The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Getting on top of this outbreak quickly will be key to preventing wider spread.
Otago University infectious diseases expert David Murdoch is applauding the Government for its swift response.
He told Mike Hosking we're learning from overseas what not to do.
"We're seeing clearly in Victoria but there are other places that have had explosive outbreaks and they have been linked to delays in response, so I think the vigorous response is absolutely the right thing to do."
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As the Northern Territory looks to keep the hard border controls in place for at least another 18 months, and Western Australia points to a closure until at least the end of this year – experts fear drastic action taken by state leaders could be detrimental to Australia's economic recovery amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
On Tuesday, Northern Territory Chief Minister Michael Gunner revealed he will keep the Territory's border guarded until at least 2022 and recruit extra police to keep the barriers in place. His announcement comes just 24 hours after Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that despite his "hope" Covid-19 restrictions could ease by the Christmas holidays, it's unlikely the rules will change by summer.
"We have got an indefinite ban on Victoria, and Sydney keeps bubbling away to a point to I can't give you a date where that would ever lift," Gunner said.
"My advice to every Territorian, if you can, stay here in the Territory. You're safe here, don't go.
"If you can, cancel your Christmas holiday plans, stay here in the Northern Territory."
The Top End's latest move comes after weeks of shutting out "hotspot" regions in, where currently anyone coming from Sydney or Victoria must complete two weeks quarantine at their own expense if they want to cross the territory's border, and everyone must fill in a border declaration pass.
Just months ago, Morrison had hoped the border restrictions would be lifted by July, a hope that now seems abandoned in the wake of the second wave in Victoria.
Speaking to news.com.au, tourism lecturer Dr David Beirman from Sydney's University of Technology, said the announcement today – and the concept of ongoing border closures until 2022 – is a "step too far" when it comes to any form of economic recovery.
"The statement that the Northern Territory border could be closed for the next 18 months appears extreme at best," he told news.com.au.
"One thing we have learned during this pandemic, is that changes occur rapidly and suddenly.
"Making any predictions about Covid-19 beyond the space of a few weeks is unwise at best and is likely to ensure predictors finish up eating their words when they are proven wrong or alarmist."
Since the second wave of coronavirus cases in Victoria, the Morrison Government has eased on criticism around the border lockdowns adopted by state and territory leaders around the country.
But Beirman said suggestions of hard borders for months on end, such as Gunner's announcement for the Northern Territory, is a "death knell" for Australian tourism.
"In signalling a virtual lockdown and hard borders for the NT for 18 months, the government is signalling the death knell for many of the NT's most lucrative tourism businesses and attractions including Jabiru National Park, Uluru, the MacDonnell Ranges, Alice Springs and Darwin," he said.
"The NT is the least populous mainland territory on Australia with about 300,000 people and its small population cannot maintain the viability of some of the world's greatest tourist attractions.
"I fully respect the right of any Australian state or territory to do all they can to protect the heath of its citizens. However, flagging the sentencing of Territorians to 18 months isolation from fellow Australians and the rest of the world is a step too far."
The Northern Territory's tourism industry is valued at $1.2bn, employing more than 8000 people across the sector.
As a significant industry in regional areas, the Top End had seen an increase of almost 2 per cent in domestic visitors primarily driven by holiday and leisure travellers.
Beirman said the border closure predictions of Gunner's nature will likely cause business owners in the sector to simply "throw in the towel".
"All that kind of ultra-negative thinking really achieves is that a lot of businesses are likely to literally throw in the towel and abandon the Northern Territory,"...

