Morning Report for Wednesday 1 April 2020

6:07 AM.An infectious diseases specialist says new, wider Covid-19 testing rules still won't test enough people to give a true picture of community transmission.

The Ministry of Health says people can now be… Read more Audio

6:09 AM.A Christchurch midwife is concerned that some families are continuing to let people into their bubbles to visit their new babies.

Belinda Marker says midwives are having to re-think home visits to… Read more Audio

6:20 AM.A brief update from the business sector. Read more Audio

6:22 AM.News from the rural and farming sector. Read more Audio

6:39 AM.People with empty cupboards and the newly unemployed are desperately seeking financial support from the government but many are struggling to get through.

Work and Income is fielding an unprecedented… Read more Audio

6:43 AM.The owner of a fruit and vegetable shop in Westport says he's having to let $25,000 dollars worth of produce rot, despite his best efforts to give it away to people in need.

After finding out his… Read more Audio

6:45 AM.People caught short with undelivered or broken appliances are relieved they can now order some essential goods online or by phone.

The government is now allowing the online sale of some essential… Read more Audio

6:48 AM.There is continued criticism of the way Florida is dealing with the coronavirus pandemic.

The US southern state was slow to introduce any restrictions on movement and socialising which is a concern… Read more Audio

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

7:08 AM.New Zealand's desperate hunt for more life-saving ventilators to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic has come up trumps, against the odds.

A doctor who is helping lead the foray into a world market gone mad… Read more Audio

7:16 AM.New Zealand is ramping up testing for Covid-19, as it tries to eliminate the virus.

The case definition for the virus has been widened, to allow more people to be tested even if they did not recently… Read more Audio

7:21 AM.News that online shopping will be available for some essential household and workplace items is bringing a sense of relief to people caught short or left with broken appliances during lockdown.

The… Read more Audio

7:26 AM.Parliament's Epidemic Response Committee met for the first time yesterday and are meeting again today to scrutinise the government's handling of Covid 19.

National Party leader Simon Bridges chairs… Read more Audio

7:35 AM.Front-line health workers say they are pleased people displaying symptoms of Covid 19 - regardless of their travel history - can now be tested for the virus.

Many are still calling for the Ministry… Read more Audio

7:39 AM.New Zealand is continuing to ramp up it's capability for testing for Covid-19 in the hopes of sniffing out any chains of community transmission during the lockdown.

Meanwhile, government adviser and… Read more Audio

7:49 AM.Te Whānau o Waipareira Trust has set up a drive-in covid testing centre in west Auckland. 

Since Monday, they've been welcoming anyone with flu-like symptoms to come along for testing, even if they… Read more Audio

7:56 AM.Despite being physically isolated from friends or family during the lockdown, people are still finding ways to stay connected.

Families are having frequent video calls using things like Skype or… Read more Audio

8:09 AM.A doctor given the task of scouring overheated global markets to find desperately needed ventilators for the coronavirus pandemic is now feeling relieved and happy.

Dr Andrew Stapleton says New… Read more Audio

8:14 AM.A Palmerston North mother says it was daunting and emotional having to give birth at hospital with no whānau support. 

Under alert level four, most hospitals are allowing only one person to attend a… Read more Audio

8:18 AM.Front-line health workers are asking, why there is a priority list for who gets protective gear like masks if there is no shortage.

District Health Boards have put in a system where parts of the… Read more Audio

8:25 AM.New Zealander Jesse Stevens and his wife are now into day 18 of their lockdown in Spain. Spain is one of the countries hardest hit by the coronavirus.

The country now has 95,000 confirmed cases, the… Read more Audio

8:29 AM.A brief update of movements in the financial sector. Read more Audio

8:30 AM.New Zealanders have hit pause on the property market while the Level Four lockdown is in force but figures out today suggest people hoping to sell their houses when the restrictions are lifted still… Read more Audio

8:42 AM.The Government is moving to identify shovel-ready infrastructure projects that can get started when the national lockdown ends.

A group of executive-level industry leaders have been brought together… Read more Audio

8:48 AM.NZME's stock has plummeted as the Covid-19 crisis cuts into the media company's advertising revenue. As a result the company has warned staff that jobs are on the chopping block at the NZ Herald and… Read more Audio

8:51 AM.Maori in the Far North are continuing to run checkpoints, identifying tourists and other non-residents, and directing them to stay out of the region.

Volunteers, dressed in protective gear with… Read more Audio

8:56 AM.Young love is being put to the test under the strict nationwide lockdown, with some couples scrambling to move in together, while others choose to stay apart.

The lockdown rules are clear - if you're… Read more Audio