'Unprecedented impact': SkyCity axes 200 jobs in NZ
SkyCity is slashing about 200 jobs in New Zealand. Photo: NZ Herald. SkyCity is slashing about 200 jobs in New Zealand with immediate effect, as it attempts to slash costs. The casino giant has also stood down about 90% of its Australian workforce. SkyCity says the Covid 19 crisis has caused "an unprecedented impact on people, businesses and the global economy".
Source:Otago Daily Times
April 02, 2020 20:15 UTC
Coronavirus: What does ‘recovered’ from Covid-19 mean?
If you've had Covid-19 when are you officially recovered? If it's been at least 10 days since you first had symptoms, and you've been symptom-free for 48 hours, the Ministry of Health considers you have recovered from Covid-19. However, unlike New Zealand, there's an option to get tested. This could be issued to people who have undergone a serology test which requires just a pin prick of blood. "Some caution needs to be exercised here though: it may take some time to confirm that a positive serology test indicates complete protection against reinfection."
Source:Stuff
April 02, 2020 20:03 UTC
SkyCity announces restructure, 200 jobs to go
SkyCity will let 200 staff go because of the closure of its businesses across New Zealand and Australia in the Covid-19 lockdown. SkyCity chief executive Graeme Stephens said the Covid-19 crisis has caused an "unprecedented impact on people, businesses and the global economy". LAWRENCE SMITH/STUFF Graeme Stephens, SkyCity chief executive, Stephens says the Covid-19 crisis caused an unprecedented impact. Last week Stephens told staff redundancies were inevitable because of the impact of the coronavirus on its business. He also told staff to find "some benefit from not being at work".
Source:Stuff
April 02, 2020 19:53 UTC
Global Covid-19 cases surge past 1 million
Cases doubled to 1 million within the past eight days. Total cases reported by Thursday grew 10% from a day earlier, the first time the rate has hit double digits since the virus took hold outside China. There are 117 countries and territories that have reported over 100 cases, 50 with outbreaks of over 1,000 and seven that have reported 50,000 or more Covid-19 cases, mainly in Europe. The global fatality rate is now over 5% of all reported cases, with countries including the United Kingdom, the United States and Spain reporting a spike in fatalities over recent days. Around 22% of total cases have been reported by the United States, while Italy and Spain have each reported 11% of global cases.
Source:Otago Daily Times
April 02, 2020 19:52 UTC
Ecuador's tallest waterfall has all but disappeared
San Rafael is the tallest waterfall in Ecuador, or at least, it used to be. The 150-metre high fall on the Coca River has all but disappeared, and it may be thanks to the construction of a hydroelectric plant. It is one of the theories behind the sudden change, although the area is also known to be seismically active. It's believed a sinkhole has diverted the water into three separate sections. "These are processes that are in scientific papers, and there is sufficient evidence that a dam can cause effects of this type on a river," he told Mongabay.
Source:Stuff
April 02, 2020 19:30 UTC
British Airways suspends 30,000 workers
British Airways has reached a deal with unions to temporarily suspend more than 30,000 of its cabin crew and ground staff due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. The UK carrier's boss Alex Cruz told staff that a large majority of employees would be suspended for the next two months. British Airways will provide workers with 80 per cent of their regular pay, with no cap on earnings and the first £2500 (NZ$5244) will be paid by the UK government, with the airline making up any shortfall. On March 20, Air New Zealand secured a loan from the Government worth up to $900m. Jetstar has also suspended all domestic operations in New Zealand until the country moves to a lower alert level.
Source:Stuff
April 02, 2020 18:55 UTC
Magician Dynamo 'high risk' after testing positive for coronavirus
Magician Dynamo has tested positive for coronavirus, and revealed he is high risk due to Crohns Disease. Magician Dynamo has tested positive for coronavirus after he took a private test amid concerns from a persistent cough and severe aches and pains. The magician, whose real name is Stephen Frayne, said his symptoms had been "quite severe", although he was now feeling better day-by-day. READ MORE:* Coronavirus: Father of Marist College student 'turned away twice' before testing positive* UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson tests positive for coronavirus* Coronavirus: All the celebrities who've tested positive for the virus* Tom Hanks, Idris Elba and more stars spreading hope after coronavirus diagnosis"Firstly, because of my existing health issues, and the fact that I'm on immune-suppressive therapy, I'm at high risk," he said. "Now, touch wood, my symptoms have been gradually decreasing, day-by-day and I've been feeling better and better and hopefully I'm through the worst of it and I'm staying positive," he said.