Russia on Tuesday became the first country to approve a coronavirus vaccine, a move that was met with international skepticism and unease because the shots have only been studied in dozens of people.
President Vladimir Putin announced the Health Ministry's approval and said one of his two adult daughters already was inoculated. He said the vaccine underwent the necessary tests and was shown to provide lasting immunity to the coronavirus, although Russian authorities have offered no proof to back up claims of safety or effectiveness.
“I know it has proven efficient and forms a stable immunity,” Putin said. “We must be grateful to those who made that first step very important for our country and the entire world.”
However, scientists in Russia and other countries sounded an alarm, saying that rushing to offer the vaccine before final-stage testing could backfire. What's called a Phase 3 trial — which involves tens of thousands of people and can take months — is the only way to prove if an experimental vaccine is safe and really works.
By comparison, vaccines entering final-stage testing in the U.S. require studies of 30,000 people each. Two vaccine candidates already have begun those huge studies, with three more set to get underway by fall.
“Fast-tracked approval will not make Russia the leader in the race, it will just expose consumers of the vaccine to unnecessary danger,” said Russia’s Association of Clinical Trials Organizations, in urging government officials to postpone approving the vaccine without completed advanced trials.
While Russian officials have said large-scale production of the vaccine wasn't scheduled until September, Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova said vaccination of doctors could start as early as this month. Officials say they will be closely monitored after the injections. Mass vaccination may begin as early as October.
“We expect tens of thousands of volunteers to be vaccinated within the next months,” Kirill Dmitriev, chief executive of the Russian Direct Investment Fund that bankrolled the vaccine, told reporters.
The vaccine developed by the Gamaleya Institute in Moscow with assistance from Russia's Defense Ministry uses a different virus -- the common cold-causing adenovirus -- that’s been modified to carry genes for the “spike” protein that coats the coronavirus, as a way to prime the body to recognize if a real COVID-19 infection comes along.
That’s a similar technology as vaccines being developed by China’s CanSino Biologics and Britain’s Oxford University and AstraZeneca — but unlike those companies, Russian scientists haven't published any scientific information about how the vaccine has performed in animal tests or in early-stage human studies.
Dmitriev said even as Russian doctors and teachers start getting vaccinated, advanced trials are set to start Wednesday that will involve “several thousand people” and span several countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, the Philippines and possibly Brazil.
The Associated Press couldn't find documentation in the Russian Health Ministry's records indicating that permission to start the advanced trials was granted. The ministry has not responded to a request for comment.
Putin said one of his daughters has received two doses, and had minor side effects such as slight fever, and is now “feeling well and has a high number of antibodies.” It wasn't clear if she was one of the study volunteers.
The Health Ministry said in a statement Tuesday that the vaccine is expected to provide immunity from the coronavirus for up to two years, citing its experience with vaccines made with similar technology.
However, scientists around the world have been cautioning that even if vaccine candidates are proven to work, it will take even more time to tell how long the protection will last.
“The collateral damage from release of any vaccine that was less than safe and...

Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters says Cabinet is considering a law change to make masks mandatory in Auckland.
He told Mike Hosking Aucklanders should be wearing a mask whenever they leave home.
"The encouragement is to go out and get masks, and make sure when you are out you put them on."
Chris Hipkins says the Ministry of Health is working with lawyers on making masks mandatory in Auckland.
The Minister of Health says the Government is moving swiftly after finding community transmission of Covid-19 in a bid to avoid a situation similar to that occurring in Victoria, Australia.
Hipkins told Morning Report it was impossible to move too hard, too soon.
He said the response has been precautionary and swift.
"One of the lessons from overseas is you can't be too hard, too soon, the faster you move the better your chances."
Hipkins said at this stage the restrictions were for three days, which will enable more information to be gathered, and at the end of this they will be able to determine a sensible course of action.
People in Auckland were being asked to wear masks if they were out in public either for essential travel or supermarket shopping, Hipkins said.
He said an order would be issued at midday today making mask wearing mandatory for Aucklanders was one of the things being considered.
Hipkins said the Government had been pushing to increase testing for Covid-19 up and in recent days had been getting around the desired 4000 mark.
He said at this stage the source of this outbreak was a puzzle.
"This person has no known contacts with anybody who has worked in managed isolation or at the border, they have no recent travel history themselves or contact with people who have travel history."
Hipkins said they would keep contact tracing until the source of the outbreak was discovered.
"Immediate family members have been tested, therefore we've got three additional positive results out of that, so therefore the contact tracing for those family members kicked into gear immediately, as soon as their positive results tests came in and we will just keep going until we identify where the source of the case is."
Testing will be undertaken at two workplaces, and Hipkins said he believed one of the children in the family attended Mt Albert Primary School.
But he said that child returned a negative test and at this point the health advice was that testing was not needed for everybody at that school.
Hipkins said at this stage they were in contact with anybody who had been in close contact with any of the four people who have tested positive for Covid-19.
"Getting them tested is our priority and then doing further contact tracing based on those results has been the priority."
Those who tested positive have been interviewed a number of times to determine who they have been in contact with and have been very cooperative, Hipkins said.
He said anybody who has symptoms and wants to get a Covid-19 test should phone the 0800 Healthline number first.
Hipkins said everybody who is leaving Auckland to return home today, they should stay home for the three days in the same way Aucklanders are being asked to.
He said police would help to enforce the level 3 restrictions in the greater Auckland area after midday today.

