NZ could face covid -19 hospitals, rest home pandemic

Auckland - New Zealand could be set for a covid -19 infection pandemic within hospitals and rest homes as what happened in Italy unless the government intervenes  a pharmaceutical scientist says. Sir Ray Avery says his concerns have grown following the infection of nursing staff at Waitākere Hospital. The Waitemata District Health

Kids helping kids during the lockdown

Auckland - It’s been a tough time for New Zealand school children during the covid-19 pandemic lockdown, being separated from their teachers and school friends. Many kids relied on school lunches or school tuck shops for their daily lunches and snacks but during the lockdown kids from low decile schools have missed out

 Serious concerns over quality of Chinese masks and PPE

 By Sir Ray Avery   Auckland - China's medical device market regulators have in recent days seized more than 89 faulty million masks and 418,000 pieces of questionable personal protective equipment (PPE) in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. The Chinese government's intervention followed a slew of complaints about faulty COVID-19 protective gear

PPE greatest threat to NZ’s covid-19 strategy

By Sir Ray Avery   Auckland - Over the past few weeks, the daily briefings by the Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Dr Ashley Bloomfield have reassured the New Zealand public that there are sufficient stocks of essential covid-19 personal protective equipment (PPE) available for frontline medical staff. However, frontline staff in hospitals

The statisticians that may have killed New Zealand

By Sir Ray Avery Auckland - Today, the government made a critical decision regarding on whether to extend one of the most draconian COVID-19 mitigation lockdowns of any country in the world. Last weekend, ministers have been studying modelling data from an Auckland University team headed by Professor Shaun Hendy. Professor Hendy recommended we

Need for best personal protective equipment in NZ is critical

By Sir Ray Avery Auckland - Hundreds of frontline medical staff around the world have died of Covid-19 infection and the need for appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) is irrefutable. PPE clothing should do three things: Protect the caregiver from infection by the patient and the ambient environment; protect the patient from

NZ commercial leases need to be regulated

Christchurch - The New Zealand exercise industry is calling on the government to step in and regulate the commercial leases during the covid-19 pandemic, just as they have done with residential tenancies. ExerciseNZ chief executive Richard Beddie says they have surveyed their members and the early data shows most landlords are playing