Morning Report

News from the rural and farming sector.

A brief update from the business sector.

The county-wide lockdown in Italy looks set to stay in place for some time yet as the death toll from the Coronavirus pandemic surged past 10,000.

The number of confirmed cases in Italy is nearing 100,000.

Yesterday Italy recorded 889 deaths in the previous 24 hours, the second highest daily tally since the epidemic emerged.

The lockdown has been in place for three weeks now.

The Italy Deputy Health Minister Pierpaolo Sileri does believe the number of cases could start dropping within the next 10 days.

He bases that on the number of tests they're now performing.

Italy correspondent Josephinne McKenna speaks to Susie Ferguson.

Medical reinforcements are being sent to help Greymouth's hospital after the first death from coronanvirus, and More cases of community transmission are likely - we'll look at what the numbers might be

From providing emergency housing, to organising virtual mental health sessions, the Paekakariki Community Board has jumped into action to help their small village stay connected through the lockdown.

The Board's Chair says they hope their response will be an example for other communities around the country to follow.

Harry Lock spoke to those who got it up and running.

The country's truck drivers are facing an unfortunate predicament as they haul the goods needed to keeping our supermarkets stocked and essential services supplied.

They've got no-where to go to the toilet. Bakeries and cafes are closed, many service stations are shut or only opening night-pay windows, and some public facilities have been locked up.

As a result, the Road Transport Forum is asking the government to step in so driver's can relieve themselves.

Matthew Theunissen reports.

A New Zealander who's tested positive for Covid-19 says her only symptom is a loss of taste and smell.

Nicole Fyfe, 24, was tested for coronavirus on Tuesday and notified on Wednesday night she had it.

She had a cold when she returned from Manchester on Saturday afternoon, but was showing no symptoms of coronavirus.

She was cleared at the airport to go home into self-isolation but as she told our reporter Meriana Johnsen what she had written off as jet-lag was actually the disease.

Two German tourists in New Zealand are waiting for a flight confirmation so they can get home.

The German government announced it will evacuate nearly 80,000 of its citizens stranded abroad.

Susi Vormwald and her friend Alina Stamm have been in New Zealand for two weeks, for what was supposed to be an eight week tour of the country in a campervan.

Elderly and disabled people are being left without support because the lockdown has thrown the caregiver system into turmoil.

They include people with dementia and diabetes who need help dressing and washing. In at least one case, an elderly woman has had no assistance for two or three days.

Ruth Hill reports.

Courier drivers for New Zealand Post in Wellington say the company is not doing enough to make them feel safe as they work through the lockdown.

Some workers say they have only been given a pair of gloves and a small bottle of hand sanitizer, and up to 100 people are being forced to share a few toilets, which are dirty.

They say they weren't given the option of not working, and catching Covid-19 is constantly on their minds.

Leigh-Marama McLachlan reports.