Hygiene requirements enforced during the past couple of months, including hand sanitising, disinfecting sheds and equipment, keeping to bubbles and running five-stand sheds as three, meant a reduction in normal colds and flu among his shearing crews, something they struggled with in woolsheds every winter.
"It is difficult in winter to keep everybody well. In our industry, if someone gets the flu, it goes through like wildfire."
He and wife Gabriela Schmidt-Morrell will continue with most of the hygiene measures "to keep the bugs at bay".
The couple had a stressful few days when the lockdown was first announced, as they, along with other shearing contractors, did not know if they could work or not.
The Ministry for Primary Industries confirmed shearing was an essential service for both economic and animal-health reasons a couple days into lockdown.
They employ about 75 people and about half chose to return to their homes.
"Many of our workers were helluva anxious. It was crazy busy at the time. We had to have the right controls in place."
During the panic buying that preceded the lockdown, Mrs Schmidt-Morrell said she was given filthy looks at the supermarket when she bought supplies, although she had three houses to buy groceries for.
Mr Morrell said the farmers were fantastic and were so appreciative.
"They went to the ‘nth’ degree to ensure their farm was secure in terms of Covid-19, including wiping down sheds.
"We were going the extra mile, and our farmers were going the extra mile to make sure we could do the work."
Their son Ursin (18), who had been studying in London, returned home the day before lockdown and went into two weeks of isolation in a house on his own in Alexandra.
Mr Morrell said he and fellow contractors Peter Lyon and Jock Martin would regularly ring each other for ideas and support.
"By week three and four we had absolute confidence we were getting it right.
"We are so proud of our staff and their service to help the farmers, when it would have been so much easier to stay at home."
