Local Government COVID-19 Response Update – Sunday 3 October 2021
Local Government Response Unit main page
Here’s today’s update
At 11.59pm Sunday 3 October 2021, parts of Waikato (including Raglan, Te Kauwhata, Huntly, Ngāruāwahia and Hamilton City) will move to Alert Level 3 for the next five days.
Auckland remains at Alert Level 3.
The rest of the country, excluding Auckland and parts of Waikato, remains in Alert Level 2.
The alert level settings (excluding those for parts of Waikato) will be reviewed by Cabinet on Monday 4 October 2021.
Locations of interest now extend from Auckland south to Taihape.
We are awaiting further information on rules around movement across the new alert level boundary and we will communicate this to you as soon as possible.
If you are contacted by media for comment, we recommend directing them to the official COVID-19 website for updates.
Information on current cases, COVID-19 test sites and economic support
There are 33 new cases of COVID-19 in the community, 31 in Auckland, 1 in Palmerston North and 1 in Waikato. One further confirmed case in the Waikato will be included in tomorrow’s total. 15 of today’s cases have not been epidemiologically linked to existing cases.
Available testing sites can be found here on the Ministry of Health website: Available testing sites.
Locations of interest can be found 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.
New QR code requirements
Three new requirements for display of QR code posters come into effect at 11.59pm on Tuesday 5 October.
New changes to QR poster display requirements will mean additional copies of a COVID-19 QR code will need to be displayed in other places throughout businesses and locations that are already required to display them. This is in addition to an already required QR code displayed at the main entrance.
QR code posters are now also required to kept in a good condition, this limits the risk that scanning doesn’t take place if posters are faded or damaged or difficult to scan in on.
The QR code must not be altered in a way that makes it unclear that it has been issued by the NZ Government for the purposes of contact tracing. Businesses and locations must use the official COVID-19 QR code posters issued by the Ministry of Health. This also ensures people know the QR code they are scanning links to the COVID tracer app and is for contact tracing purposes.
Public transport operators are also included and will need to display additional copies of QR codes. This is in addition to the existing requirement to display a copy in a prominent place on or inside any vehicle. Vehicles with five or fewer seats including taxis and ride shares are exempt from displaying additional copies.
Public Health requirements for council meetings
Advice on relevant provisions of the Public Health Order as they relate to council meetings can be found in the Response Unit update for Friday 10 September 2021 published on the Local Government Response Unit webpage.
Guidance on mandatory record keeping at Alert Level 3 and lower
Many businesses and locations are now required to take steps to ensure people can easily make a record when they visit.
The Privacy Commissioner has provided guidance on how to comply with the requirements of the Privacy Act while complying with the new record keeping requirements.
Visit the Unite Against COVID-19 website to get information on mandatory record keeping
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.