The Government's being urged to be absolutely transparent on Covid-19.
Auckland's moving to level three at midday after four people in the same south Auckland family caught the disease in the community.
Grant Robertson told Mike Hosking the Government wasn't sitting on information when it started asking people to wear masks and 'say yes to the test'.
"People shouldn't confuse being prepared with some kind of conspiracy theory, which is absolutely untrue."
Parliament's due to rise this morning, and National party leader Judith Collins wants that - and the election - delayed.
The Finance Minister says the Government will cross that bridge when it comes to it.
National Party MP Mark Mitchell told Mike Hosking the Government to be open about what it knows.
"Kiwis have shown they can be vigilant and trusted in terms of doing what they need to, but there needs to be a very high level of transparency and information now for everyone."
Listen to the audio above as Grant Robertson and Mark Mitchell speak to Mike Hosking
 

Is there a sinking feeling? I think so.
The international media have been interesting overnight. One headline had "New Zealand's Covid Freak Out." In other words, it's an awfully strong reaction to four cases.
Another headline called it the end of a golden run.
It does seem a massive reaction. If you're waking up in Timaru, Westport, Nelson, Napier, or New Plymouth this morning,  why are you in level two? Do you even remember what level two is? Is it really worth level three for Auckland and all the businesses that close that really can't afford to?
It also lends weight to the questions being asked these past few days. Just why, when we were celebrating 100 days of no community transmission, is the government launching yes to the test, and telling us to buy masks and we were running short of elastic? There was suspicion, that proved correct. Did they know something was wrong and didn't tell us?
I see a bit of a mess coming. Regionality given it's new, will lead to the old 6000 inane questions. The introduction of masks in different levels will confuse people around whether they're mandatory or voluntary.  Will people start freaking out about distancing again? Where does Auckland start and stop? Do planes fly? Can you conduct business? Do you leave town for a short break in Taupo? Is the Super Rugby still on? What about the election campaign?
In broader terms, is the same reaction coming every time we get a handful of cases?
The big question, of course, can we contact trace properly? PPE was a mess, the flu jab was a mess, if not a scandal as it was uncovered this week. The war footing was a con, the Medical Association said we don't have a hope in hell of rolling out a Covid vaccine.
And the really big question, how did this happen? Think about it, the borders have been closed for months, everyone entering is put in an isolation facility. There should be, has been, no community transmission. Who cocked it up?
A big day of questions and a sense of depressing deja vu.

Air New Zealand is making mask wearing compulsory on all flights out of Auckland.
For the duration of the change in alert levels, Air New Zealand's front of house employees and domestic cabin crew will wear masks and gloves, and pilots will wear masks when interacting with customers or walking through the terminal.
Customers on flights departing from Auckland will be also be required to wear masks.
They are welcome to bring their own, or these will be provided by the airline onboard.
"Air New Zealand recommends that its customers traveling from other ports also wear masks, however this will not be a requirement."
After midday and under level 3, inter-regional travel is highly limited to, for example, essential workers, with limited exemptions for others, according to Government rules. Most Air NZ flights are through its main Auckland hub.
Under alert level 2 domestic travel is allowed but social distancing means that passenger loads on planes could be restricted.
The airline says anyone holding a ticket for a domestic flight and are scheduled to depart before 11.59pm on Sunday (August 16), may opt to hold their fare in credit.
"You can do this online via our Manage your Booking tool. If you have already checked in for your flight, you won't be able to opt-in online to hold your flight in credit," the airline says.
The airline says however, it will be able to do this once the flight has departed without the passenger needing to get in touch.
They will be sent an email confirmation once this has been processed.
"If you are unable to manage your booking online and do not wish to travel, you do not need to get in touch with us straight away or before your flight's departure. We can assist you at a later date to find an alternative flight option, or provide you with a credit note," the airline says.
It warns its contact centre and social media team are currently experiencing a high volume of calls and messages.
"We appreciate your patience while you are waiting to connect with us."
Because of fallout earlier in the year the airline has boosted its call centre staff.
The airline was moving back towards 80 per cent of its domestic network, and newly returned Jetstar at the same level, before last night's announcement.

Judith Collins has called Jacinda Ardern this morning, asking for this morning's scheduled dissolution of Parliament to be delayed - as well as the election.
Election campaigning has now been put on hold.
The National party leader told Mike Hosking if the outbreak isn't contained immediately, the election should be postponed until later this year or early next year.
‘We just can’t go through a full general election based on postal ballots and things like that, it’s untenable."
Collins is putting the blame for the new cases of community transmission in Auckland squarely in the lap of the Government and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
Speaking to the Herald last night, Collins said she was "extremely disappointed" in the Government, given that Covid-19 has come back to New Zealand.
Asked if she was disappointed in the Government, she said yes.
"I am, like I'm sure the rest of the country is, extremely disappointed that this [Covid-19] has been allowed in through our borders."



