Covid 19
Covid-19: How are Australia and NZ managing the rising winter wave?
There's a real risk in both countries that current policy settings will be insufficient to prevent health services being overwhelmed, write professors Tony Blakely and Michael Baker.
Pandemic leads to sustained backslide in childhood vaccinations - Unicef
The agency is warning of dire health implications after about 25 million children globally missed out on routine immunisations last year.
Most people don't see 'sharp end of Covid-19' in hospitals and mortuaries
Covid-19 cases and hospitalisations are surging across the motu, but lackadaisical mask wearing is becoming increasingly common, concerning public health specialists.
Three pints and a case of Covid, thanks
In the middle of a pandemic, how dangerous is dropping your mask and downing a few beers in a bar? Are you risking a side of Covid with your cocktail?
Mask up, save lives through winter Covid surge - health experts
Mask up and save lives - that's the message from experts and your average punter as Covid cases and hospitalisations surge across the motu.
Even as Covid accounts for about one in ten deaths in New… Audio
Covid-19 update: 10,470 new community cases, 16 more deaths
There have been 10,470 new cases of Covid-19 in the community and a further 16 deaths with the virus reported today, the Ministry of Health says.
Workplace shortages see Tegel staff internally redeployed
Volunteers from the company's head office, including accountants, planners and IT workers, have been drafted in to boost numbers on the production line due to the 'unprecedented' number of workers off…
Covid-19: Watertight communication required to ensure safe antiviral dispensation - doctor
The medical director of the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners says over-the-counter access to antiviral drugs for Covid-19 will need to be carefully managed. Audio
Kerry-Anne Walsh with news from Australia
We cross the ditch to Canberra to talk to our correspondent Kerry-Anne Walsh. Audio
Covid-19 announcement could have gone further - Expert
A member of the National Māori Pandemic Group says the government could have gone further with its Covid-19 measures announced yesterday, to help protect vulnerable communities.
Masks and rapid… Audio
New Covid-19 measures not enough to ease strain, doctors say
Doctors say if new Covid-19 measures fail to work, they could be faced with making drastic decisions about which urgent patients to treat. Audio
Doctor backs increased access to Covid-19 antivirals, but has some questions
Three antiviral medicines used for treating Covid-19 early in an infection will be rolled out to about 400,000 more people, should they catch the virus.
Pharmac says Paxlovid, molnupiravir, and… Audio
Doctors unimpressed by new Covid-19 measures
Doctors staring down the barrel of a Covid-19 crisis say new measures will do little to ease the massive strain they're under.
Hospitals are already drastically reducing services to cope, and the… Audio
National Party on free masks and rapid antigen tests
The National Party says the Government's move to make masks and rapid antigen tests free is sensible, but is questioning why it's taken so long.
Covid-19 Response Minister Ayesha Verrall and Director… Audio
Covid-19: Doctors hoped for stricter mask rules
A surgeon says he was hoping for stricter mask mandates that would cover things like big indoor gatherings for the next few months in yesterday's government announcement.
The government has announced… Audio
Auckland Business Chamber wants Covid-19 household contacts back at work
The Auckland Business Chamber wants the Government to allow household contacts of Covid-19 cases to come back to work.
That's despite modelling which suggests Aotearoa is at the beginning of a second… Audio
Top Stories for Friday 15 July 2022
Doctors say free masks, free RATs and more access to antivirals will do little to ease the strain they're under Kiribati's President has picked up the phone, reigniting hopes his country is not… Audio
Public, doctors not impressed by govt rules to curb Covid
Masks and rapid antigen tests will be free to the public, and Covid patients will have greater access to antiviral Covid treatments in the latest move to slow the soaring rise in case numbers… Audio
'We've politicised this issue too much' - Expert calls for mandated indoor mask-wearing
Professor Michael Baker is calling for much wider mask mandates, saying the roll-out of free masks, while positive, will make a "fairly small" difference to the Covid-19 outbreak.
Govt urges masks, boosters, as bleak peak winter ills loom
The government has painted a worrying picture of winter hospitalisations, with Omicron and the flu set to put more pressure on an already stretched health system.
It has set out the path to avoiding… Video, Audio
