Rotorua Daily Post
  • Rotorua Daily Post home
  • Latest news
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Sport
  • Video
  • Death notices
  • Classifieds

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Residential property listings
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
  • Rural
  • Sport

Locations

  • Tauranga
  • Te Puke
  • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Tokoroa
  • Taupō & Tūrangi

Media

  • Video
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-Editions
  • Photo sales

Weather

  • Rotorua
  • Tauranga
  • Whakatāne
  • Tokoroa
  • Taupō

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Rotorua Daily Post

Covid 19 coronavirus: More than 10,000 cases and 16 Covid-related deaths today

NZ Herald
15 Jul, 2022 02:24 AM8 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Focus Morning Bulletin: 15 July, 2022
The Government gears up for a winter Covid peak, concern about the effects of alcohol on mental health and why the economy might be able to avoid a recession in the latest New Zealand Herald headlines. Video / NZ Herald ...
Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
/
Duration 0:00
Loaded: 0%
0:00
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time -0:00
 
1x
    • Chapters
    • descriptions off, selected
    • captions settings, opens captions settings dialog
    • captions off, selected

      This is a modal window.

      Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.

      Text
      Text Background
      Caption Area Background
      Font Size
      Text Edge Style
      Font Family

      End of dialog window.

      This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button.

      Crash near Waiuku leaves three dead

      UP NEXT:

      Autoplay in
      4
      Disable Autoplay
      Cancel Video
      The Government gears up for a winter Covid peak, concern about the effects of alcohol on mental health and why the economy might be able to avoid a recession in the latest New Zealand Herald headlines. Video / NZ Herald
      NOW PLAYING • Focus Morning Bulletin: 15 July, 2022
      The Government gears up for a winter Covid peak, concern about the effects of alcohol on mental health and why the economy might be able to avoid a recession in the latest New Zealand Herald headlines. Video / NZ Herald ...

      New Zealand has 10,470 new coronavirus cases and 16 Covid-related deaths today.

      There are 773 Covid-related hospitalisations, with 14 people in ICU.

      The numbers were released by the Ministry of Health just after 2pm.

      The seven-day rolling average of community case numbers today is 9994. The seven-day rolling average for hospitalisations is 700, up from 499 this time last week.

      The ministry said today's reported deaths took New Zealand's death toll to 1776. The seven-day rolling average of reported deaths is 16.

      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.
      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.

      "Of the people whose deaths we are reporting today, three were from the Auckland region, one was from Waikato, one was from Bay of Plenty, one was from Lakes, one was from MidCentral, two were from Whanganui, five were from the Wellington region, one was from South Canterbury, and one was from Southern," the ministry said.

      "One person was in their 60s, one was in their 70s, six were in their 80s and eight were aged over 90. Of these people, four were females and 12 were males."

      The 773 people with Covid-19 cases in hospital are in Northland: 22; Waitematā: 141; Counties Manukau: 56; Auckland: 102; Waikato: 63; Bay of Plenty: 38; Lakes: 16; Hawke's Bay: 24; MidCentral: 31; Whanganui: 18; Taranaki: 15; Tairāwhiti: 4; Wairarapa: 12; Hutt Valley: 29; Capital & Coast: 30; Nelson Marlborough: 13; Canterbury: 102; West Coast: 1; South Canterbury: 14; Southern: 42.

      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.

      Health officials have said the true number of daily case numbers could actually be twice that figure due to people either not testing for Covid-19 despite being sick, or testing and not reporting the fact they were positive.

      The ministry said it and Te Whatu Ora–Health NZ were "closely monitoring the continued increase in Covid-19 positive cases and hospitalisations as part of our ongoing review and updating of the response to the current community outbreak".

      "The increase in cases and hospitalisations emphasises the importance of everybody doing the basics well to help prevent infection and serious illness. In particular, people should stay home if they are unwell, take a rapid antigen test (RAT) and upload the result on My Covid Record, and isolate if positive or while still symptomatic."

      Given the increased surge in cases, the ministry said it was important New Zealanders were up to date with all vaccinations, including those specifically for Covid-19.

      Discover more

      New Zealand|politics

      Govt frees up masks, RATs; 11,382 cases today, child dies with virus

      14 Jul 01:28 AM
      New Zealand|politics

      Covid: 10,424 new community cases, 788 in hospital; changes to death reporting

      19 Jul 01:29 AM

      "Many are now eligible for a second booster dose, and flu vaccinations, which are free for many people."

      Health officials have also again made an impassioned public push for New Zealanders to mask up when they are out and about.

