Covid 19

The World Health Organisation ends the year on a positive note but warns about "nationalism and vaccine hoarding".

The country's laboratories could be overrun if the government does not reconsider who it tests for Covid-19, a professional body says.

The airline says customers will instead be given a snack when they leave the aircraft.

Officials are relaxing restrictions in South Africa, noting lower hospital admissions from the Omicron variant than feared.

There are 49 new community cases of Covid-19, but no new Omicron cases in the community to report, the Ministry of Health has announced.

Thousands of messages were left on the social media account of Li Wenliang on the anniversary of the day when he learned of the initial cases and shared information with others.

Nelson community groups says they are grateful for the city council's $200,000 Covid-19 emergency fund.

As some North Island regions move to the orange traffic light setting at 11.59pm, New Zealand is racing to ensure Omicron cases in the community don't become another outbreak.

The Rydges at Pipitea and the Atrium Towers Apartment building in central Wellington have been identified as locations of interest.

Public health officials are investigating how a Napier resident contracted Covid-19.

Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins says he's disappointed the British DJ at the centre of an Omicron community scare didn't follow isolation rules.

Thousands of Christchurch festivalgoers are being asked to get tested if they have Covid-19 symptoms.

A British DJ who has become New Zealand's first community case of the Omicron Covid-19 variant says he has been the target of hate and abuse online.

Areas currently at the red traffic light setting are due to move to orange at midnight tonight, apart from Northland.

Rhythm and Alps has announced two artists will not be playing at the Wanaka festival due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Travellers to Fiji must now produce a negative PCR test 48 hours before departure to Nadi Airport, Fiji's government has said.

Health authorities in Fiji have stepped up travel protocols as cases of Covid-19 dramatically increase in the country which reopened to international travellers on 1 December.

The Lotus-Heart in the Christchurch's CBD failed to display My Vaccine Pass signs or put them in a prominent place, WorkSafe says.

The latest figures mark the highest number of daily Covid-19 cases recorded in any Australian jurisdiction.