Morning Report for Monday 23 March 2020

6:05 AM.AFL's attempt to forge on with the Aussie Rules season despite the coronavirus outbreak lasted just one round before it was shut down in the wake of the Australian government's crackdown on… Read more Audio

6:09 AM.An Auckland secondary school is to close for three days because a staff member has tested positive for Covid-19.

Marist College in Mt Albert has been contacting parents this evening to let them know… Read more Audio

6:11 AM.Fear is growing among healthcare workers who say hospitals have been stretched for months.

A nurse at Wellington Hospital, Katrina Hopkinson says as the Covid crisis escalates, front line staff… Read more Audio

6:15 AM.The death toll has risen in the UK to 281 and there are now 5700 cases. 

The Prime Minister Boris Johnson has just made the announcement. 

London correspondent Vincent McAvinney speaks to Corin… Read more Audio

6:25 AM.A brief update from the business sector. Read more Audio

6:28 AM.News from the rural and farming sector. Read more Audio

6:40 AM.As Cabinet ministers grapple to get a hold of the rapidly developing Covid-19 crisis, they will meet in a new way this morning - with half dialling in via video-conference to limit their physical… Read more Audio

6:43 AM.A group of doctors has launched a petition urging the Government to raise the coronavirus alert level to its maximum of level four.

They say the Government has under-reacted to the threat by keeping… Read more Audio

6:53 AM.Italy's lockdown has intensified - all non-essential businesses will close from Monday, after the death toll surged by almost 800 in 24 hours.

The overall death toll has risen to almost 5,000 over a… Read more Audio

6:53 AM.News from the business sector, including a market report. Read more Audio

7:06 AM.Tokyo 2020 organizers have started drafting possible alternatives to holding the Olympics in July and August, in contrast to the Japanese government's stance that postponement is not an option. Read more Audio

7:10 AM.Business New Zealand estimates at least 10 percent of the county's workforce will start working from home from today because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The government is encouraging anyone who can… Read more Audio

7:13 AM.Four Auckland schools are closed today because of the coronavirus outbreak.

Glendowie College will be closed for 72 hours after one of its students was found to have Covid-19, as will Marist College… Read more Audio

7:15 AM.The Cabinet is meeting this morning to discuss the next steps in response to the Coronavirus pandemic.

It's being urged by leading doctors to raise the national alert level to the highest status.

… Read more Audio

7:21 AM.An Auckland rest home remains in lockdown this morning after a staff member tested positive for Covid-19.

All residents at Ellerslie Gardens Lifecare have been isolated until one o'clock tomorrow… Read more Audio

7:24 AM.The Government has set up a taskforce to coordinate its response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The outgoing head of police Mike Bush has been appointed to lead the team which will encompass "all… Read more Audio

7:29 AM.Cabinet ministers will meet in Wellington this morning, but half will be taking part by video link so they can keep a safe distance from each other.

The situation is so fluid ministers will have a… Read more Audio

7:37 AM.Laboratories testing for Covid-19 are struggling to cope with demand.

So far 6000 people have been tested - but only those who have travelled overseas or have had close contact with probable or… Read more Audio

7:43 AM.Money has been pooled together to help specifically target Māori in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

It comes after the government came under pressure and were criticised for not delivering to… Read more Audio

7:50 AM.Indoor venues in Australia including pubs, clubs and churches will be shut from noon today in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Restaurants and cafes will be allowed to offer takeaway services… Read more Audio

7:55 AM.As more cases of Covid-19 arise, people are being cautioned to work from home or stay home if sick, but what if you don't have a home?

Agencies working with the homeless community worry that people… Read more Audio

8:06 AM.The International Olympic Committee is considering a postponement of the 2020 Tokyo Games - and has given itself a deadline of four weeks to make a decision. Read more Audio

8:10 AM.The Reserve Bank is to buy back up to $30 billion of government bonds to give further support to economy.

RNZ business editor Gyles Beckford speaks to Corin Dann. Read more Audio

8:13 AM.GPs have been told to immediately switch to talking to patients by phone or online before granting a face-to-face appointment.

The College of General Practitioners says from today, all GPs should do… Read more Audio

8:17 AM.New rules covering bars, restaurants and casinos came into effect at the weekend.

As well as customers needing to stay at least a metre away from each other, venues are now expected to do head counts… Read more Audio

8:21 AM.The Government has told the Commerce Commission now is not the time for strict competition rules to get in the way of responding to the coronavirus pandemic.

Consumer Affairs Minister Kris Faafoi has… Read more Audio

8:27 AM.Thousands of New Zealanders are expected to be working from home today.

Bart de Vries is a personal workspace and behaviour expert and he says working from home will be difficult for many people.

He… Read more Audio

8:31 AM.A brief update on the movements in the financial sector. Read more Audio

8:37 AM.Agencies are preparing for an increase in domestic violence as more people are isolated at home due to Covid-19.

Women's Refuge is working with the government to make sure women will still be able to… Read more Audio

8:42 AM.Doctors at Whangarei Hospital are worried about the safety of some patients due to the poor state of the buildings.

Documents shared with Insight reveal all of Northland's public hospitals are in an… Read more Audio

8:46 AM.More iwi are planning to close their tribal borders in the fight against Covid-19, despite warnings from police doing so is illegal. 

Eastern Bay of Plenty iwi Te Whānau ā Apanui announced at the… Read more Audio

8:51 AM.New Zealanders who have lost their jobs across the ditch are looking to move back home.

Australia won't be giving government support to Kiwi who are living and working there.

Advocate for New… Read more Audio

8:56 AM.Some of the country's high profile actors are now out of a job.

The arts, theatre and television industry has been especially hard-hit by the sudden economic downturn linked to Covid-19.

Actor and… Read more Audio