Morning Report

A doctor given the task of scouring overheated global markets to find desperately needed ventilators for the coronavirus pandemic is now feeling relieved and happy.

Dr Andrew Stapleton says New Zealand has scored a large number of the critical machines which help patients breathe.

But nurses who now have to train in how to use the life-saving ventilators are feeling pressured.

Phil Pennington reports.

Despite being physically isolated from friends or family during the lockdown, people are still finding ways to stay connected.

Families are having frequent video calls using things like Skype or Facetime, and friends are still having their weekend gatherings, only via Zoom or Houseparty apps.

As Ben Strang reports, if we'd been locked down in 2005, things would be much different.

Te Whānau o Waipareira Trust has set up a drive-in covid testing centre in west Auckland. 

Since Monday, they've been welcoming anyone with flu-like symptoms to come along for testing, even if they have no other probable cause for the coronavirus, such as contact with someone who has travelled overseas. 

Trust chief executive John Tamihere speaks to Corin Dann.

New Zealand is continuing to ramp up it's capability for testing for Covid-19 in the hopes of sniffing out any chains of community transmission during the lockdown.

Meanwhile, government adviser and intensive care doctor Andrew Stapleton says New Zealand has ordered a 'large number' of new ventilators, despite soaring demand on the global market.

Minister of Health David Clark speaks to Susie Ferguson about how the response to the pandemic is going.

Front-line health workers say they are pleased people displaying symptoms of Covid 19 - regardless of their travel history - can now be tested for the virus.

Many are still calling for the Ministry of Health to allow them to test patients themselves, rather than just refer them to designated testing stations.

Te Aniwa Hurihanganui has the story.

Parliament's Epidemic Response Committee met for the first time yesterday and are meeting again today to scrutinise the government's handling of Covid 19.

National Party leader Simon Bridges chairs the committee.

He speaks to Corin Dann.

News that online shopping will be available for some essential household and workplace items is bringing a sense of relief to people caught short or left with broken appliances during lockdown.

The government has eased restrictions slightly to allow the sale of some essential goods, which people may need to safely isolate, stay connected to one another and work or study from home.

So far retailers including The Warehouse, Noel Leeming, Harvey Norman, Briscoes and PB Tech are among those offering online and phone orders.

Amy Williams filed this report.

New Zealand is ramping up testing for Covid-19, as it tries to eliminate the virus.

The case definition for the virus has been widened, to allow more people to be tested even if they did not recently travel overseas or have contact with a confirmed case.

It now means anyone with symptoms of the virus can get a test.

Public health professor Michael Baker speaks to Susie Ferguson.

New Zealand's desperate hunt for more life-saving ventilators to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic has come up trumps, against the odds.

A doctor who is helping lead the foray into a world market gone mad with demand for the machines says the country has tapped trading partners and used 'wiliness' to pull it off.

Andrew Stapleton says he's 'very relieved'.

New Zealand has low numbers of ventilators per capita - just 533 in public hospitals and about another 250 in private ones - which, together with intensive care units, would be overwhelmed if thousands catch the virus at any one time.

Dr Stapleton, as part of the Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society Covid-19 working group, has been advising the Health Ministry shopping for ventilators.

He spoke to RNZ reporter Phil Pennington last night.

News from the business sector, including a market report.