Omicron
Omicron response enters Phase 2 from Wednesday
Shorter isolation times and less intensive contact tracing is on the horizon. New Zealand will step into phase two of the Omicron response, from Wednesday.
The shift has just been announced after… Audio
Calling Home: Sam Coley in Birmingham
Christchurch native Sam Coley lives in the popular suburb of Kings Heath in Birmingham, with his French wife, Emilie Grinan-Coley, and son Tom Coley. Kings Heath, which is one of Birmingham's real… Audio
Mediawatch for 13 February 2022
Convoy conundrum confronts editors; quest for certainty undercuts Omicron analysis; sweary Dad's minties moment. Audio
The Kiwi doctor who played a part in Neil Young's Spotify exit
Kiwi doctor Andrew Read may have played a part (through no fault of his own) in Neil Young, Joni Mitchell and other leading artists leaving Spotify after podcaster Joe Rogan misrepresented an old… Audio
New Zealand's caution around Covid-19 remains high
As NZ waits and watches the potential spread of the contagious Omicron variant, Research New Zealand polled Kiwis on whether they are taking a more cautious approach and avoiding activities due to… Audio
USA correspondent Ron Elving
Amid warnings that a Russian invasion of Ukraine may now only be a matter of time, newly deployed U.S troops are arriving in Europe as Russia bolsters its own forces. Ron also talks to Kathryn about… Audio
Australian PM says his government was too optimistic before Omicron surge
Australia's prime minister says his government had been too optimistic about the impact of Covid-19 vaccinations leading to disappointment and exhaustion when the Omicron variant hit.
Covid-19: cases predicted to hit 600-1000 per day next week
A Covid-19 modeller thinks New Zealand could hit 1000 cases each day by the middle of next week, largely driven by the Omicron variant.
Auckland University computational biologist David Welch told… Audio
Principals predict Omicron will close some schools
It's back to class for hundreds of thousand of students today and principals worry Omicron will force some schools to close, meanwhile paediatricians want children to remain in class as long as… Audio
Silly season turns serious as Omicron arrives
It’s business as usual for the media again: all Covid, all the time with the whole country back in the red (traffic light). But even before Omicron inevitably broke through, anti-vaxxers and their… Audio
Mediawatch for 30 January 2022
Covering Tonga's crisis - without communications; summer silly season gets serious as Omicron arrives; reputations trashed in summer scandals. Audio
The Weekend Panel with Janet Wilson and Al Gillespie
Along with the continuing Omicron threat, our Weekend panelists Janet Wilson and Al Gillespie discuss the Russia/Ukraine situation, Kainga Ora, political polling and why people are shunning rum and… Audio
Covid-19 update with Professor Gary McLean
Professor Gary McLean discusses the developing Omicron threat, the possibility of another bad mutation arriving, and the chances of getting Omicron more than once - especially for people who are under… Audio
How will our diagnostic labs cope with omicron surge?
First this morning as omicron takes hold with tens of thousands of cases projected per day - how will our diagnostic laboratoies cope? New analysis from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation… Audio
Science commentator Siouxsie Wiles takes Omicron questions
With the advent of Omicron in the community, Science commentator Dr Siouxsie Wiles answers listeners questions about this highly transmissable Covid strain. Audio
City streets quiet as many brace for Omicron
City streets are already starting to empty out, as people return to working from home and brace for Omicron.
There were 10 new cases of the variant on Tuesday - in Auckland, Palmerston North, Nelson… Audio
USA correspondent Ron Elving
All eyes are on Russia and Ukraine and whether the US should impose sanctions on Russia for raising tensions and threatening, or wait for them to invade. Ron says it comes down to how much economic… Audio
Red restrictions will help slow spread of Omicron - immunologist
When NZ reaches peak Omicron it won't be realistic to keep isolating people and it'll be obvious we're at that tipping point; according to an Otago University immunolgist.
So far there are 19 Omicron… Video, Audio
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
Israel approves 4th dose of Covid-19 vaccine
In the face of rising rates of the Omicron variant in its community the Israeli Government has approved a fourth vaccine dose for covid-19. It is one of the first countries in the world to do so and… Audio