Covid-19 Local Government Response Unit Update – Wednesday 22 December 2021
Local Government Response Unit main page
Central Government agencies are adopting COVID-19 vaccination policies
Central government agencies have made (or are currently in the process of making) decisions regarding My Vaccine Pass requirements for visitors and staff.
As of early 2022, the Department of Internal Affairs is requiring all staff to hold a valid My Vaccine Pass, and visitors to present their My Vaccine Pass before entering any of the Department’s buildings.
Note that this may not be the case for all central government buildings; for example, Work and Income sites do not require My Vaccine Passes for people to enter.
If entering any central government building, please make sure to check their COVID-19 vaccination policy for visitors beforehand.
Help your workforce stay safe from COVID-19 over summer
The Ministry of Health has published guidance and to help you prevent or minimise the spread of COVID-19 during what can be a busy social period.
Help keep your people safe and well by sharing COVID-19 key summer health messages.
Download key messages for summer or read more at Ministry of health | Health guidance for summer
Information on current cases, COVID-19 test sites and economic support
There are 56 new cases of COVID-19 in the community today. Of these cases 33 are in Auckland, six in Waikato, 11 in Bay of Plenty, 4 in the Lakes (Taupo and Rotorua), one in Taranaki, and one in Hutt Valley.
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.
Upcoming webinars on employment law changes relating to workplace vaccination mandates
Employment NZ will be hosting a series of public webinars on employment law changes relating to workplace vaccination mandates.
You can register in the following link: Webinars: Employment law changes relating to mandatory vaccination requirements (mailchi.mp).
Hosting events – toilet provision requirements
We are aware of questions as to whether there is a requirement for events to have on-site bathroom facilities (e.g. portable toilets) if the facility is using a Vaccine Pass.
There is no such requirement for this under the COVID-19 Public Health Response (Protection Framework) Order 2021; however, a council’s risk assessment (or any other policy) could require them to have health and safety mitigations (such as the on-site provision of toilets) for the event to proceed.
Ultimately, councils are accountable to their communities for their operational policies and decisions, not the Department of Internal Affairs.
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.
