Covid 19
Holiday-makers encouraged to use local vaccination clinics during break
Holiday-makers are encouraged to use local vaccination clinics during their break to ensure that their vaccinations are up to date.
UK reports record new Covid-19 cases after Johnson rules out restrictions
Britain has reported a record 129,471 new cases of Covid-19, one day after Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he would not bring in new restrictions to limit the spread of the virus this year.
Hundreds in Sydney Covid-19 testing bungle tested positive
The announcement from SydPath came as NSW recorded another 6062 Covid-19 cases and one death.
Robot arm used in Covid-19 testing lab lightens the load for staff
A custom-built robot has quickly become the star of Canterbury DHB's Covid-19 testing lab, minimising the risk of repetitive strain injury and boosting output.
Brazil's Bolsonaro says daughter, 11, will not get Covid-19 vaccine
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has said he will not vaccinate his 11-year-old daughter against Covid-19, maintaining his anti-vaccine stance.
Covid-19 update: 18 new community cases, 1 death, 5 cases of Omicron in MIQ
One person has died from the coronavirus and there are 18 new community cases of Covid-19 today.
Covid-19: 208 new cases as Fiji braces for third wave
Less than a month after reopening to the world, Fiji is bracing for a third wave of the coronavirus outbreak.
NZ buys time for Covid-19 boosters, but MIQ changes cancels Christmas for some
Cameron Laing thought he had planned his Christmas trip home to New Zealand perfectly. But last week his MIQ stay was extended after a case of Omicron was detected on his flight.
Definitely not the pits: Cherry pit-spitting trophy up for grabs
The National Cherry Spitting Competition trophy is up for grabs on 28 December, despite the competition being scaled back for Covid-19 restrictions.
Another 995 people in NSW get negative Covid-19 results in error
Sydney's St Vincent's Hospital pathology confirms an additional 995 people were prematurely sent an SMS advising them their test was negative.
Covid-19: 34 new community cases, 4 more Omicron cases in MIQ
There are 34 new community cases of Covid-19 in New Zealand today, and new cases of the Omicron variant in MIQ take the total for it to 49.
Covid-19 testing sites in Australia pushed to limit as NSW records first Omicron death
The Christmas holiday season has piled major pressure on testing sites across various Australian states.
China's local Covid-19 case count driven to 21-month high by Xian outbreak
China reported its highest daily rise in local Covid-19 cases in 21 months as infections more than doubled in the northwestern city of Xian, China's latest pandemic hot spot.
Police urge campers, trampers to carry distress beacon
Police and the Mountain Safety Council are asking people to be prepared when heading outdoors this summer.
Omicron grounds hundreds more US flights over Christmas weekend
Commercial airlines cancelled 656 flights within, into or out of the United States on Sunday, slightly down from nearly 1000 from Christmas Day.
Hundreds of positive Covid-19 cases in Sydney told they are negative
Sydney's St Vincent's Hospital has revealed its pathology service incorrectly messaged 400 people to tell them they had tested negative to Covid-19 - when they had in fact tested positive.
Vaccine event for Christchurch's Chinese community heralded a success
A vaccination grant specifically for ethnic minorities has made a Chinese group in Christchurch feel more connected to the wider community.
Inmates, staff of prison isolating after positive Covid-19 case
A staff member tested positive yesterday morning. Now, 55 prisoners and 21 staff at Auckland Region Women's Corrections Facility are isolating .
Tairāwhiti testing turnout impresses health authorities after positive cases
The Covid-19 testing centre in Tairāwhiti has been impressed with the turnout today, and those going home to isolate are in good spirits.
Omicron 'likely to have significant impact' on South Auckland - expert
It is only a matter of time until there is community transmission of Covid-19's new Omicron variant in South Auckland, says a Pacific public health expert.