New Covid cases

As of Sunday midnight, 418 cases were hospitalised and 10 were in intensive care.

Of the 40 people with the virus who died, two were from Northland, 14 were from Auckland region, four were from Waikato, one was from Bay of Plenty, four were from Lakes, one was from Hawke's Bay, three were from MidCentral, three were from Whanganui, one was from Wellington region, one was from Nelson Marlborough, three were from Canterbury, two were from Southern.

The number of active cases is now 61, which is a slight drop since last week but well below the outbreak's peak last year.

The health authorities say there are no Covid-19 patients in the hospital.

The death toll of the pandemic is 649, with most fatalities registered during last year's outbreak with the Delta variant.

Vaccinations have continued and more than 81 percent of those 12 years and older have had two jabs.

There were 228 new community cases and seven new imported cases during the monitoring period of 24 may to 26 May.

The total number of cases has increased to 13,380.

There are five patients in managed isolation at Moto’otua Hospital.

The Ministry is urging the public to follow health measures like wearing a mask, maintaining social distance, and washing of hands to ensure good hygiene and contain community transmission.

“Vaccination remains our best defense against severe effects of the virus.”