Just over an hour before, Ardern had announced that as a result of four new cases of community transmission – all from the same family in South Auckland – the Super City will go into level 3 lockdown from 12 noon on Wednesday, until midnight Friday.
The rest of the county will move into level 2 over the same period.
"We're asking people in Auckland to stay home to stop the spread," Ardern said in an emergency press conference at the Beehive tonight.
But Collins was not impressed, given the fact she said New Zealanders have been told that the country was free of community transmission.
Sunday had marked 100 days since the last case of community transmission.
"We believed it had happened; this has clearly come through a border and must not be something that was homegrown in New Zealand.
"I have seen the Prime Minister tonight, who is leader of the Labour Party, in the middle of an election campaign, speaking about all this failure."
Collins was meant to be campaigning in Tauranga tomorrow and is staying in Auckland tonight.
But the Papakura MP is heading back down to Wellington tomorrow morning.
"It is important, in my opinion, that I be in Wellington so that I can actually undertake the role of the Leader of the Opposition – so that's what I'm planning to do."
In fact, when speaking to the Herald, Collins detailed parts of a call she had with Ardern earlier this evening.
"She [Ardern] said that the family [the new cases of Covid-19] have had to wait for retesting because of possible false positives."
Collins speculated that this meant the family would have been retested and found positive "some days ago".
But Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield said that the Auckland man in his 50s was tested yesterday after having symptoms.
He had no history of overseas travel and was tested a second time today and both tests were positive.
Collins pushed back on any suggestion that she was politicising the situation.
"I would be accused of a dereliction of duty if I did not do my job as Leader of the Opposition.
"We clearly have a failure that is disappointing – I am actually so disappointed that we are not in a situation that we have been told we were in."

Auckland's mayor has called for calm and urged Aucklanders not to panic-buy as retailers warn that the return to lockdown could be "catastrophic" for struggling businesses.
Auckland will be plunged back into an alert level 3 lockdown at midday today following the news that four new cases of Covid-19 have been detected in South Auckland.
The restrictions will last until midnight on Friday. The rest of the country will move to alert level 2 as a precaution.
Auckland Chamber of Commerce CEO Michael Barnett told Mike Hosking this could be destructive and confusing for businesses, which are low on reserves and light on confidence.
He says if the Government has a plan, they should give it to businesses, not just leak it out piecemeal.
Retail NZ CEO Greg Harford said the lockdown would be devastating for a struggling sector and another nail in the coffin for many businesses.
"The retail sector has been struggling to recover from the effects of the earlier lockdowns, and spending since March is still down nearly 10 per cent," Harford said.
"A further lockdown has the potential to be catastrophic for struggling businesses, and Retail NZ is hoping that the new lockdown will be lifted quickly once the full situation is known and managed."
He also urged shoppers to be calm and avoid panic-buying.
"Essential services such as supermarkets will remain open, even at alert level 3. Retail NZ is calling for everyone to stay calm and shop normally."
He also asked whether additional financial support needed to be made available for affected businesses.
Goff also called for calm and patience as another lockdown looms over the city.
"I understand that people are probably feeling a little bit scared, a little angry and a little confused right now. None of us wanted to go back into a lockdown, but we always knew this was a very real possibility," he said.
"I am urging Aucklanders to come together like we did last time to stamp out community transmission. Please remain calm, please do not panic-buy and please follow the lockdown rules.
"Please follow Ministry of Health advice around good hygiene practices and social distancing. If you have symptoms, please make sure you get tested and avoid contact with others.
"We beat community transmission once and we can do again, but that requires all of us to work as a team.
"Like last time, more details will be forthcoming over the next little while, so please keep updated through news channel and official government websites," said Goff.
Manurewa-Papakura councillor Daniel Newman said his constituents in South Auckland are anxious about the threat posed by Covid-19, the disruption to their lives and the economic consequences of a return to a lockdown.
"Testing along with other measures such as social distancing will be fundamental to stamping out the scourge of community transmission," Newman said.
He said the four new Covid cases in South Auckland from unknown sources illustrates the need for a significant increase in testing and an expansion of the criteria to include both symptomatic and asymptomatic people.
"We're heading back to level 3 and my community is at the forefront of these restrictions. But we have been at risk of a possible outbreak of Covid-19 since we came out of the lockdown.
"Testing must extend beyond those who are symptomatic and people who are working at the borders. Covid-19 is tricky and applying narrow criteria for testing will not help people who are asymptomatic," Newman said.

Business reaction

Harford said the return to lockdown would dent public confidence and could mean customers were less likely to get out and about.
"I guess the key message for the rest of New Zealand is that there is still no evidence of Covid-19 being transmitted in other parts of the country."
The Government would need to remain very transparent about what was going...

There will be roadblocks in Auckland to stop people travelling in and out of the region.
It's moving to level three at midday, after four cases of Covid-19 community transmission in south Auckland.
Police Association president Chris Cahill told Mike Hosking roadblocks will be set up and police will decide this morning how that will work.
"The key is to get the message out to people; if they don't need to go to Auckland don't, and if they don't need to leave, don't."
Cahill says unless it's an emergency, you should't be leaving Auckland, and if you don''t need to go to Auckland, then you shouldn't go.
"If the public abide by that, we have half the issue solved."
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