Covid 19

Thirteen more people have died with Covid-19 and there have been 9047 new community cases reported, the Ministry of Health says.

Twenty-three more people have died with Covid-19 and there are 9830 new community cases of Covid-19, the Ministry of Health says.

Thousands of planned operations and appointments have been cancelled by Counties Manukau DHB due to Omicron.

The Covid-19 booster vaccine campaign has all but stalled, with demand drying up and the rate of booster coverage having declined.

Analysis - Women make up about 90 percent of those who lost jobs during the pandemic, while many shouldered heavy economic, emotional or care-giving burdens.

There's no quick fix for a massive backlog of operations and appointments cancelled or postponed due to Omicron, Counties Manukau DHB says.

A US judge's ruling to end mask mandates on aeroplanes will be appealed if health officials say the mandates are necessary to slow Covid-19, the Biden administration says.

Women forced to give birth overseas late last year, without any family support, say it is abhorrent health officials thought MIQ wasn't justified at that time.

The orange light setting has brought a sense of relief for parents, as the eased restrictions mean one less thing to juggle - but some Covid-related worries are still lurking.

Up to 40,000 people could have skipped MIQ from November last year if the government had paid attention to top health officials.

The Biden administration will no longer enforce a US mask mandate on public transportation, after a federal judge in Florida on Monday ruled that the 14-month-old directive was unlawful.

A woman who had her breast cancer operation delayed twice in the Omicron outbreak feared the "dangerous strangers" in her body would get the better of her. Audio

Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins is continuing to champion mask wearing, despite some requirements being loosened. Audio

There are 9495 new community cases of Covid-19 along with a further 15 deaths to report today.

Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield says rates are coming down. Video

More than 1000 Covid-19 cases have been reported at rest homes recently.

Analysis - The long-running Dunedin Study has found a link between vaccine resistance and histories of adverse experiences during childhood, including abuse, maltreatment, or neglect.

The outgoing Director of Public Health says the quick sharing of scientific data and the widespread use of masks have been critical parts of NZ's public health response. Watch today's Covid-19… Video

The departing Director-General of Health, speaking at today's regular Covid-19 update, says he is planning to take an extended break before putting thought into what to do next.