Coronavirus: All you need to know about Thursday's big developments

This is a special evening newsletter recapping the latest news on the Covid-19 pandemic, with links to our full coverage.  [View Online]( No new cases - and no new dance moves, says Dr Ashley Bloomfield. Photo / Pool Hi {NAME} This is a special evening newsletter recapping the latest news on the Covid-19 pandemic, with links to our full coverage. On the fourth consecutive day without a new coronavirus case, Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield has revealed his "great hope" about New Zealand's future prospects of dealing with the pandemic. Get all the important news and read the full stories in the links below. Key developments in NZ - There are [no new Covid-19 cases today]( and Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield said it is his "great hope" that New Zealand has seen the last of the deaths associated with coronavirus. It is the fourth day in a row without a new case, and there have been just two cases in the last seven days. Bloomfield also [recommended New Zealanders get their flu jabs]( as the weather gets colder. - Bars are reopening today, and Bloomfield is advising Kiwis to be safe and have fun - [but perhaps don't try any new lockdown dance moves](. - If you worked from home during the lockdown, there's a nice little sweetener: you may be able to [receive an extra $15 for each week](. - Four weeks' worth of purchases were frozen during level 4, meaning in level 3 there was a surge of deliveries that overwhelmed courier companies across New Zealand. However, CourierPost says a record backlog of parcels from the start of level 3 is [likely to start moving]( by the end of this week. New Zealand's mail services were overwhelmed during lockdown. Photo / Michael Craig Business update - The Prime Minister's powerful Business Advisory Council has [delivered her a cutting message]( that Australia is "co-optimising" the economic consequences of the Covid-19 outbreak better than New Zealand. - Hard-hit domestic tourism in New Zealand is [showing early signs of bouncing back]( data released by Airbnb shows. - People who are considering taking up a financial relief offer from their insurer need to be wary about [the potential fishhooks]( the industry regulator is warning. Around the world - The World Health Organisation has expressed concern about the [rising number of new coronavirus cases in poor countries]( even as many rich countries have begun emerging from lockdown. The global health body said that 106,000 new cases had been recorded in the past 24 hours, the most in a single day since the outbreak began. - Sweden has now overtaken the United Kingdom, Italy and Belgium to have the [highest coronavirus per capita death rate in the world]( throwing its decision to avoid a strict lockdown into further doubt. The last word - If anyone had any questions about how difficult rebuilding the economy is going to be, Fletcher Building yesterday provided a clear indication by revealing their plans to lay off 1000 workers, [writes Duncan Bridgeman]( who argues that the move gives a dose of hard reality to the economic impact of the four-week lockdown. Thanks for joining us - we'll keep you updated every night. [App Store]( [Google Play]( [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [Twitter]( This message was sent to you by NZME Publishing Limited. If you no longer wish to receive these emails, please [unsubscribe]( here [NZME] Private Bag 92 198, Victoria St West, Auckland 1142 Copyright 2020, NZME Publishing Limited nzherald.co.nz [Help & Support]( | [Terms of Use]( | [Privacy Policy]( | [Contact Us]( This email was sent to {EMAIL} [why did I get this?]( [unsubscribe from this list]( [update subscription preferences]( NZ Herald · 2 Graham Street · Auckland, Auk 1010 · New Zealand