Seven more deaths of people with Covid-19 have been reported in New Zealand, with community cases numbers rising by 18,699 today.

In a statement, the Ministry of Health said there were 853 people in hospital with Covid-19, including 17 in ICU.

The seven new deaths means the total number of publicly reported Covid-19 related death now 105.

Three of the deaths were in the Auckland region, and one each in Bay of Plenty, MidCentral, Wellington and Canterbury. One person was in their fifties, two were in their 70s, two

were in their 80s, and two were in their 90s. Four were male and three were female.

There were 20,989 new cases and seven new deaths reported yesterday, while Auckland health authorities remain cautiously optimistic that the Omicron outbreak may have

peaked in the country's biggest city.

- more to come