Covid back again
New Zealand wakes up this morning to a new threat from Covid-19. The alert level is to be raised at midday today after four cases of the disease from an unknown source were detected in an Auckland family.
Outside of Auckland the alert level is 2; within Auckland it is level 3. The more restrictive alert levels will apply for three days until midnight on Friday August 14 before being reviewed.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the country must take a ‘precautionary’ approach as no origin of the infection had been found, or link to isolation facilities or people who work at the border.
Under Alert Level 2, (detail here) you can still continue to work and go to school, with physical distancing. Download the NZ Covid Tracer App here.
- People can reconnect with friends and family, and socialise in groups of up to 100, go shopping or travel domestically if following public health guidance.
- Keep physical distancing of 2 metres from people you don’t know when out in public or in retail stores. Keep 1 metre physical distancing in controlled environments like workplaces, where practical.
- No more than 100 people at gatherings, including weddings, birthdays, funerals and tangihanga.
- Businesses can open to the public if following public health guidance including physical distancing and record keeping. Alternative ways of working are encouraged where possible.
- Hospitality businesses must keep groups of customers separated, seated and served by a single person.
- Maximum of 100 people at a time in a defined space.
- Sport and recreation activities are allowed, subject to conditions on gatherings, record keeping, and physical distancing where practical.
- Public venues such as museums, libraries and pools can open if they comply with public health measures and ensure 1 metre physical distancing and record keeping.
- Event facilities, including cinemas, stadiums, concert venues and casinos can have more than 100 people at a time, provided there are no more than 100 in a defined space, and the groups do not mix.
- Health and disability care services operate as normally as possible.
- It is safe to send your children to schools, early learning services and tertiary education. There will be appropriate measures in place.
- People at higher risk of severe illness from Covid-19, for example those with underlying medical conditions, especially if not well-controlled, and older people, are encouraged to take additional precautions when leaving home. They may work if they agree with their employer that they can do so safely.
Wear masks if you can in public.
Practice good hygiene – stay home if sick. And, as always, be kind.
