The Government will make a decision on whether to change from Alert Level 3 on Monday 11 May with an announcement at 4pm by the Prime Minister. Until then, New Zealand remains at Alert Level 3.  

Health and wellbeing   

• We’ll move to Alert Level 2 when we’re confident there is no community transmission and that the disease is contained.

• When we do, we’ll have measures in place to track and stop any new transmission and stamp out any outbreaks.

• Under Alert Level 2 physical distancing will still apply. Keep a 2 metre distance (ideally) from people you don’t know in public. 

• The same personal hygiene measures should be followed. This includes regularly washing your hands and coughing or sneezing into your elbow. 

• Most health and disability care services will operate normally as far as possible.

• All contact and non-contact sport can restart so long as public health requirements are met. Visit this link on Sport NZ to find out more. 

Business

• All business premises can open and customers can enter, including cafes, restaurants, bars, and hairdressers so long as it is safe to do so.

• Businesses must operate safely by ensuring public health measures for workplaces are in place e.g., contact tracing, physical distancing, regular cleaning and gathering limitations are met. 

• Workers can come back to work, however, alternative ways of working are still encouraged, such as remote working, shiftbased working, physical distancing, staggering meal breaks and flexible leave. 

• A contact tracing register for businesses is here to download. 

• Visit the COVID-19 website for more details for businesses. 

Transport and travel 

• You can travel up and down the country, but make sure you do it in a safe way. 

• Appropriate physical distancing and other risk mitigating measures will be in place on public transport and aircraft as agreed by relevant agencies.

• To keep yourself safe while using public transport you should sit next to people you know, otherwise keep the seat next to you free and follow on-board guidance. 

• ​The Ministry of Transport will provide further detailed advice in the coming days.  

• All travellers entering New Zealand will required to go into 14 days of managed isolation in a government-provided facility (hotel) in the city they arrive into, either Auckland or Christchurch. 

Lifelines

• Supermarkets will continue to follow public health measures such as managed entry, physical distancing and having hand sanitiser stations in place. 

• Many districts are expected to return to normal recycling services under Level 2, however some may not until Level 1. Please check your local council or private collector website and social media platform regularly for updates on recycling arrangements and kerbside collection dates in your area.

• Many public venues, such as museums, cinemas, food courts and markets, will be open again at Alert Level 2. However, there will be restrictions in place including the requirement to keep groups of attendees 1 metre apart.

• Under Level 2 NZ Post Box Lobbies will be open, however there may still be some variation in normal opening hours depending on the local operator.

Education

• Under Alert Level 2 it is safe to send your children to schools, early learning services and tertiary education, they will be open.  

• All education providers will have appropriate measures in place – these will be safe but sensible. 

• Schools and early learning services will keep in contact with parents as they work through their plans to shift to Alert Level 2. 

• For more information on what school looks like at Alert Level 2 visit this link on the Ministry of Education website.

Community support 

• Guidance has been developed for people who are at higher risk of severe illness should they contract COVID-19, including people who are aged 70 and over (70+) and/or have certain existing health conditions. Visit here for more details. 

• Translated information on Alert Level 2 will be available on the COVID-19 website next week and will continue to be updated.

• Community support such as financial, accommodation or access to essential goods/services like food, medicine, energy and internet will be available at all levels. Visit here for more information. 

Law and order 

• Members of the community concerned about breaches under Alert Level 2 can now register these via the COVID19 website. Five agencies – Ministry of Health, WorkSafe, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, New Zealand Police and Ministry for Primary Industries – have combined to provide a comprehensive approach to compliance.

• The online form makes it easy for these agencies to understand what the concern is, and who is best to respond. You can find the form on the COVID-19 website here.

• People who do not have access to the internet can still phone 105 to report their concerns.

Key contacts and sources of information

• Healthline 0800 358 5453

• Government helpline 0800 779 997 

• Need to talk? Call or text 1737 or visit www.allright.org.nz/campaigns/getting-through-together

• Essential business enquiries 0800 22 66 57

• Reporting breaches of any Level 3 Alert restrictions https://covid19.govt.nz/alert-system/covid-19-compliance/#report-a-breach 

• Queries about transport email [email protected] 

• For financial support visit www.workandincome.govt.nz  or call  0800 559 009