Morning Report

Coronavirus: Marist cluster members initally refused tests; Coronavirus: Nurses union wants more PPE; Coronavirus: Holidaymakers sneaking out in darkness; Coronavirus: Simon Bridges defends commute; Coronavirus: Police planning to stop would-be holidaymakers.

After nearly two weeks of lockdown a great many of us are getting very familiar with life within the boundary fence.

But for some people, staying pretty much put on the property is the normal routine.

Lloyd Downing is a dairy farmer based in Morrinsville.

The suburb of New Rochelle in New York has been one of the success stories of containment of Covid-19 in the hard hit city.

The US has recorded 10,000 deaths, more than 3000 of those in New York.

New Rochelle was one of the first areas hit more than a month ago when it was discovered to have had a cluster of people with the coronavirus.

Local officials acted quickly to set up a containment zone and it has been a success with the rate of increase of cases of the virus significantly lower than the rest of New York and the US.

New Zealander Martyn Clarkson lives near New Rochelle with his wife and two children.

He normally works in Manhattan but for the last month has been working from home.

He speaks to Corin Dann.

The Super Rugby champion Crusaders have apologised after several members of their squad were spied flouting isolation rules.

The players, including All Blacks first-five Richie Mo'unga, were passing and kicking a ball to each other at a Christchurch park on Monday.

Photographs of the players emerged on social media and the Crusaders confirmed they had breached their own rules on individual training during the coronavirus lockdown.

The Crusaders Chief Executive, Colin Mansbridge, says he's reprimanded the players involved.

He speaks to Susie Ferguson.

The coronavirus death toll in the United States has risen above 10,000 amid some preliminary signs that the crisis in New York may have reached its peak.

President Trump declared there is light at the end of the tunnel, but Governor Andrew Cuomo of New York says it is much too early to reach that conclusion.

Washington Correspondent Simon Marks reports.

A brief update of movements in the financial sector.

The Auckland Ratepayers' Alliance is demanding the Council put a freeze on a planned rates increase.

Mayor Phil Goff announced a 3.5 percent rates increase last year but the alliance says the economic situation facing Auckland households is unrecognisable from six months ago.

Goff speaks to Susie Ferguson.

The Mad Butcher chain says government indecision has created strife for butchers.

They were told at the start of the lockdown they had to shut as they're not an essential service.

Yesterday it was announced that while they can't open their shops they can keep operating if they have an online or phone option and can provide contactless delivery.

Mad Butcher group chief executive Michael Morton speaks to Susie Ferguson.

Non-food export manufacturers say they face irreversible market loss if they have to stay shut under the Covid-19 lockdown.

They are calling on the Government to put them on equal footing with food export manufacturers.

Gordon Sutherland, chief executive of the bronze foundry A.W. Frasers, and Jon Tanner, chief executive of the Wood Processors and Manufacturers Association, speak to Corin Dann.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been taken into intensive care after he was hospitalised with coronavirus symptoms yesterday.

A spokesperson for Downing Street said the Prime Minister's condition had worsened and he had been moved to intensive care on the advice of his medical team.

London correspondent Natalie Powell speaks to Susie Ferguson.