Michael Baker
Five years ago, NZ has first Covid-19 case
Today marks five years since the country's first case of covid 19 - Mahvash Ikram took a look back Audio
Covid-19 Inquiry report gives 39 recommendations
The Covid-19 Inquiry report is out, saying lockdowns and vaccine mandates worked but sometimes they went on for too long. Otago University professor Dr Michael Baker spoke to Alexa Cook. Audio
Michael Baker: Keeping safe from COVID
Epidemiologist Professor Michael Baker joins us once again. What can we expect from the summer surge and how useful are boosters and antivirals? Audio
NZ ill prepared for COVID variant due to cost cutting - expert
Cost cutting means New Zealand is ill prepared for an outbreak of a new covid variant, despite the virus still being the number one infectious disease killer, according to well known Otago University… Audio
Cuts looming for 'critical' public health services: Experts
Public health experts fear critical programmes for disease prevention and detection could be lost or downgraded with looming budget cuts at the National Public Health Service. Ruth Hill reports. Audio
Dr Michael Baker on the 'reckless' cancellation of free RAT tests
If you suspect you have Covid-19 you now have to pay for your own RAT tests in a move that's angered one of our leading epidemiologists. Audio
Morning Report Essentials for Thursday 15th August
On today's episode, many economists and retailers are welcoming the first cut to the official cash rate in four years, down 25 basis points, as a relief for mortgage-holders and businesses. ANZ's… Audio
As winter approaches, so too does Covid-19
Epidemiologist Professor Michael Baker talks about being party of most extensive review of face masks that found mask wearing is definitely effective protection against COVID. Audio
New research on mask wearing prompts calls for health update
An international team of researchers has undertaken the most extensive review of masks so far. Among them was our very own Professor Michael Baker, of the Department of Public Health at Otago… Audio
Urgent action needed for NZ to avoid measles epidemic says epidemiologist
Public health experts are reiterating that urgent action is needed if New Zealand is to avoid a measles epidemic.
Falling immunisation rates, immunity gaps, and an increasing risk of imported cases… Audio
NZ may be coming out of fifth Covid-19 wave
New Zealand's fifth wave of Covid-19 infections may have peaked, with 355 people in hospital as of Sunday night.
Epidemiologist Michael Baker says it's hard to tell, with the new JN.1 strain causing… Audio
Stocks of Covid anti-viral Paxlovid run low
With the country in the grip of a fifth wave of Covid-19, stocks of the Covid anti-viral drug Paxlovid are running low. In a joint statement, Pharmac and Te Whatu Ora say there's limited stock due to… Audio
Covid booster available as cases climb
Aotearoa is in its fifth wave of covid-19 infections, sitting at just over a thousand new cases each day.
And for those who wonder if they're eligible for a booster or not, the good news is that they… Audio
Professor Michael Baker warns rising Covid cases signals fifth wave in NZ
Covid cases in Aotearoa right now are on the rise, suggesting we are in our fifth wave of the virus. The latest figures from Te Whatu Ora show there were 5,872 Covid cases in the last week… Audio
The Week in Detail: West Coast's blue flip and hazing rituals
The Detail podcast brings you the issues behind the news every weekday. Here's what we covered this week. Audio
Covid: Still here, still deadly
It's the unwelcome guest that no one wants to talk about – Covid-19 may be below the radar now, but it hasn't gone away and is likely to claim 1,000 Kiwi lives this year. Audio
Epidemiologist urges code of practice in place of Covid rules to keep people safe
Otago University epidemiologist, Professor Michael Baker, accepts it's time to lift the last of the Covid mandates.
But he says there needs to be more information for people on how to keep themselves… Audio
Should we still be isolating when we catch Covid?
As winter sniffles set in there's still a lot of Covid out there too. There were more than 8 thousand new cases of Covid-19 reported in Aotearoa last week, and 39 more deaths due to the virus… Audio
Prof. Michael Baker warns against complacency in fourth wave
Epidemiologist Professor Michael Baker warns the country is in the grip of a fourth wave of Covid19. Professor Baker says if we don't act to restrict the spread of the virus, up to 10,000 people could… Audio
From 1 April over 30s eligible for new covid booster
From April 1 anyone aged 30 and over will be able to get for a fourth covid shot. And that makes 44-year-old Prime Minister Chirs Hipkins eligible for the second booster. So, he will be rolling up his… Audio