Source:Stuff
April 02, 2020 18:45 UTC
Minister called out for driving to Dunedin mountain bike track
On social media it has prompted similar reactions from some readers, while others have said the mountain bike track was not far from his home and questioned whether Dr Clark did anything wrong. Dr Clark confirmed his trip, saying he went for a bike ride between video conference meetings. "As Health Minister I try to model healthy behaviour and this afternoon I decided to fit in a bike ride between video-conference meetings. The 6km mountain bike trail, dubbed "The Big Easy" was not challenging and was a popular local destination, Dr Clark said. Dr Clark said the bike track was "not challenging"NZ Herald and ODT
Source:Otago Daily Times
April 02, 2020 18:22 UTC
Olympic hopefuls training in their garages and looking to 2021
Taranaki Olympic swimming hopeful Zac Reid is now training in a makeshift gym in his parents' garage. Zac Reid should have been swimming for a place in the New Zealand Olympic swimming squad this week. Instead, Reid, 20, like Black Sticks striker Hope Ralph, 19, is at home in Taranaki training as best he can with his hopes now fixed on Japan 2021. Supplied Black Sticks striker Hope Ralph goes for an intercept against Great Britain in the pro league earlier this year. Women's Black Sticks striker Ralph also has her family's garage set up like a gym.
Source:Stuff
April 02, 2020 18:00 UTC
Safer to wear masks: expert
A top epidemiologist in Hong Kong says it is safer for people to wear surgical masks if they are available, but health workers must have first call when supplies are short. "But now there's an emerging debate about whether it might be useful to even suggest people who don't have symptoms to wear masks." "But if you do need to go out, and you have a mask, if it's a surgical mask, wear it - if it's a cloth mask, wear it - it's probably doing some good and better to wear it than to wear no mask." Full-filter N95 masks should be reserved for health workers only, said Cowling, who co-authored a Lancet report 'Rational use of face masks in the Covid-19 pandemic'. There was short supply of masks worldwide and health workers should get them first in every instance, Cowling said.
Source:Otago Daily Times
April 02, 2020 17:26 UTC
Quiz: Morning trivia challenge April 3, 2020
If you love our quiz, you can receive daily notifications of Stuff trivia tests on our app. QUIZ MORE:* Quiz: Carol Hirschfeld takes Stuff's video challenge* Quiz: How well do you know New Zealand? * Quiz: How well do you know your veggies? * Quiz: Do you know more about Asia than most? * Quiz: Think you know the road rules?
Source:Stuff
April 02, 2020 16:01 UTC
Coronavirus: Taking different roads out of crisis
Fast-tracking hospital redevelopments could be a valuable outlet for the Government's infrastructure plan to boost the economy after the coronavirus lockdown. EDITORIAL: "Never waste the opportunity offered by a good crisis," is a saying first attributed to Niccolo Machiavelli. The Government this week announced one such plan for getting the economy back on track, and people back in jobs once the lockdown ends. Infrastructure Minister Shane Jones cited Machiavelli's quote when discussing the initiative to have "shovel-ready" infrastructure projects set to go once the construction sector is back. When the Government sits down to push the button on infrastructure projects, it needs to closely consider the long-term benefits and impact on the environment.
Source:Stuff
April 02, 2020 15:56 UTC
Government announces recovery package for beleaguered sports organisations
Robertson confirmed the government is also working on putting together a recovery package for sport, which will offer more medium-term solutions to an industry that has been brought to its knees by the pandemic. NZ Rugby followed suit this week in announcing it was axing all provincial competitions below the Mitre 10 Cup and Farah Palmer Cup level. Cameron Spencer The rolling over of high performance sport funding to next year allows Olympic sports to plan their preparations for the Tokyo Games, which will now be staged in July 2021. As part of the immediate financial support for national sport and recreation organisations, Sport NZ's new four-year investment plan has been deferred so that current levels of investment remain through to 30 June 2021. In addition, Robertson says Sport NZ partners will not be obliged to continue to plow resources into Sport NZ-led initiatives, so they can focus on "keeping their wheels turning".
Source:Stuff
April 02, 2020 15:56 UTC
Big birthday bashes on backburner
Bella O’Connor had a low-key birthday thanks to the lockdown. PHOTO: STEPHEN JAQUIERYBella O’Connor had not made any big plans for her 16th birthday party, and that was probably a good thing. She spent the day "just chilling at home" in Dunedin, unwrapping cards from friends and family, making her own cake and calling her grandparents. I’ll wait until my dad gets home from work and then unwrap my present." She hoped to plan an outing with her friends once the lockdown ended.
Source:Otago Daily Times
April 02, 2020 15:31 UTC
Sport funding to be rolled over
National sports organisations have been given certainty of funding to ensure they can remain viable through the Covid-19 pandemic, Sport and Recreation Minister Grant Robertson has announced. But Robertson will roll over Government funding for sport for the forthcoming year. As part of the immediate financial support for national sport and recreation organisations, Sport NZ’s new four-year investment plan has been deferred so that current levels of investment remain through to June 30, 2021. In addition, Sport NZ partners will not be obliged to continue Sport NZ-led initiatives, so they can focus on staying operational. High Performance Sport NZ has also confirmed core funding for 2020-21 to Olympic and Paralympic sports so they can transition key high performance functions into the rescheduled Tokyo Games next year.
Source:Otago Daily Times
April 02, 2020 15:22 UTC