National is calling for clarity on the legality of community checkpoints despite them being credited as key in keeping Covid-19 out of isolated communities; and Foneterra says it is not surprised by the latest drop in global dairy prices.
1.The Canterbury District Health Board says damp, unchanged protective equipment is the likely reason three of its health care workers got Covid-19. The staff tested positive for the virus last week, they have been caring for Covid-19 patients from Rosewood Rest Home in hospital and helped move some of them to Burwood Hospital.
2.The Epidemic Response Committee is hearing today from those in health and care services about whether they have been well served in the Government’s response to Covid-19. Today, the NZ Medical Association, Aged Care Association, Pharmacy Guild, Disability Support Network and Dental Association will make submissions to the Committee, which assesses the Government’s response to the coronavirus.
3.The fire that burned for three days last year at the SkyCity International Convention Centre has been found to be accidental. The roof of the under-construction centre was significantly damaged in the blaze that erupted in October last year, and took 10 days to fully extinguish.
4.Education Ministry figures show one in five NCEA students in low decile schools cannot work online. It’s trying to get computers to the students in years 11, 12 and 13.
5.The health sector is preparing for a backlog of cancer diagnosis since level 4 restrictions began four weeks ago. Screening programmes have been halted meaning those who may have cancer cannot have it detected.
6.Foneterra says it is not surprised by the latest drop in global dairy prices. At the overnight auction, prices fell to their lowest in more than a year and below break even point for many farmers.
7.America’s health protection agency is warning a second wave of Covid-19 this year could be worse than the current one. More than 45,000 people have died from the virus in the US, the highest toll of any country.
8.National is calling for clarity on the legality of community checkpoints despite them being credited as key in keeping Covid-19 out of isolated communities. Iwi and hapū in regions such as Te Tai Tokerau and Te Tai Rāwhiti have been running checkpoints to restrict access to their rohe and keep Covid-19 out of vulnerable communities. Police have been working alongside them.
9.Air New Zealand has released a new limited domestic schedule for flights during alert level 3. The airline said it would gear up to enable essential travel only and keep air freight moving from next Tuesday. It will run return flights from Auckland to Christchurch, Wellington, Tauranga and Napier, from Wellington to Christchurch and Nelson, and from Christchurch to Dunedin.
10.Around 30 New Zealanders will be coming home on evacuation flights out of Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia this week. Two flights out of India, one from New Delhi and one out of Mumbai are also expected to leave over the next week.
11.137 McDonald’s restaurants will open at 5am on Tuesday morning offering contact list pickups and deliveries. Over 10,000 people will work for the chain around the country.
