Data from govt health research agency Institute of Environmental Science & Research (ESR) shows the number of hospitalisations from severe respiratory illness, including acute conditions such as COVID-19, influenza, and RSV last year, peaked at levels .
Hundreds of cancer patients each year will be saved the stress of travelling to Palmerston North for treatment with the opening of Whanganui Hospital's new chemotherapy unit.
Whanganui has seen an increase in Covid-19 cases over the past week as health officials are expecting a national rise in case numbers to peak just before.