      The ministry said wearing a mask was one of the "best measures" to reduce the chance of catching Covid-19, or other respiratory illnesses.

      "The more layers of protection people put in place - such as mask-wearing, vaccinations, and staying home when sick - the more they reduce the risk of spreading respiratory viruses.

      "Even if you're fully vaccinated, or have had Covid-19, continuing to wear a face mask is important in keeping you, your whānau and your community safe.

      "As a general rule, the ministry urges people to wear a mask in public indoor settings outside the home and in poorly ventilated spaces, or when it is hard to physically distance from other people.

      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.

      "You must wear a mask on public transport and at transport hubs like airports and bus stations, inside public venues like museums and libraries, when visiting a healthcare service, and inside retail businesses like supermarkets and shopping malls.

      "Masking up is particularly important when around more vulnerable members of the community, especially those who are older, and those in aged residential care and healthcare settings where appropriate."

      The ministry has also reaffirmed that from Monday the access criteria for three antiviral treatments for Covid-19 will be widened to include a wider group of people at risk of severe illness from infection.

      This includes all people aged 75 years and over and those who have been admitted previously to an intensive care unit directly as a result of Covid-19.

      "Nirmatrelvir with ritonavir (branded as Paxlovid), molnupiravir (branded as Lagevrio) and remdesivir, an infusion treatment (branded as Veklury) are antivirals used in the community and hospitals to treat people with early Covid-19 at risk of severe illness," the ministry said.

      "These antivirals reduce the risk of severe illness, which helps take pressure off our health system.

      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.

      "Among other things, this means GPs will be able to provide 'back pocket' prescriptions so that people at risk of acute respiratory illnesses can have their prescription ready should they test positive and can then start taking the medicine promptly."

      Read More

      • Covid-19 Omicron outbreak: PM says no move to red, ...
      • Covid-19 Omicron outbreak: Today's cases top 11,000 ...
      • Covid 19 Omicron outbreak: Wastewater testing shows ...
      • Covid-19 Omicron outbreak: Cases surge past 11,000 ...
      • Q&A: What Omicron wave means for NZ's Long Covid risk ...
      • Covid-19 Omicron outbreak: BA.5 expected to become ...

      Immunologist Dr Dianne Sika-Paotonu said the potential for twice as many fresh cases in New Zealand – and people who were Covid-19-positive mixing in the community – was a huge concern.

      "Omicron is continuing to cause nationwide disruption for all, putting hospitals, support systems, primary care and community care under immense strain and pressure - which they've been dealing with for a while now," Sika-Paotonu said.

      "Wastewater testing results have been indicating much higher Covid-19 infection levels in the community than reflected by reported figures, driving further concern people who may be unwell aren't testing or isolating, and therefore continuing to spread Covid-19.

      "Concern about the under-reporting of Covid-19 case figures has been a long-standing issue, and it is estimated that the actual Covid-19 cases are double those being reported right now."

      Health officials said yesterday the current wave of Omicron spread could see reported fresh cases peaking at about 21,000 a day.

      Sika-Paotonu - Associate Dean (Pacific), Head of University of Otago Wellington Pacific Office, and Senior Lecturer, Pathology & Molecular Medicine, University of Otago Wellington – said new Omicron subvariants were also causing problems due to their "higher transmissibility".

      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.

      She said ongoing work would also be needed to understand more about whether reinfections for Omicron and all its subvariants end up being more or less severe compared to a primary infection.

      Her message to people trying to do all they could to avoid either getting Covid-19 or minimising how sick they might get was clear.

      "Masks, Covid-19 vaccines and proper ventilation within the education setting remain important for protection."

      New Zealand is battling a second wave of Covid infections, with more than 11,000 community cases recorded yesterday for a third straight day.

      Next steps revealed

      Covid-19 Minister Ayesha Verrall, director general of health Dr Ashley Bloomfield and new Health NZ chief executive Margie Apa briefed reporters on Thursday on the next steps in the response to the virus.

      Verrall said NZ would remain at the orange traffic light setting. The Government had weighed up whether moving to red would make a significant difference, but gathering limits would only offer "an incremental benefit".

      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.

      Wearing a mask, getting boosted and staying home if sick were more effective than a return to the red setting, she said.

      However, red was not redundant: "This is a virus that keeps changing, therefore we do need a flexible response system.

      "We need to have a response we can flex."

      However, she said at the moment she believed the country could get through with more emphasis on the measures at orange.

