There are 4841 new cases of Covid-19 in the community today, and nine new deaths. 

There are 383 people in hospital with the virus, including 9 in intensive care. 

The seven-day rolling average of community case numbers stood at 6904 – nearly 1000 fewer than at last Sunday, when it was 7863. 

Yesterday, the Ministry of Health reported 6369 new cases of Covid-19 in the community, and 13 new deaths, which took the number of virus-linked mortalities to 1140. 

The seven-day rolling average of cases stood at 6924 on Saturday, compared with 7972 the week before. 

More than 1.13 million people are known to have tested positive for the virus in New Zealand since the pandemic began – although modellers estimate as many as half of Kiwis may have had the virus. 

Auckland continues to have the highest number of new community cases – 2068 were reported yesterday – as well as hospitalisations. 

This week, Omicron sub-variants with increased transmissibility, but not thought to cause more serious illness, were also detected in the community. 

While most recently sequenced cases in New Zealand continued to be of the Omicron BA.2 sub-variant, the first community case of Omicron sub-variant BA.2.12.1 was discovered in Hawke's Bay this week, health officials said. 

The case, which had no clear link to the border, was from a test result returned earlier this month. 

Director general of health Dr Ashley Bloomfield this week joined more than 528 million others around the world since early 2020 to test positive for Covid-19. 

The health boss became unwell while in Switzerland for the World Health Assembly. 

He has mild symptoms and is self-isolating in Geneva.