Morning Report

A 12th case of Covid-19 has been confirmed.

Hospitals are now looking at using operating theatres to boost the number of intensive care beds if Covid-19 hits the country hard.

Nationwide, there are 221 intensive care beds which have ventilators to help people breathe if they can't on their own.

The chair of the New Zealand committee of the College of Intensive Care Medicine Andrew Stapleton told RNZ health correspondent Rowan Quinn hospitals can get more if the situation becomes extreme.

Many beneficaries and superannuitants are over the moon with the extra money they're getting from the Covid-19 economic package.

The country's poorest and elderly are the two groups most vulnerable to the virus.

The package targets those groups by boosting benefits by $25 a week and doubling the Winter Energy payment for 2020.

A woman receiving a supported living benefit told RNZ reporter Sarah Robson it is a shame it has taken a pandemic for this to happen but for her it will make a huge difference.

A Wellington business owner says the government handout for businesses struggling with the impacts of Covid-19 is the "perfect" package.

Michael Hollings owns four hospitality businesses in the central city, including Chow and The Library, and employs up to 70 staff.

Businesses now get a wage subsidy for each employee, if that business can prove they are down 30 percent on revenue in comparison with last year.

Business owner Michael Hollings told RNZ reporter, Harry Lock, he's already seen a drop-off in revenue over the past couple of weeks and has been staring bankruptcy in the face.

The Government is promising to keep spending as and when required to get New Zealand through a recession that's now almost certain.

Yesterday the Finance Minister Grant Robertson announced a $12.1 billion dollar economic package to support businesses and workers during the Covid-19 crisis.

He says not every business and job will be saved.

RNZ political reporter Jo Moir has this story.

News from the rural and farming sector.

A brief update from the business sector.

President Emmanuel Macron says France is at war with the coronavirus.

The country is now in lockdown for the next 15 days under the toughest restrictions in Europe.

If you do need to leave the house, you need to print out and fill in a form that justifies your reason for being outside.

France correspondent Hugh Schofield speaks to Susie Ferguson.

Schools, restaurants and non-essential businesses have closed in Germany, while holiday travel is now prohibited and borders are partially closed.

Germany correspondent Thomas Sparrow speaks to Corin Dann.

New Zealand Rugby has revealed its working on a domestic competition featuring the five New Zealand Super Rugby teams.

Donald Trump outlines an 850 billion US dollar boost to the American economy, Grant Robertson says his 12 billion dollar package is just the start of limiting damage from coronavirus A public health expert says schools need to shut down now, New Zealand Rugby floats a plan to get local Super Rugby teams back into action.