Covid 19
Covid Red traffic light system affects live events
A major live events company has cancelled all of its shows for the rest of the year as a result of the country going to the red traffic light setting. Greenstone Entertainment made the difficult… Audio
Cook Islands travel bubble with NZ stays open
To the Cook Islands now where Cabinet has to decided to keep the travel bubble with New Zealand open - despite the Omicron outbreak here. Nathan Rarere spoke with Liana Scott from the Cook Islands… Audio
Japan: Omicron rates rising exponentially round the country
We head to Japan now where, like in New Zealand, things were starting to get back to normal ... until Omicron came along. Since the start of the month, the new variant has washed over the country at… Audio
'We're here if you need us': Manurewa marae gets South Auckland boosted
As the country prepared to move into red, the Manurewa marae held one final mass vaccination event.
NZ scientists develop system to disinfect PPE
A group of Kiwi scientists have developed a potential solution to the more than 25,000 tonnes of Covid-19-related plastic waste that has polluted the oceans in the past two years.
List of Auckland Omicron-related locations of interest grows
A number of close contact Omicron-related locations of interest in Auckland and Nelson have been added to the Ministry of Health's website today.
School expects up to half of staff could be in isolation at Omicron's peak
One primary school principal in Māngere East says since the announcement of Omicron's arrival in the community, she has been thinking about how to handle predicted staff shortages. Audio
'Now is the perfect time' to get Covid-19 vaccine booster - experts
The arrival of Omicron has spurred on the country's Covid-19 vaccine rollout, with the total number of administered booster doses ticking over to one million today, and 100,000 paediatric doses now… Audio
Red restrictions will help slow spread of Omicron - immunologist
When NZ reaches peak Omicron it won't be realistic to keep isolating people and it'll be obvious we're at that tipping point; according to an Otago University immunolgist.
So far there are 19 Omicron… Video, Audio
Booster vaccine numbers rise as Omicron looms
The unwanted arrival of Omicron appears to have spurred on the country's Covid vaccine rollout, with the number of booster doses ticking over one million today.
Other people are bringing their… Audio
Swap your cloth mask for a surgical, N-95 or P-2, experts say
Masks have been a major part of life under Covid but now Omicron has entered the community they're needed more than ever.
The government is due to update its advice on masks this week but experts are… Video, Audio
Lack of rapid antigen tests disappointing - Business NZ boss
How will critical businesses like food production and freight keep the wheels turning when the full force of omicron hits?
One modeller predicts it could infect up to half the population and… Video, Audio
Emergency services warn Omicron will make staff shortages worse
Emergency services could be facing their own 111 crisis with a warning; they too could be hit by the Omicron outbreak, with already strained staff facing another massive challenge.
Thousands of… Audio
'Access to skilled and unskilled labour' major challenge for businesses
The government is being urged to explore a targeted wage subsidy and labour support for tourism and hospitality businesses as the Covid-19 restrictions are tightened up.
Covid-19 update: 25 new community cases today - 8 linked to Omicron
The Ministry of Health says to date, there are 19 community cases of Covid-19 associated with the January Omicron Cluster - all are in isolation.
Kitchen worker at Auckland rest home believed to have Omicron
An Auckland rest home kitchen worker is believed to have Omicron.
Coping with the change in pandemic approach
Jesse speaks to psychologist Sarb Johal about how the shift in dealing with COVID-19 might be affecting people's mental health. Audio
Omicron outbreak: schools prepare for red light life
Thousands of students will be returning to school from next week.
But with the entire country now under the red traffic light setting; staff, teachers, and students from year four and up must wear… Audio
Omicron outbreak: which masks are most effective?
As well as vaccines, masks are another important item to help protect us from Covid.
N95 masks have become the gold standard internationally in the fight against Omicron, and experts here say New… Audio
'No silver bullet against Omicron', expect large numbers - Hipkins
People should do everything they can against Omicron, but it's likely large numbers will be infected, the Covid-19 Response Minister says. Audio
