There were 5285 new Covid-19 community cases and 12 deaths reported by the Ministry of Health yesterday.
The ministry said there were also 300 Covid-19 cases in hospital.
Winter illnesses and Covid-19 were continuing to put pressure on hospitals and Southland Hospital became the latest to offer patients vouchers for GP clinics to divert them from the hospital emergency department.
Hospitals in the Wellington region and Counties Manukau District Health Board have taken similar measures.
