earlier today.

The ministry website said the computer glitch had been corrected.

A similar glitch last month forced the ministry to apologise to 6000 people after it incorrectly notified them they had tested positive and needed to isolate.

The message was sent to people who had tested positive for the virus in the past 10 days, meaning the text was a duplicate of advice they had already received.

Text messages were sent to all those affected to clarify the error, apologised and provided a phone number should people require further information or support.

The ministry reported a further 23 Covid-related deaths today. Eighteen of the deaths occurred in July. Four others were from May and June.

There were 587 people in hospital with the virus, including nine in intensive care.

Of today's 23 deaths, seven people were from the Auckland region, one each from Waikato, Lakes, Bay of Plenty, Hawkes Bay, Taranaki, Tairawhiti, Whanganui and MidCentral, two were from the Wellington region, four were from Canterbury/West Coast, and two from Southern.

One was aged in their 60s, three were in their 70s, 13 were in their 80s, and six were aged over 90. Of these people, nine were women and 14 were men.

One death from January last year was now being reported by the ministry as the cause of death assessment had been completed.

Today's reported deaths took the total number of publicly reported deaths with Covid to 1651.

The breakdown of today's 587 Covid hospitalisations is: Northland: 13; Waitematā: 128; Counties Manukau: 38; Auckland: 35; Waikato: 57; Bay of Plenty: 32; Lakes: 14; Hawke's Bay: 20; MidCentral: 18; Whanganui: 6; Taranaki: 11; Tairawhiti: 2; Wairarapa: 4; Capital and Coast and Hutt Valley: 60; Nelson Marlborough: 13; Canterbury and West Coast: 90; South Canterbury: 15; Southern: 31.

There are nine Covid patients in ICU or HDU. The average age of Covid hospitalisations was 66.