Stories by Rowan Quinn
News
Covid-19: NZ-trained nurses consider leaving over visa trouble
A group of New Zealand-trained nurses - some working with Covid patients - are considering leaving the country because they can't get a visa to live here.
Emergency departments expect huge pressures from Omicron - specialist
Latest modelling by Covid-19 Modelling Aotearoa suggests a peak of 800 people in hospital on any given day at best, but well over 3000 at worst. Audio
Omicron outbreak may leave rural hospitals precarious staffing levels
Rural GP Network clinical director Jeremy Webber says his colleagues are waiting for the outbreak "with some trepidation".
Up to half of NZ population could become infected with Omicron - Modeller
Covid-19 data modeller Michael Plank says a significant proportion could become infected with the variant over the course of the new outbreak, but there's still a lot of uncertainty. Audio
Auckland hospitals prepare for pressure on system when Omicron spreads
Modelling for when Omicron hits suggests a peak of 190 Covid-19 patients in hospital on any given day, based on a prediction of about 1800 community cases a day in the city. Audio
Covid-19: Omicron could force more changes to NZ's contact tracing system
Health officials are talking to their counterparts in Australia and the UK to learn as much as possible about what they are up against.
Too early for Auckland and other regions to move out of red - experts
The country's Covid-19 red zones should stay that way for now - even highly vaccinated Auckland, says epidemiologist Rod Jackson.
Auckland DHB meetings shrouded in secrecy
Auckland District Health Board held an emergency meeting last month but its Covid-19-heavy content is being kept secret, as are the agendas of "informal" meetings it's held weekly during the outbreak.
Kiwi nurse hitches ride on yacht after missing out on MIQ
A nurse who sailed home because she couldn't get a slot in MIQ and another who's given up trying say there are still too many barriers to getting nurses back to New Zealand.
District health boards prepare for Covid-19 cases with mini-MIQs
Just two motel units have been set aside in Queenstown for people who might need help to isolate with Covid despite tens of thousands of Aucklanders about to hit town, mayor Jim Boult says.
Midwife shortage at Invercargill Hospital an 'extreme risk' - DHB
Invercargill Hospital has just 17 percent of the midwives it needs, and is an "extreme risk," Southern District Health Board chief executive Chris Fleming says.
Covid-19: Nurses' online ICU training varies widely between DHBs
There are huge differences across country in the number of nurses doing the training the government says will keep ICUs going when Covid-19 surges.
$644 million boost as ICU and hospitals brace for widespread Covid-19
Intensive care units and hospitals are getting a boost of hundreds of millions of dollars as the country moves to the Covid-19 traffic light system. Audio
Auckland DHB vaccination rates sets 'new national benchmark' - epidemiologist
In the Auckland District Health Board area, 96.2 percent of eligible people have had at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.
Auckland case numbers 'inch downwards' but expert warns that could change
Auckland's Covid-19 outbreak looks to have peaked but a leading data modeller is warning that the situation could change as the traffic light system is introduced.
Rapid antigen tests available from pharmacies from next month
DIY Covid tests will be available in pharmacies from mid-December, while businesses will have access to them from next week.
Pacific health providers test leading role in home isolation care
Pacific health teams had been frustrated at having to take a back seat, saying they know how to best help Pasifika Aucklanders with Covid-19.
Waitemata DHB seeks 133 new staff to deal with Covid-19 in community
Auckland's Waitemata District Health Board is looking for 133 extra staff, including 21 intensive care nurses, to help it cope with Covid-19 next year.
'She couldn't breathe': One family's Covid-19 home care struggle
A man whose wife was in "deep distress" because of Covid-19 symptoms struggled to know when to call an ambulance because her oxygen readings appeared fine.
Warnings mount over health system's ability to cope with more Covid-19 cases
There are 289 Intensive Care Unit or High Dependency Unit beds at the moment, with Minister of Health Andrew Little insisting that could be ramped up to 550 if needed.
Hundreds of health workers unvaccinated heading into mandate deadline
From today no one can work in healthcare unless they have had at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine or are exempt from the government mandate.
Auckland's outbreak could soon reach peak - Hendy
Auckland's Covid-19 outbreak is on track to reach a peak by the end of November, latest modelling suggests, but other pockets of the country are warned they might be in for a bumpy ride.
Hospitals reach out to unvaccinated workers as deadline looms
Hospitals are holding one-on-one interviews with workers holding out on the Covid-19 vaccine to try to persuade them to get it before they lose their job.
Thousands of DHB workers yet to receive first Covid-19 vaccine dose
About 4000 district health board workers - 5 percent of all DHB staff - have not yet been vaccinated, just a few days before the no jab no job deadline.
Auckland man with Covid-19 spent six days isolating in his car
The man's story is not uncommon, a support worker says, with some people in multi-generational homes isolating in vans or garages. Audio