      Officials say there is no need for New Zealand to go to the red light Covid-19 setting at the moment. Photo / Michael Craig
      Officials say there is no need for New Zealand to go to the red light Covid-19 setting at the moment. Photo / Michael Craig

      Lockdown not necessary - precautions urged

      Verrall said she did not think a lockdown was needed for this variant, noting that the effectiveness of lockdowns tended to abate the more you used them.

      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.

      She said there was no "magic case numbers" threshold at which the higher red setting would be imposed - it depended on factors such as how the virus was spreading and its severity.

      Verrall said the most effective measures for the current outbreak were masks, boosters, widening the scope of anti-virals and encouraging people to test.

      Free masks and rapid antigen tests would be offered at collection sites, Verrall said.

      People would no longer have to have Covid symptoms or be a household contact or a critical worker.

      However, she said people should still book in for RAT collection, to ensure there was enough stock.

      The country has 100 million RATs.

      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.

      The Government is also providing 10 million child-size masks for Year 4-7 students and up to 30,000 masks a week for all other students and school staff.

      Verrall said if schools took up the support of free masks in the next term, it would make a difference: "Please use it."

      A new campaign to try to push along the boosters campaign would also be run.

      Covid
      Save

        Share this article

      Latest from Rotorua Daily Post

      Rotorua Daily Post

      Arrests for dangerous driving during funeral procession

      Rotorua Daily Post

      Eastern BoP mayors unite against council amalgamation

      Premium
      Rotorua Daily Post

      'Hiding from the council': Rotorua's secret pod shelter for homeless


      Sponsored

      Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.

      Recommended for you

      'I didn’t have time to think': Well-known local rescues woman from rising flood
      Northern Advocate

      'I didn’t have time to think': Well-known local rescues woman from rising flood

      'Disgusted by my actions': Man who scammed 21 people apologises, but won't give up co-offenders
      Crime

      'Disgusted by my actions': Man who scammed 21 people apologises, but won't give up co-offenders

      Two rugby players suspended after secretly filming intimate videos of student
      New Zealand

      Two rugby players suspended after secretly filming intimate videos of student

      'Sustained period of cruelty': Starship doctor slates child protection agency failings
      Auckland

      'Sustained period of cruelty': Starship doctor slates child protection agency failings

      Police officer had on-duty sexual activity with civilian, misused database
      New Zealand

      Police officer had on-duty sexual activity with civilian, misused database

      Death on railway line investigated, Hutt Valley services still disrupted
      New Zealand

      Death on railway line investigated, Hutt Valley services still disrupted



      Latest from Rotorua Daily Post

      Arrests for dangerous driving during funeral procession
      Rotorua Daily Post

      Arrests for dangerous driving during funeral procession

      Three people were charged with failing to stop and dangerous driving.

      16 Jul 04:47 AM
      Eastern BoP mayors unite against council amalgamation
      Rotorua Daily Post

      Eastern BoP mayors unite against council amalgamation

      15 Jul 10:57 PM
      Premium
      Premium
      'Hiding from the council': Rotorua's secret pod shelter for homeless
      Rotorua Daily Post

      'Hiding from the council': Rotorua's secret pod shelter for homeless

      15 Jul 09:44 PM


      Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
      Sponsored

      Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

      06 Jul 09:47 PM

      NZ Herald
      • About NZ Herald
      • Meet the journalists
      • Newsletters
      • Classifieds
      • Help & support
      • Contact us
      • House rules
      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms of use
      • Competition terms & conditions
      • Our use of AI
      Subscriber Services
      • Rotorua Daily Post e-edition
      • Manage your print subscription
      • Manage your digital subscription
      • Subscribe to Herald Premium
      • Subscribe to the Rotorua Daily Post
      • Gift a subscription
      • Subscriber FAQs
      • Subscription terms & conditions
      • Promotions and subscriber benefits
      NZME Network
      • Rotorua Daily Post
      • The New Zealand Herald
      • The Northland Age
      • The Northern Advocate
      • Waikato Herald
      • Bay of Plenty Times
      • Hawke's Bay Today
      • Whanganui Chronicle
      • Viva
      • NZ Listener
      • Newstalk ZB
      • BusinessDesk
      • OneRoof
      • Driven Car Guide
      • iHeart Radio
      • Restaurant Hub
      NZME
      • About NZME
      • NZME careers
      • Advertise with NZME
      • Digital self-service advertising
      • Book your classified ad
      • Photo sales
      • NZME Events
      • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
      TOP
      search by queryly Advanced Search