Covid becomes equal leading cause of death in New Zealand for first time

Analysis shows almost 15% of deaths in mid-July were due to Covid, with that figure likely to be an undercount

Covid-19 became the equal leading cause of death in New Zealand for the first time in July, overtaking stroke and drawing even 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.