Coronavirus: New Zealand has 178 confirmed new cases of COVID-19 and sadly one death

Today New Zealand has 178 new cases of Covid-19 in the community and sadly one death, reports the Ministry of Health.

The death is of a patient in their late 50s at Auckland City Hospital yesterday afternoon.

Of today's new cases, 149 are in Auckland, nine are in Bay of Plenty, one is in Lakes, one is in MidCentral, two are in Northland and 16 are in Waikato.

The total number of cases in this outbreak is now 7,660.

There are 77 people in hospital, including eight patients in intensive care.

To date, 92% of New Zealanders have had their first dose and 84% are fully vaccinated.

Auckland is currently at alert level 3 step 2.

The rest of the country is at alert level 2.

New Zealand will move to the new traffic light system at 11.59 on Thursday 2 December.

Once in the traffic light system, lockdowns, if they happen at all, are expected to be rare and more localised.

All businesses, including cafes and restaurants, will be able to open again once in the traffic light system with the use of vaccine certificates.

New Zealand has had 10,421 confirmed cases since the pandemic began last year and 41 deaths.