Covid-19 Local Government Response Unit Update – Monday 13 December 2021
Local Government Response Unit main page
Today’s update
All locations currently in the red traffic light setting, excluding Northland, will move into orange at 11:59pm on Thursday 30th December 2021.
From Wednesday (15 December 2021), rapid antigen testing will be available for free at participating pharmacies for asymptomatic unvaccinated people aged 12 years and 3 months and over, who are travelling during the holiday period.
Evidence of a supervised negative rapid antigen test will be required for these unvaccinated travellers leaving the Auckland region and for domestic travel with some transport companies.
Participating pharmacies can be found on the Healthpoint website - under 'Supervised rapid antigen testing for travel' under Covid-19 Testing.
Ombudsman guidance on regulatory policy design during the COVID-19 pandemic
In anticipation of complaints about COVID-19 regulations, the Ombudsman has put out guidance to assist with designing and implementing regulatory policies. This is available in the following weblink: Regulatory policy design during COVID-19 pandemic | Ombudsman New Zealand.
This is primary for central government agencies; however, as local government is also receiving complaints on COVID-19 regulations, this guidance can be a valuable resource.
Information on current cases, COVID-19 test sites and economic support
There have been 101 new community cases of Covid-19 reported in New Zealand today. Of today's new cases, 97 are in Auckland, one in Bay of Plenty, one in Taranaki, one in Nelson-Marlborough and one in Canterbury.
Available testing sites can be found on the Ministry of Health website: Available testing sites.
Locations of interest can be found at Locations of Interest. This 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, including details of the Business Boost package .
COVID-19 Protection Framework guidance for local government
The latest guidance for local government with the COVID-19 Protection Framework can be accessed on the COVID-19 Local Government Response Unit website via the following weblink: Local-Government-Covid-Protection-Framework-guidance-8-12-21.pdf (dia.govt.nz).
This guidance has been created in collaboration with a group of chief executives on creating guidance for the implementation of the COVID-19 Protection Framework.
If you have feedback on this guidance, please sent it through the LGCGcovid19response@dia.govt.nz inbox.
Please share with us your approaches towards the COVID-19 Protection Framework
We would like to know how councils are implementing the COVID-19 Protection Framework in their organisations and communities. This will help us to collate information, and build a resource that will assist consistency of application across the sector (shared approach) and inform our ongoing guidance development.
If you would like to share your council’s thinking and application of the new protection framework, please email them to us at LGCGcovid19response@dia.govt.nz.
