Grim landmark as Covid takes a heavy winter toll

Covid-19 became the equal leading cause of death in New Zealand for the first time in July, overtaking stroke and drawing with ischaemic heart disease as the country’s No 1 killer.

Michael Baker, an epidemiologist and public health professor, said that for a period in July-August Covid appeared to be causing at least as many deaths as heart disease. Baker said that in mid-July, Covid deaths made up almost 15% of deaths overall, referring to data analysis by the New Zealand Herald that compared confirmed Covid deaths against overall deaths in July.