Michael Baker

A top epidemiologist thinks New Zealand could see a better Omicron scenario than what a highly respected overseas health research organisation is modelling. 

New Zealand could be facing 50,000 daily… Audio

Epidemiologist Michael Baker says tough isolation rules around Omicron cases should ease once the outbreak takes hold in the community.

Household contacts of a positive case could end up isolating… Audio

Data modellers believe half of all New Zealanders could be infected with Omicron within four months.

The highly infectious Covid-19 variant is circulating in Auckland, and possibly in the Nelson… Audio

New Zealand is waking up to tighter Covid-19 restrictions this morning after confirmation that a family in the Nelson-Tasman region have the Omicron variant. Ten people have now tested positive in the… Audio

The Ministry of Health has confirmed the airport worker who tested positive for Covid-19 on Tuesday has the Omicron variant.

The Ministry released the genome sequencing results late last night.

A… Audio

Covid-19 experts are nervously eyeing the ever increasing number of infected cases stacking up at the border, as the threat of an Omicron outbreak looms.

The highly transmissible variant has rapidly… Audio

Over the past two years, we've all become armchair experts about the virus.

We know how to tell how fast it's spreading, how you get it and what you can do to protect yourself.

But it's time for… Audio

The country's Covid-19 contact tracing system is being upgraded to deal with the highly infectious Omicron variant.

It struggled in the Delta outbreak and will be critical for containing the much… Audio

A public health expert is warning managed isolation and quarantine hotels will be swamped with Omicron cases unless there are tougher rules to keep more people out.

There are 22 confirmed cases of… Audio

We hear about the real world implications of breakthrough research on acute rheumatic fever. Audio

An epidemiologist says the reopening of the trans-tasman bubble must be postponed, and any loosening of MIQ protocols reviewed urgently.

Keeping the border secure is critical, according to Michael… Audio

Omicron has arrived but it does not have to get into New Zealand, Professor Michael Baker has told Checkpoint.  Video, Audio

We'll find out later today whether any regions will enjoy greater freedoms this Christmas after Cabinet meets to review the traffic light settings. Currently, Northland, Auckland, Taupo and Rotorua… Audio

Professor Michael Baker is back with us to discuss the Omicron variant, the increased risks Covid survivors face, and the idea that the time of day a person receives their vaccine has an impact on the… Audio

The contact-tracing system missed most of its targets over the first two months of the Delta outbreak.

That's according to an interim report released by the Ministry of Health.

Ideally, at least 80… Audio

There's a mixed mood among New Zealanders abroad as they digest the major border changes announced by the government. Audio

If you had your second shot of the Covid-19 vaccine more than six months ago you'll be able to get a third booster shot from today. New Zealand's vaccine rollout began in February this year, so… Audio

Aucklanders will today learn when they will be able to leave the super city and reunite with family and friends across the country.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will announce the date this… Audio

Otago University epidemiologist Michael Baker is sounding a warning around Auckland's border, citing concerns vaccination rates are not uniformly high.

Christmas and summer holiday plans for… Audio