The Department of Internal Affairs

Te Tari Taiwhenua | Department of Internal Affairs

Building a safe, prosperous and respected nation



 

Covid-19 Local Government Response Unit Update – Friday 22 October 2021

Return to Local Government COVID Response Unit updates

Today’s update

  • The Prime Minister announced plans to transition to the new COVID-19 Protection Framework with three levels: Green, Orange and Red. We outline the framework below.
  • We expect details of the Framework to emerge over the next 4 – 6 weeks with the final details not likely to be confirmed until after the 29 November Cabinet meeting.  We expect to issue a new set of Guidance for council services the week of 29 November but will keep you appraised of developments and details as they become available.
  • New Zealand will move to the new system when DHBs reach the double vaccination target of 90%.
  • Auckland will move to the Red level as soon as all three of the Auckland DHBs hit the 90% double vaccination target. The Government anticipates that the rest of the country will move to Orange when every DHB hits 90% double vaccinated.
  • On 29 November, Cabinet will review the vaccination progress to see if anything needs to change.
  • The Government announced yesterday that parts of Waikato that have been in Alert Level 3 will remain at that alert level till 11.59pm on Wednesday 27 October 2021. The settings will be reviewed on that day.
  • Auckland remains at Alert Level 3 (Step 1) with no change to the current restrictions. These restrictions will stay in place for a further two weeks.
  • Onsite learning at schools in level 3 regions will start from Tuesday 26 October for senior secondary school students.
  • The rest of New Zealand remains at Alert Level 2 with current restrictions in place.
  • Our guidance for council services and operations under the current alert level settings can be found on the Local Government Response Unit webpage.
  • If councils identify any issues when using the guidance, please provide feedback to the Response Unit.

The COVID-19 protection framework

  • The new COVID-19 Protection Framework introduces a 3-level approach to managing COVID-19 in the community: Green, Orange and Red.
  • The new system will utilise vaccination certificates with more freedoms and less limitations for vaccinated individuals and those services and businesses using the certificates.  More information on vaccination certificates can be found at the website: Getting proof of your COVID-19 vaccination | Unite against COVID-19 (covid19.govt.nz)
  • To shift between levels, the Government will consider vaccination coverage, capacity of the health and disability system, testing, contact tracing and case management capacity, and the transmission of COVID-19 within the community, including its impact on key populations.
  • Localised lockdowns will still be an option if we see a rapid growth in cases. There may still be a need to use wider lockdowns, similar to the measures in Alert Level 3 or 4. Regional boundary restrictions will only apply at the Red level.
  • At all levels, businesses, retail, and public facilities will generally be able to remain open for vaccinated people. Key settings for each level are as follows.
  • Green – when there are some COVID-19 cases in the community, and sporadic imported cases.
    • People can go to public facilities, retail, workplaces, ECEs, schools, kura and tertiary providers, and specified outdoor community events.
    • Record keeping and scanning will be required. Face coverings are mandatory on flights and encouraged indoors.
    • If vaccination certificates are used, there will be no limits for hospitality, gatherings, events (indoor/outdoor), close contact businesses, and gyms.
    • If vaccinations certificates are not used, some restrictions will apply e.g. 100 people limits for hospitality, gatherings, events and gyms.
  • Orange – when there is increasing community transmission that is putting pressure on our health system:
    • Record keeping and scanning will be required. Face coverings are mandatory on flights, public transport, in taxis, retail, public venues, and encouraged elsewhere.
    • Public facilities and retail will be open with capacity limits based on 1m distancing. Education facilities will be open with public health measures in place.
    • If vaccination certificates are used, there will be no limits for hospitality, gatherings, events (indoor/outdoor), close contact businesses, and gyms.
    • If vaccinations certificates are not used, restrictions will apply for hospitality and gatherings. Events (indoor/outdoor), gyms and close contact businesses will not be able to operate.
  • Red – when action is needed to be taken to protect both at-risk people and protect our health system from an unsustainable number of hospitalisations.
    • Record keeping and scanning will be required. Face coverings will be mandatory on flights, public transport, in taxis, retail, public venues, recommended whenever leaving the house.
    • Public facilities (with up to 100 people) and retail will be open with 1m distancing.
    • ECEs, schools, kura and tertiary providers open with public health measures.
    • Specified outdoor community events — allowed with capacity limits.
    • If vaccinations certificates are used, hospitality, gatherings, events, close contact businesses, and gyms will be able to open with specific physical distancing and other public health requirements.
    • If vaccinations certificates are not used, restrictions will apply for hospitality (contactless only) and gatherings (10 people limit). Tertiary education will be distance learning only. Events (indoor/outdoor), gyms and close contact businesses will not be able to operate.
  • More information on the COVID-19 Protection Framework is available at the website: The COVID-19 Protection Framework | Unite against COVID-19 (covid19.govt.nz)

Economic Support Package

A new fund for Māori vaccination rates

Information on current cases, COVID-19 test sites and economic support

  • Locations of interest can be found at Locations of Interest, and is being updated as soon as information is available.
  • Economic assistance is available for those impacted by the lockdown, more information available on the COVID-19 website.

Mandatory Vaccination

  • Today there are 129 new cases in the community, 120 in the Auckland region and 9 in Waikato. Of these, 65 cases are yet to be linked to a current case.
  • Available testing sites can be found on the Ministry of Health website: Available testing sites.
  • On Monday 11 October it was announced that Cabinet have mandated vaccination for large parts of the health and education workforce. High risk health professionals will need to receive their first vaccination by 30 October and be fully vaccinated by 1 December 2021. Those who work in education must have their first vaccination by 15 November and be fully vaccinated by 1 January.
  • We are aware councils have staff who interact with schools and health services. As noted above, we will provide details on implications for councils as soon as we can.
  • We continue to receive a lot of queries from councils about vaccinations requirements for staff. As noted in our special 5:15 on 8 October, we are currently working with the Public Services Commission, LGNZ and Taituarā to have more information and resources for councils. This is likely to include a webinar for all council HR managers. In the meantime, the Employment NZ webpage contains very useful information on ‘requiring vaccinations’ for staff: Vaccines and the workplace » Employment New Zealand

Epidemic notice remains in force

The Epidemic notice was renewed on 8 September 2021 and will remain in place for three months. More information of the provisions in the notice are outlined in previous Response Unit updates, which can be viewed on the Local Government Response Unit webpage .