In the past week, New Zealand has reported 3,816 new cases of COVID-19, along with 17 additional deaths attributed to the virus. Of these new cases,
In the past week, New Zealand has reported 3,816 new cases of COVID-19, along with 17 additional deaths attributed to the virus. Of these new cases, 1,735 were reinfections. As of Sunday, October 15th, there were 243 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, with two in intensive care.
The seven-day rolling average of new cases increased to 544 per day, up from 510 in the previous week when 3,571 new cases and 15 deaths were reported. University of Otago epidemiologist Professor Michael Baker emphasized that COVID-19 remains a significant threat and has become the primary infectious disease concern in New Zealand, surpassing influenza as the leading infectious disease causing fatalities.
Professor Baker also expressed concerns that the reported cases may significantly underestimate the true extent of the virus’s presence in the community, suggesting that there could be approximately 10,000 cases or more each week, highlighting the ongoing challenge of managing the pandemic in New Zealand.
