The PM on Cabinet's alert level decision

Monday, 20 September 2021, 5:09 pm
Article: RNZ

Auckland will move to alert level 3 from 11.59pm on Tuesday night, and stay in level 3 for at least two weeks, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced.

The rest of the country will remain in level 2, but will move from gatherings of 50 up to gatherings of 100.

Meanwhile, part of northern Waikato has been issued a section 70 order, requiring people who live or work there to stay at home.

"We are not stepping out of level 4 because the job is done, but nor are we moving because we don't think we can achieve the goal of stamping out Covid-19 - we are moving because level 3 still provides a cautious approach while we continue to stamp out Covid-19," Ardern said.

"It means staying in your bubble, it means contactless transactions and keeping your distance. It means we say thank you to Auckland for their tireless work, and we collectively keep going."

There are 22 new cases today, the majority of them household or known contacts. Five are unlinked, and three of those are within one family, and there is a tentative link for that family, Ardern said.

Three of the new cases are in Whakatīwai but are being counted in the Auckland total. Ardern said testing so far has included household contacts, corrections staff, police staff, court staff, and 300 swabs have already been taken in the small community.

"We do want to make sure we are keeping the community safe," she said.

Director of General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield said he was issuing a section 70 order requiring people who live or work in the area around Mangatangi, in northern Waikato, to stay at home. Ardern said it was effectively a "bespoke level 4".

Bloomfield said the order was for people living in an area north of SH2 centred on Mangatangi.

"That will effectively extend the road boundary to the east of Maramarua ... and also to the southeast of Miranda on the Firth of Thames."

Ardern said level 4 had been tough but it had also made a difference.

Almost all cases of the last 14 days have either been household or known contacts, and wastewater testing suggests there is no significant undetected transmission.

There has not been widespread clusters around workplaces, and of the cases where a link has been established, none has resulted from people accessing essential services.

Protections are still in place in level 3, she said.

"That remains critical and we ask everyone to play their part... we're moving now because the advice we have is we don't have widespread transmission across Auckland, if everyone continues to play their part we can stamp it out."

Bloomfield said the ministry is confident there is not widespread undetected transmission. The difference with level 3 this time is it comes with high and increasing levels of vaccination, he said.

Ardern reminded people that in level 3 they can make minor changes to bubbles such as bringing in an elderly relative who is not part of another bubble, but should not visit friends or break bubbles.

"Once in a household everyone is at risk of getting Detla, so if you break your bubble, know that the consequence may be spreading Covid back into your house to your loved ones," Ardern said.

Schools in level 3 are largely closed. Cabinet has made the decision to make masks mandatory at high schools at alert level 3, Ardern said.

People attending an essential service must also wear a mask, and people are encouraged to do so whenever they leave their home.

People over 65 in Auckland should stay home until they have been vaccinated, she said.

"We have been doing direct outreach to all our over-65s who haven't had their first dose yet in Auckland. That amounts to about 23,000 people.

"Last week a letter was sent to those over-65s who we had details for. Today we're commencing an outbound call campaign... these will average about 8000 calls a day."

People with a booking in the future can bring it forward, she said, adding pharmacies are offering delivery services, as are supermarkets.

People travelling over the boundary for personal reasons are now being required to carry evidence of having taken a test within the last seven days.

There are exemptions available through the Ministry of Health.

© Scoop Media

RNZ

New Zealand's public broadcaster, providing comprehensive NZ news and current affairs, specialist audio features and documentaries.

Radio New Zealand is a Crown entity established under the Radio New Zealand Act 1995. Radio New Zealand News are vital elements in our programming, providing impartial news and information to New Zealanders every day. Radio New Zealand (RNZ) provides listeners with exciting and independent radio programmes in accordance with the Radio New Zealand Charter.

Contact RNZ

• Website - www.radionz.co.nz
• Twitter - @rnz_news
• Facebook
• Link - Contact RNZ