Five-page letter pleads with the Government to take a firm and immediate response.

There are 738 people being treated in hospital today.

Health Minister Andrew Little's briefing on workforce issues. Video / Mark Mitchell

There are 759 people in hospital, including 16 in intensive care.

Bloomfield first started in the position in 2018.

New Zealand's international borders fully reopen at 11.59pm tonight.

End of an era as the man who shaped our pandemic response officially stands down today.

Ashley Bloomfield's final message to New Zealand as director general of health. Video / Ministry of Health

Health officials expect the death toll to worsen in coming weeks.

Winter wave has peaked earlier and lower than expected, expert says.

A total of 143 people have died from euthanasia in New Zealand.

It was hoped the school holidays would act as a circuit breaker, but figures remain high.

He yelled himself hoarse at the game but what did the top doc say about his next job?

Of the 21 deaths reported today, three were from Canterbury/West Coast.

NZ facing 'significant increase' in Covid cases due to the BA.5 variant - Bloomfield.

Seven-day rolling average of cases is 9689 - compared to 9281 this time last week.

The Government gears up for a winter Covid peak, concern about the effects of alcohol on mental health and why the economy might be able to avoid a recession in the latest New Zealand Herald headlines. Video / NZ Herald

Drivers' licence photos won't be run through facial recognition tech unless requested.

Experts say we are underestimating how big our current Covid wave is.

Expert warns that complacency could mean even more Covid hospitalisations.

Protection measures for Covid-19 also help stop monkeypox spreading, expert says.

Cases, hospitalisations and deaths have been rising as the BA.5 strain gains ground.

Yesterday a computer glitch caused case numbers to be overcounted by more than 4000.

Health officials fear tonight's rugby test in Dunedin could become a superspreader event.

More than 4200 cases were incorrectly added to today's total after a computer glitch.

Parents are being warned to monitor kids' health over the looming school holidays.

Covid-19 cases back on the rise, more staff hired to fill surge in passport demand and more details revealed of Chicago Independence Day Parade mass shooting in the latest New Zealand Herald headlines. Video / NZ Herald

Another wave of Covid-19 could be on its way with a new Omicron subvariant seeing case numbers back on the rise. Video / NZ Herald / Ben Cummins