First Up for Thursday 19 March 2020

5:52 AM.It's the time of the week when we speak to one our local leaders Today we're joined by Rotorua's Mayor Steve Chadwick, who's currently in self-isolation after returning from Australia. Audio

5:49 AM.Experts are urging people to practice voluntary "social distancing" due to the covid-19 coronavirus. This follows the Prime Ministers announcement that all public gatherings of more than 500 people… Read more Audio

5:40 AM.Pacific leaders are calling on all Church ministers to urgently raise awareness of Coronavirus among their communities after reports many were not taking the virus seriously. Dozens of church… Read more Audio

5:23 AM.A family who lived through the 2010 and 2011 Christchurch earthquakes is now in isolation in Spain because of the Covid-19 virus. Spain is currently the fourth most affected country in the world, with… Read more Audio

5:12 AM.A New Zealander stuck at London's Heathrow airport amid the virus crisis, says bewildered passengers have been crying, getting angry and pushing their way into queues Haydn Read of Whakatane was in a… Read more Audio

5:08 AM.First Up this morning, we go to Australia where a 6th person has died from Coronavirus. There are now 539 cases in the country Tough new limits on pubs, clubs, restaurants amid growing virus outbreak… Read more Audio