Update - 14 May
Local Government Response Unit main page
Updated guidance for Alert Level 2
This is a one-off bulletin to provide you our updated guidance for council services under Alert Level 2 (attached). Our regular 5.15 updates will continue to be provided at 5.15 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
We appreciate that as we transition through Alert Level 2, councils will need to take some pragmatic decisions on a case-by-case basis about the services you provide. You are best placed to consider how to apply the central framework, the Order (discussed below) and our guidance (attached), in the light of your unique communities.
If you have questions we are on hand to support you throughout your COVID-19 response and recovery, please send these into your usual SOLGM, LGNZ, DIA contact or this inbox.
COVID-19 Public Health Response (Alert Level 2) Order 2020
Last night, the Minister of Health issued the COVID-19 Public Health Response (Alert Level 2) Order 2020 (the Order). You can find this order on the legislation website.
This Order gives effect to the restrictions for Alert Level 2, and came into force at 12.01 am this morning.
Guidance on council meetings
We are aware an important issue for a number of you is the ability to hold public meetings at Alert Level 2. Our updated high level guidance (attached) covers this. However, we have also provided more detail on this below.
Councillors and council staff are considered workers for the purpose of the Order (as they are there to carry out work in any capacity for the council). As such, council meetings may be held physically if they can operate safely, and the council must:
- ensure all councillors and council staff stay 1m apart as far as practicable;
- ensure that all public who enter the building remain 2 metres away from each other (except where they are a group) and from councillors/council staff (to the greatest extent practicable);
- not permit groups of more than 10 people;
- keep records to enable contact tracing of all workers (councillors and council staff) who enter the workplace or carry out work for the council: ((a) the person’s full name, (b) their residential address, (c) an effective means of communicating with them, and (d) the date and the times at which, the person arrived and left the premises);
- ensure that food or drink is not sold or provided for consumption, except in accordance with specific food and drink requirements in the Order.
The council must meet all health, safety, and hygiene requirements. Play it safe, and continue to do everything you can to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 transition.
Gathering and capacity restrictions for council services
Council’s public facilities that are located within a building or structure, such as swimming pools, libraries, and museums should limit capacity to levels that can maintain 1m physical distancing between members of the public and with workers (groups within these services should not exceed 10 people).
Event facilities, such as cinemas, theatres, stadiums, concert venues, conference venues, and casinos, and hospitality services may not have more than 100 customers at any one time.
Contact tracing for staff and customers is required.
Useful resources for Alert Level 2
We will post our guidance on council services and operations at Alert Level 2 on the COVID-19 Local Government Response Unit webpage.
More general Information on life under Alert levels 3, 2 and 1 is now available on the COVID-19 Government page.
A wide range of new content has been added to the business.govt.nz website regarding workplace restrictions at different alert levels.
Worksafe have a range of advice and guidance including the necessary health and safety requirements for businesses on the WorkSafe website.
The Ministry of Health also has specific infectious disease control advice for workplaces.
