Collected news stories, with a current focus on Covid-19 recovery
RNZ
Explainer - Under the red setting of the traffic light system, many New Zealanders will have to adapt to stricter rules around the use of face masks, RNZ is here to clear it all up.
Stuff
Five Aucklanders who were at the Waikato music festival have since tested positive -one with the Omicron variant.
Stuff
Two drugs for mild to moderate cases of Covid-19 will be available in hospitals from next week, Pharmac says.
RNZ
The New Zealand Medical Association says doctors will not have the capacity to be calling patients actively if there are tens of thousands of Omicron cases a day.
Dr Ashley Bloomfield says if things go wrong, New Zealand could be moving into stage two of the Omicron response soon.
BA.2, is widely considered harder to detect than the original version of Omicron because of particular genetic traits.
RNZ
A Covid-19 Māori health analyst says more than 106,000 vaccinated Māori are not eligible for a booster shot until after 1 March - too late to protect against the expected Omicron surge.
Stuff
The Ministry of Health says it has been "made aware of a number of cases" who attended the Hamilton festival over the weekend.
RNZ
Canterbury police are offering an amnesty for people who received fake Covid-19 vaccine passes from a Rangiora man.
RNZ
The government has outlined its staged approach to the highly transmissible Omicron variant that is already in the community. There were 56 new cases on Wednesday. As infections spread, the isolation period for cases and close contacts reduces to 10 and seven days respectively, at phase two and three.
The Capital and Coast DHB became the first on January 13.
About 15 people are in isolation in Otago and Southland after being identified as possible close contacts of a Covid-19 case. No southerners have...
Stuff
On the brink of a possible outbreak, health officials share advice on how to protect those too young to get the Covid vaccination.
Newshub
The highly transmissible variant quickly spread across the globe.
RNZ
Retail NZ says the new rules around use of masks do not solve the main problems that businesses face.
Overseas New Zealanders desperate to return home will soon learn when they can travel here without booking a stay in a managed isolation (MIQ)...
RNZ
Less than 48 hours into the red setting, a shift in work habits and daily routines is playing out on central city streets around New Zealand, causing stress for business owners.
The rules now include mask-wearing at food and drink businesses, close proximity businesses, events and gatherings.
RNZ
New Zealand's PCR capacity has increased to 58,000 per day, in part thanks to robotics from a local engineering firm, and accessibility of rapid antigen tests is being improved.
NZ Herald
Masks play a significant role when 'done right', says PM.
Stuff
Several DHBs have banned cloth masks at their facilities while awaiting updated advice on mask use from the Government.
A person later confirmed with Omicron attended a large event at the Pukekohe Indian Hall on Sunday.
Stuff
From wedding events to Rainbow's End, here is a timeline of the Nelson family's visit to Auckland and locations linked to Omicron cases.
Stuff
The Ministry of Health is set to give an update on Covid numbers, the Omicron outbreak and vaccinations ahead of the Prime Minister's post-Cabinet press conference at 4pm.
Newshub
The argument it doesn't work because more vaccinated people are in hospital doesn't hold weight.
the Guardian
Covid-19 has spread around the planet, sending billions into lockdown. Find out where the virus has spread, and where it is now most deadly
Stuff
Surviving enforced agoraphobia without losing your marbles requires planning, people and patience.
RNZ
Explainer - Under the red setting of the traffic light system, many New Zealanders will have to adapt to stricter rules around the use of face masks, RNZ is here to clear it all up.
Stuff
On the brink of a possible outbreak, health officials share advice on how to protect those too young to get the Covid vaccination.
Newsroom
As the Omicron outbreak ramps up, widespread Covid-19 infections across the country are set to become a reality. Dr Lynn McBain explains what to expect if you are infected, and how to manage your recovery.
The latest collected news from around New Zealand and globally, digging beyond the usual news websites. The current main focus is on Covid-19 recovery. Keep Reading
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