Wellington, Nov 18 (UNI/Xinhua) New Zealand reported 167 new Delta variant cases of COVID-19 in the community on Thursday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country's community outbreak to 6,334.
Among the new infections, 142 were recorded in the largest city of Auckland, 17 in nearby Waikato, five in Northland, one in Bay of Plenty, one in the Lakes District Health Board area, and one in Christchurch, according to the Ministry of Health.
The ministry also reported the deaths of two patients with COVID-19. A woman in her 80s has died at Auckland's Middlemore Hospital, and a man in his 90s has died at the city's North Shore Hospital. The man had a number of underlying health conditions.
A total of 85 cases are being treated in hospitals, including six in intensive care units or high dependency units, a ministry statement said.
The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in New Zealand stands at 9,090 currently, according to the health ministry.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told a press conference on Thursday that Auckland borders will reopen on December 15, ending a three-month lockdown following the first case of Delta variant of COVID-19 that emerged in mid-August in the city.
On Wednesday, the country also launched "My Vaccine Pass" for fully vaccinated people before attending large events or entering some public facilities.
"My Vaccine Pass" is an official record of a person's COVID-19 vaccination status and will provide access to places within New Zealand that require proof of vaccination under the new COVID-19 Protection Framework.
UNI/XINHUA RNJ