Covid 19
Employers association wants household contact isolation ended
An employer's association wants the seven day isolation period for household contacts of Covid-19 cases to be scrapped.
Covid-19: Schools say case numbers inform mask approach
Schools say Covid-19 case numbers will influence their approach to wearing face masks this term.
What happens if you’ve got long Covid and can’t work?
Research suggests anywhere between 10 and 30 percent of people who get Covid-19 end up developing Long Covid. What happens if that impacts your ability to work? Audio
Disabled people were right about govt's poor Covid-19 response
Opinion - The government must be held accountable to ensure it addresses its inadequate Covid-19 response to the disability community, writes Chris Ford.
Covid-19 update: Fourteen more deaths, 8242 new community cases
Fourteen more people have died with Covid-19 and there are a further 8242 new community cases, the Ministry of Health says.
Covid-19 update: 9047 new community cases, 13 new deaths reported
Thirteen more people have died with Covid-19 and there have been 9047 new community cases reported, the Ministry of Health says.
Covid-19 update: 9830 new cases, 23 further deaths
Twenty-three more people have died with Covid-19 and there are 9830 new community cases of Covid-19, the Ministry of Health says.
Covid-19: Counties Manukau DHB has postponed thousands of operations, appointments
Thousands of planned operations and appointments have been cancelled by Counties Manukau DHB due to Omicron.
Covid-19: One in four adults not boosted as demand dries up
The Covid-19 booster vaccine campaign has all but stalled, with demand drying up and the rate of booster coverage having declined.
Progress on gender equality being shoved back by pandemic
Analysis - Women make up about 90 percent of those who lost jobs during the pandemic, while many shouldered heavy economic, emotional or care-giving burdens.
Counties Manukau DHB says no 'quick fix' solution to surgery backlog
There's no quick fix for a massive backlog of operations and appointments cancelled or postponed due to Omicron, Counties Manukau DHB says.
Lifting of US mask mandate may be appealed - Biden administration
A US judge's ruling to end mask mandates on aeroplanes will be appealed if health officials say the mandates are necessary to slow Covid-19, the Biden administration says.
MIQ assessment adds 'insult to injury' for women forced to give birth abroad
Women forced to give birth overseas late last year, without any family support, say it is abhorrent health officials thought MIQ wasn't justified at that time.
'You feel a little bit less cautious' - Parents, kids adjusting to orange setting
The orange light setting has brought a sense of relief for parents, as the eased restrictions mean one less thing to juggle - but some Covid-related worries are still lurking.
Delay in ditching MIQ system 'incredibly frustrating', returnees say
Up to 40,000 people could have skipped MIQ from November last year if the government had paid attention to top health officials.
US will no longer enforce mask mandate on airplanes, trains after court ruling
The Biden administration will no longer enforce a US mask mandate on public transportation, after a federal judge in Florida on Monday ruled that the 14-month-old directive was unlawful.
Mother with breast cancer says Omicron surgery delays frightening, lonely
A woman who had her breast cancer operation delayed twice in the Omicron outbreak feared the "dangerous strangers" in her body would get the better of her. Audio
Missing voices in media marking the switch to Orange
The easing of restrictions on pubs, clubs, cafes and restaurants after the Covid traffic light went 'Orange' this week was celebrated by media urging us to 'put on our dancing shoes'. Owners and… Audio
Masks remain key defence in orange setting - Hipkins
Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins is continuing to champion mask wearing, despite some requirements being loosened. Audio
Covid-19 update: 9495 new community cases, a further 15 deaths
There are 9495 new community cases of Covid-19 along with a further 15 deaths to report today.