Covid-19 is continuing to creep around the country, with case numbers rising dramatically today

There are 125 new cases, 118 in Auckland, four in Waikato, one in Northland and a further two cases in Canterbury.

As of 10am, 74 of today's cases are linked - including 29 household contacts..

51 remain under investigation, including three of today's Waikato cases.

The Waikato cases are in the Te Awamutu/Kihikihi area and one in Otorohanga.

The new Northland case is a household contact, who brings the cluster there to eight.

There were over 30-thousand tests carried out in New Zealand yesterday, including three-thousand in Canterbury.

The two new cases there are from the same household and are linked to the two cases announced yesterday.

A total of 13 other close contacts have now been identified.

Over 44-thousand vaccinations were administered yesterday - with nearly 13-thousand first doses nationwide.

There are 39 Covid-19 patients in hospital today, with the average age being 49.

Four patients are in ICU.