Morning Report

At the beginning of lockdown, family harm reports spiked as women found it harder to escape their abusers.

Police figures comparing the week before the lockdown to the first full week of restricted movement, revealed a troubling 22 percent increase in reports of domestic violence. Women's Refuge says it witnessed a similar rise in calls.

As Eleisha Foon reports, some progress has been made in persuading men to manage their emotions.

Tourism operators in Whakatāne already struggling in the wake of the deadly Whakaari eruption say the Covid-19 pandemic has forced them to lay-off staff and consider closing down. 

Despite receiving support from the government, they say the lack of international tourism has left them with no choice. 

Katie Scotcher reports.

Imagining what the New Zealand economy might look like when it staggers out of lockdown is difficult when detailed information on its effects is still being developed.

ANZ's survey of business confidence for April shows a gloomy mood that shows little sign of clearing.

Sharon Zollner is ANZ's chief economist, and John McDermott is the executive director of Motu Economic and Public Policy Research.

They speak to Gyles Beckford.

Genetic scientists mapping the spread of Covid-19 say that they have so far found 35 cases that may have led to the outbreak here.

ESR has been analysing virus samples to try to build a comprehensive picture of how it has spread through the country - and how it's mutated along the way.

The scientists' ultimate goal is to genetically map every single case which could provide invaluable insights in the fight against the disease.

RNZ's Matthew Theunissen reports.

A long held plan to change rules around high-interest loans was accelerated through Parliament yesterday, forming part of a Covid-19 Response bill that becomes law once it is granted Royal Assent.

Now, borrowers taking out high-cost loans can only be charged interest and fees up to and not beyond the amount initially borrowed.

The Retirement Commissioner Jane Wrightson says the law change is good news at a time many are facing financial difficulties, and will prevent people being 'saddled' with 'unmanageable' costs.

She speaks to Corin Dann.

GPs are worried that patients are mistakenly deleting text messages about upcoming appointments. Many health services use texts to remind people about scheduled procedures.

But some patients are ignoring alerts about tests, injections and scans, thinking that - due to the Covid 19 response - everything has been cancelled.

Dr Bryan Betty, medical director of the College of GPs, speaks to Gyles Beckford.

A Contact Tracing Assurance Committee has been set-up to strengthen oversight on what the Health Minister David Clark is describing as a crucial part of the Covid-19 response.

Strategies to ease physical distancing and end lockdowns all share one critical requirement: the ability to test widely for infection and then trace contacts, in order to isolate people who were exposed and break the chains of infection.

Sir Brian Roche will chair the committee, joined by Dr Philip Hill, Warren Moetara, Dr Marion Poore and Liz Read.

Clark says they will advise him on how the Ministry is making further improvements to the tracing system and on any national changes required.

He speaks to Corin Dann.

Women at an Auckland prison have been routinely confined to their cells for periods of up to 29 hours at a stretch - well outside a law which says they should get at least one hour out of their cells a day.

RNZ took evidence of the lockdown hours, including one prisoner's diary, to the Corrections Department, which has now launched an urgent review and pledged to stop it happening again.

The action comes after weeks of denial from the department and its Minister Kelvin Davis that the excessive lockdown hours were happening at all.

RNZ's Investigative journalist Guyon Espiner reports.

Countdown has installed temperature scanners at all of its national distribution centres as part of its Covid-19 response.

Those working in processing and distribution could be sent home - and stand to lose pay - if their temperature is up.

First Union says the move will upset workers who will have to pay for their own medical costs even if they are declared fit by their GP.

Countdown declined to be interviewed, but in a statement said that these are just one part of a suite of health and safety measures they have put in place to help keep their team and customers safe in response to the pandemic.

They went on to say the union was given notice about the move, and not going to work and visiting a GP is best practice for someone with a high temperature.

Jared Abbott is with First Union.

He speaks to Gyles Beckford.

Vulnerable fast food workers are speaking up about feeling unsafe but are afraid to challenge breaches of Covid-19 rules at their restaurants.

The Government says it hopes workers will speak up, but if not customers can be relied on to expose problems.

Phil Pennington reports.