Limits on the size of religious gatherings due to Covid-19 restrictions were justified, a judge has decided. Two groups of churches and mosques claimed a Covid-19 public health response order that took effect late last year was unlawful for breaching their rights to manifest their religious belief. The order limited gatherings depending on whether attendees Read more
Posts Tagged ‘COVID-19’
Motels reducing emergency housing spaces ahead of tourists return
Thursday, August 18th, 2022With summer approaching, and the borders reopened, many motel operators in Marlborough will be gearing up for a busy tourist season. And, while the prospect of visitors returning to Marlborough in their droves would be seen by many as a welcome step forward, it could mean taking a monumental step backwards for those in emergency Read more
Covid-19: Two months of ‘substantially lower infections’ ahead
Thursday, August 11th, 2022New Zealand is likely in for “a couple of months” of lower Covid-19 infections now the second Omicron peak has passed, experts say. However, there are plenty of other viruses circulating and people should keep up health measures such as wearing masks and staying home when sick, they say. A panel of health experts answered Read more
Learning suffers as teachers struggle with Covid’s effects
Monday, August 8th, 2022
Students are missing out and their learning is suffering in New Zealand schools; Covid and its after-effects are taking their toll. Students are leaving school without qualifications, says Kevin Shore, Catholic Education Office CEO. Catholic school principals tell him of former pupils working instead of coming to school. They’re helping with stressed family finances. Others Read more
Each COVID reinfection raises the risk of long COVID
Monday, July 25th, 2022
The latest Omicron variant BA.5 is fast becoming dominant worldwide, including in New Zealand and Australia. As it continues to surge, reinfection will become increasingly common and this in turn means more people will develop long COVID. The two most concerning aspects of long COVID are its high prevalence (up to 30% of those infected) Read more
Schools with mask mandates saw fewer student absences than average in term 2
Monday, July 11th, 2022Auckland schools that decided to keep mask mandates during term 2 saw higher student attendance than those that dropped them. Heading into term 2, the Government made the controversial call to remove nationwide school mask mandates instead leaving it up to individual schools to make their own rules. The decision sparked disagreement from the disability Read more
Catholic college reverts to online learning
Monday, July 4th, 2022
At least one school is reverting to online learning because it is unable to staff classes. Auckland’s Carmel College says on its website that the school will be using online learning from Tuesday 5 – Friday 8 July. Schools in New Zealand are on holiday from 9 July. Amid battling Covid, influenza, RSV, tummy bugs Read more
The post-Covid Communion cup
Monday, June 27th, 2022
Slowly, imperceptibly, we are leaving the Covid days behind us and a new reality is being born. Weeks and months drifted by without the Eucharist and now we are waking up to a new dawn. Much has changed. The familiar pattern of Eucharistic ministers waiting to offer each of us the cup at time of Read more
Covid isn’t over, it’s just getting started
Monday, June 20th, 2022
A century ago, one in five people who died in New Zealand were killed by an infectious disease. Infectious diseases, as a group, took more lives in 1922 than heart disease. Twice as many people were killed by communicable viruses or bacteria as died of all forms of cancer combined. These days, heart disease and Read more
You are going to get Covid again… and again… and again
Thursday, June 9th, 2022
Two and a half years and billions of estimated infections into this pandemic, SARS-CoV-2’s visit has clearly turned into a permanent stay. Experts knew from early on that, for almost everyone, infection with this coronavirus would be inevitable. As James Hamblin memorably put it back in February 2020, “You’re Likely to Get the Coronavirus.” But Read more