Mike Houlahan

Return of rugby crowds sparks infection fears

Crowd limits on outdoor events were lifted by the Government on Wednesday, and the Highlanders...

Return of rugby crowds sparks infection spread fears

The return of crowds to top-level rugby this weekend has the doctor leading the southern response to Covid-19 deeply concerned mingling fans could spread Omicron.

Joy and relief as Covid limits eased

Highlanders players Thomas Umaga-Jensen (front left), Gareth Evans and fans celebrate the lifting...

Joy and relief as Covid limits eased

Team of five million, get ready for kick-off.

‘Feels like they have forgotten about us’

There were 1631 good reasons yesterday not to ease Covid-19 safety restrictions in the South, members of at-risk communities in Otago and Southland said.

‘We’ve pulled together as a team’

Queenstown Medical Centre nurse practitioner Gaylene Hastie (left), with (from front) nurse Emily...

‘We’ve pulled together as a team’

This week, the Otago Daily Times is highlighting some of the many dedicated people on the front lines of the fight against Covid-19.

Cases up as rules reviewed

A record number of new Covid-19 cases were recorded in Otago and Southland yesterday, as the Government prepares to ease pandemic restrictions.

Covid-19 patients in rural hospitals

The South has recorded its first Covid-19 admissions in rural hospitals.

Positivity, fun got vast task done

Te Kaika vaccinator Melanie Solia. PHOTO: LINDA ROBERTSON

Positivity, fun got vast task done

Former Dunedin Hospital cardiothoracic nurse Melanie Solia knew she wanted to be involved somehow in the Covid-19 response, and the vaccination drive came at just the right time for her.

Affected wards identified

Covid-19 has infiltrated two South Island hospital wards and possibly also a rural trust hospital.

Walking tightrope between care and caution

Radius Fulton Dunedin nurse manager Holly Dunbar. PHOTO: GREGOR RICHARDSON

Walking tightrope between care and caution

Today, the ODT begins a series saluting the many people working behind the scenes in the South’s fight against Covid-19. Health reporter Mike Houlahan talks to aged residential care nurse Holly Dunbar about the efforts being made to keep the region’s most vulnerable safe.

Affected wards in Dunedin identified

The 20 DHBs serve a population of 4.8 million, compared to New South Wales in Australia which has...

Affected wards in Dunedin identified

Covid-19 has infiltrated two Dunedin hospital wards and possibly also a rural trust hospital.

PM’s message: Snow me the money and tourists

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in the snow during a 2020 visit to Cardrona. Yesterday she was at...

PM’s message: Snow me the money and tourists

Anyone who saw Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern when she was in Dunedin last week would have thought to themselves, "that’s a person who needs a holiday".

Covid ‘certainly took off bloody quickly’

A busy day at the central Dunedin Covid testing centre. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSH

Covid ‘certainly took off bloody quickly’

Daily Southern Covid-19 case numbers have passed 1200 and Otago and Southland are nearing the peak of the outbreak. Mike Houlahan talks to the SDHB's Covid planning lead Hywel Lloyd about what to expect in the next few weeks.

Invercargill case increase overtakes Queenstown’s

Invercargill case increase overtakes Queenstown’s

Invercargill has emerged as the South’s latest Covid-19 hot spot, yesterday recording more daily cases than Queenstown for the first time.

South may be approaching cases peak

South may be approaching cases peak

The peak of the southern Omicron outbreak is looming.

More than half affected by cold-chain issue revaxxed

More than half affected by cold-chain issue revaxxed

More than half the people affected by a Covid-19 vaccine cold-chain problem have been revaccinated.

Record cases in the South — ‘shifting toward older people’

Record cases in the South — ‘shifting toward older people’

New Covid-19 cases in the South hit four figures for the first time yesterday, a reminder that the pandemic has not yet peaked in this region, a Canterbury Covid modeller warns.

Bridges’ decision surprises colleagues

Southern National MPs were stunned yesterday by the surprise resignation of the party’s finance spokesman Simon Bridges.

Record cases in the South - ‘shifting toward older people’

New Covid-19 cases in the South hit four figures for the first time yesterday, a reminder that the pandemic has not yet peaked in this region, a Covid modeller warns.

Southern say: Leary, Woodhouse at odds philosophically

South Dunedin’s Hillside workshops. PHOTO: STEPHEN JAQUIERY

Southern say: Leary, Woodhouse at odds philosophically

Nominally, our two main political parties are from the left and right sides of the spectrum.

Positive test Covid-denier ‘lost the plot’

Positive test Covid-denier ‘lost the plot’

An incident in Dunedin Hospital’s emergency department last weekend has highlighted the pressures medical staff are under.

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Mike Houlahan