New Zealanders are being urged to step up and help the health system

The Health Ministry reported there were 853 Covid-19 patients in hospital yesterday, including seven in ICU, and seven patients died.

Australia and New Zealand Intensive Care Society's regional chair says prior to covid - up to 15 percent of elective surgeries were cancelled due to a lack of ICU capacity.

Craig Carr says Covid is causing that rate to rise - and the community fears essential cancer and cardiac surgery will be next - as they're seeing from colleagues overseas.

He says if you're eligible for a booster and haven't had one - please do - and if we're all kind and patient with one another we can get through this together.