Covid 19
'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
Omicron outbreak: the evidence for booster doses
New Zealand's in the red light setting; with the highly infectious Covid variant Omicron circulating in Auckland, and possibly in the Nelson Marlborough region.
Clinical Immunologist based in… Audio
Omicron outbreak: only half of those eligible have got a booster
New Zealand's in the red light setting; with the highly infectious Covid variant Omicron circulating in Auckland, and possibly in the Nelson-Marlborough region.
The government is encouraging everyone… Audio
Up to half of NZ population could become infected with Omicron - Modeller
Covid-19 data modeller Michael Plank says a significant proportion could become infected with the variant over the course of the new outbreak, but there's still a lot of uncertainty. Audio
NZ needs to keep Delta levels low to prevent double epidemic - epidemiologist
New Zealand's plan to slow the spread of Omicron is sensible and should help to reduce the peak of the outbreak, says an epidemiologist based in Australia.
Brussels police clash with crowds protesting Covid-19 restrictions
Police in Brussels have used water cannons and tear gas to disperse protesters near the European Commission's headquarters, after a protest involving 50,000 people opposing Covid-19 restrictions…
Traffic light setting shift disrupts plans for major events
The Coast to Coast and the Queenstown Marathon are now in doubt after a cascade of other event cancellations due to the shift to the 'red' traffic light setting.
Stood down Air NZ workers showing Covid-19 symptoms - CEO Greg Foran
Air New Zealand is expecting more cases of Omicron among its crew, with some now showing symptoms, its CEO Greg Foran says.
The "big sick": keeping workers working
Hospital doctors could continue working even after testing positive for Covid-19 in the worst case scenarios of an Omicron outbreak here. Emergency departments are preparing for chronic worker… Audio
Covid-19: Events pay the price for Omicron arrival
Major events are paying the price as stricter Covid-19 rules come into force.
Gatherings are now capped at 100 people if vaccine passes are enforced, cutting to 25 if not.
But the hospitality… Audio
Aucklanders on going back to 'red' setting: 'The differences are quite minor'
Aucklanders are relatively relaxed about the country moving to the red setting after the prime minister confirmed the highly infectious Omicron variant was circulating in the city.
Covid-19: Countdown supermarkets on red setting
Omicron is in the community and judging by pictures RNZ listeners have been sending through essentials are flying off supermarket shelves across the country.
It seems, the red-hot commodity once… Audio
Covid-19: Australian epidemiologist on Omicron plan
A leading Australia-based epidemiologist says New Zealand's plan to slow the spread of Omicron is sensible and should help to reduce the peak of the outbreak.
The country is under the red traffic… Audio
'We have prepared' for Omicron in the community - Nelson mayor
With news a Nelson family have the Omircon variant of Covid-19, the mayors of Nelson and Tasman say their region has been preparing for an outbreak.
