Omicron

A new Covid-19 record today - as daily case numbers cross the 1000 mark for the first time.

At least 1,160 new cases have been recorded in the community - bringing the total cases to more than… Audio

The country has moved to phase two of its omicron response meaning shorter isolation times and more relaxed rules around contact tracing. There are an estimated 2658 people self iolating around the… Audio

Whitestone Cheese is relying on RATs to keep it going under phase 2 of the Omicron response.

Whitestone Cheese has sourced the rapid antigen tests itself and is waiting to be confirmed as a critical… Video, Audio

As the Omicron outbreak rapidly expands, New Zealand is readying for the next stage of its Covid-19 response - Phase 2.

981 new cases were recorded in the community today, bringing the total number… Audio

Shorter isolation times and less intensive contact tracing is on the horizon. New Zealand will step into phase two of the Omicron response, from Wednesday.

The shift has just been announced after… Audio

Christchurch native Sam Coley lives in the popular suburb of Kings Heath in Birmingham, with his French wife, Emilie Grinan-Coley, and son Tom Coley. Kings Heath, which is one of Birmingham's real… Audio

Kiwi doctor Andrew Read may have played a part (through no fault of his own) in Neil Young, Joni Mitchell and other leading artists leaving Spotify after podcaster Joe Rogan misrepresented an old… Audio

As NZ waits and watches the potential spread of the contagious Omicron variant, Research New Zealand polled Kiwis on whether they are taking a more cautious approach and avoiding activities due to… Audio

Amid warnings that a Russian invasion of Ukraine may now only be a matter of time, newly deployed U.S troops are arriving in Europe as Russia bolsters its own forces. Ron also talks to Kathryn about… Audio

A Covid-19 modeller thinks New Zealand could hit 1000 cases each day by the middle of next week, largely driven by the Omicron variant. 

Auckland University computational biologist David Welch told… Audio

It's back to class for hundreds of thousand of students today and principals worry Omicron will force some schools to close, meanwhile paediatricians want children to remain in class as long as… Audio

It’s business as usual for the media again: all Covid, all the time with the whole country back in the red (traffic light). But even before Omicron inevitably broke through, anti-vaxxers and their… Audio

Along with the continuing Omicron threat, our Weekend panelists Janet Wilson and Al Gillespie discuss the Russia/Ukraine situation, Kainga Ora, political polling and why people are shunning rum and… Audio

Professor Gary McLean discusses the developing Omicron threat, the possibility of another bad mutation arriving, and the chances of getting Omicron more than once - especially for people who are under… Audio

First this morning as omicron takes hold with tens of thousands of cases projected per day - how will our diagnostic laboratoies cope? New analysis from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation… Audio

With the advent of Omicron in the community, Science commentator Dr Siouxsie Wiles answers listeners questions about this highly transmissable Covid strain. Audio