Covid-19 cases have fallen in the last week, and there were 27 further deaths attributed to the virus, according to Ministry of Health figures.

There have been 7417 new cases of Covid-19 reported in New Zealand over the week to Sunday.

Of the new cases, 4144 were reinfections.

There were 354 people in hospital and six were in intensive care.

The number of deaths was the same as the presvious week - the overall total of deaths attrbuted to Covid-19 is now 3623.

The seven-day rolling average of new cases was 1058 per day.

Last week, the ministry reported there were 7880 new cases of Covid-19 and 27 further deaths attributed to the virus.

Meanwhile, health experts are urging Kiwis to put a Covid-19 booster shot on their Christmas list for the best chance to avoid the latest variant impacting their summer holidays.

According to the Science Media Centre, modelling was suggesting that hospitalisations for the current Covid wave will peak this week - just days before 25 December.

And while the newest variant JN.1 is picking up speed in New Zealand, stocks of antiviral Paxlovid are running out, it said.