Community cases coming down but caution remains
Wellington, September 6, 2021
Key things to note
All of New Zealand outside the Auckland alert level boundaries will move to Alert Level 2 at 11:59 pm on Tuesday, September 7, 2021.
Auckland will remain at Alert Level 4.
The Cabinet will review all Alert levels on Monday, September 13, 2021.
Mandatory record-keeping requirements will come into effect from Wednesday, September 8, 2021 for all businesses and locations south of Auckland and from Friday, September 10, 2021 for all Northland businesses and locations.
Businesses will be obligated to have systems and processes in place to enable customers or visitors to record their visits. For more information, visit Unite Against COVID-19.
Weekly tests for essential workers
Essential workers who cross the Auckland alert level boundaries will be required to get tested weekly for Covid-19. Essential workers will need to show proof of testing when crossing the boundaries. Those workers will not be required to isolate themselves and stay at home while waiting for test results.
Face coverings are mandatory at Alert Level 2 and above for most people visiting and working in businesses and services. This is a new requirement for visiting retail shops and indoor public facilities like museums, malls and libraries.
Travel across regions
You can travel, including between different regions also at Alert Level 2, but do so in a safe way. Travel across Alert Level boundaries is restricted. Police checkpoints, checking evidence for travel will be in place at Alert Level boundaries.
Businesses and workplaces at Alert Level 2 must operate safely, complying with Alert Level 2 settings and meet public health requirements. Close contact services can operate if they meet public health measures, including mandatory record keeping, wearing of face coverings, good hygiene practices and minimised contact to the greatest extent possible.
All early learning services, schools, kura and tertiary education facilities may open no earlier than Thursday 9 September, allowing for 38 hours to prepare and set up.
Key points of Alert Level 2
You can leave your home but do it safely.
All gatherings (such as weddings, civil union ceremonies, birthdays, funerals and tangihanga) can go ahead but are restricted to 50 people indoors or 100 people outdoors.
All gatherings legally must record attendees to help with contact tracing if necessary.
You cannot attend any gathering if you have Covid-19 symptoms or need to be in isolation or quarantine for any reason.
Public facilities, such as libraries and pools, can open if they follow public health measures and people can keep two metres apart.
Event facilities, including cinemas, stadiums, concert venues and casinos, can have more than 50 people at a time, provided that there are no more than 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors in a defined space, and the groups do not mix. Bathroom and food facilities need to be also separated. All hospitality venues can have no more than 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors in a defined space, and the groups do not mix. Diners legally must be seated and separated by 1 metre.
You can travel, including between different regions also at Alert Level 2 but be safe. You can take part in sports and recreational activities so long as they follow the guidance on gatherings, record-keeping, hygiene and, where practical, physical distancing. Gyms and swimming pools are required to have 2-metres physical distancing between people.
Healthcare services should use virtual, non-contact consultations if possible.
People at risk
People at high risk of severe illness, such as older people and those with existing medical conditions, are encouraged to stay at home where possible, and take additional precautions when leaving home, unless fully vaccinated. You may choose to work.
All businesses are encouraged to use alternative ways of working if possible.
Business premises can open for staff and customers provided they meet public health requirements. Services can also be provided on customers’ premises (for example, in homes).
Close contact services, like hairdressers, tattoo parlours, nail salons and driving instructors, can operate if they meet public health measures, including mandatory record keeping, staff wearing face coverings, good hygiene practices and minimised contact to the greatest extent possible.
Early learning centres and schools are all physically open, including Years 11–13.
Face coverings are strongly encouraged for anyone aged 12 and over.
Distance learning is available for those unable to attend school (for example, when people are self-isolating).
Tertiary education facilities are open and will maintain the core capability to deliver comprehensive distance learning to students.
Golden Rules to keep New Zealand safe
Wear a face covering in most public places.
Keep 2 metres apart from people you do not know in public.
Practice good hygiene – wash hands regularly, cough and sneeze into the elbow.
Scan in or keep a physical record wherever you go.
Stay home if unwell and get advice from Healthline about having a test.
Cases and monitoring
There are no unexpected new detections of Covid-19 in wastewater to report.
There are 20 new cases of Covid-19, all in Auckland for a total of 804 cases (114 recovered) and 17 cases (3 recovered) in Wellington. There are 3 new cases and one historical case identified at the border.
The Total number of community cases in this outbreak is now 821.
Of the new 20 cases, 75% are contacts of known cases and 55% are household contacts who were already isolating. This shows the high rates of household transmission, as expected with Delta. Fifteen of today’s cases are epidemiologically linked and five cases are yet to be epidemiologically linked. Of the very close contacts, 86% have been followed up by contact tracers. 91% of all contacts identified have had a test.
As of 9 am today, a total of 38,058 individual contacts have been formally identified.
Yesterday, 4750 Covid tests were processed across New Zealand with 2088 of those tests taken in Auckland. Our seven-day rolling average is 13,488.
Vaccination details
Yesterday 38,710 doses were administered (26,738 first doses and 11,972 second doses).
3.9 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine have been administered to date. Of these, 2.6 million are first doses and 1.3 million are second doses.
234,863 Maori have had their first vaccine dose, 117,211 have had their second.
151,365 Pacific Peoples have had their first vaccine dose, 80,265 have had their second.
There are more than 1.9 million future bookings on the BookMyVaccine.nz site.
Source: Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Wellington
