Update - 11 May 2020
Local Government Response Unit main page
The move to Alert Level 2: the Prime Minister’s announcement
Today the Prime Minister announced that most sectors of the country and the economy will be at Alert Level 2 on Thursday this week, 14 May.
Her full announcement is available on the Beehive website.
Retail, malls, cafes, restaurants, cinemas and other public spaces including playgrounds and gyms, can reopen. All will be required to have physical distancing and strict hygiene measures in place.
Inter-regional travel will be allowed with appropriate physical distancing.
On Monday 18 May all children and young people will be able to return to school and early learning.
On Thursday 21 May, bars will be allowed to open with all the requirements set out last week, including that seating must be provided, there must be space between tables, and there mustn’t be multiple waiters and waitresses serving a single table.
Private gatherings including parties, social events, family social gatherings, church and religious events, weddings, funerals, stag dos – anything designed for mingling and mixing -- will be limited to 10 people for now.
Please note: we remain at Alert Level 3 until Thursday.
Alert Level 2 framework announcement: general All-of-Government information
All-of-Government information on today’s announcement is available at the COVID-19 Government website.
Updated All-of-Government Alert Level summaries (PDF, 1MB)
Updated COVID-19 Detailed Alert Levels (PDF, 2MB)
Updated All-of-Government FAQs for Alert Level 2 will be available from tomorrow.
Below are some golden rules for businesses and the public under Alert Level 2.
Golden rules for business at Alert Level 2
Do everything you can to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission at work – we all have a part to play in keeping each other safe.
- COVID-19 is still out there. Play it safe.
- All businesses can operate if they can do so safely. Alternative ways of working are encouraged where possible.
- Hospitality business should keep customers seated, separated, and with a single server.
- Talk with your workers to identify risks and ways to manage them.
- Ask everyone – workers, contractors and customers – with cold or flu-like symptoms to stay away from your premises.
- Keep groups of customers at least 1 metre apart
- Keep contact-tracing records of anyone who will have close interaction (workers, contractors or customers).
- Reduce the number of shared surfaces, and regularly disinfect them.
- Wash your hands. Wash your hands. Wash your hands.
The Golden Rules for everyone at Alert Level 2
Do everything you can to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission – we all have a part to play in keeping each other safe.
- COVID-19 is still out there. Play it safe.
- Keep your distance from other people in public.
- If you’re sick, stay home. Don’t go to work or school. Don’t socialise.
- If you have symptoms of cold or flu call your doctor or Healthline and get tested.
- Wash your hands. Wash your hands. Wash your hands.
- Sneeze and cough into your elbow, regularly disinfect surfaces.
- If you have been told to self-isolate you must do so immediately.
- Keep a track of where you’ve been and who you’ve seen.
Guidance for council services and operations at Alert Level 2
Guidance on councils services and operations is available on the COVID-19 Local Government Response Unit webpage.
We will refine this in light of today’s announcements as necessary and as soon as practicable.
The Response Unit has worked with some council representatives to develop this guidance and we would like to thank you all for your input into this process; your expertise is crucial to ensuring this guidance is fit for purpose.
If you have any enquiries around council services/operations at Level 2 please send these enquiries to the Response Unit through to this COVID-19 inbox or your regular SOLGM/LGNZ/DIA contacts.
Response Unit Recovery workstream
The Response Unit Recovery Reference Group met on Friday last week.
It discussed a number of matters including:
- Further refinement of a programme structure.
- The importance of maintaining clear, collaborative communications.
The Recovery Reference Group will continue to meet weekly as the Response Unit it moves from response to recovery.
We will communicate progress of the Recovery work and roles and responsibilities of parties in more detail over the coming weeks through this COVID-19 email.
