The government has made it mandatory for people to wear masks while they are visiting essential services, including supermarkets and petrol stations from now on during Alert Level four. 

Face coverings are now mandatory for most public places under Alert Level 4.

You legally must wear a face covering if you are a customer or an employee involving customer contact at a business or service operating at Alert Level 4.

According to the Ministry of Health guidelines, wearing a face covering helps keep you and others safe.

“A face covering helps stop droplets spreading when someone speaks, laughs, coughs or sneezes. This includes someone who has COVID-19 but feels well or has no obvious symptoms.

“Face coverings are particularly useful when physical distancing is not possible.

“Face coverings are only one part of keeping yourself and others safe. Our strategy to protect New Zealand against COVID-19 is based on our border protections, testing, contact tracing and other public health measures, like washing hands and physical distancing. Face coverings are an extra protective physical barrier to help keep people safe.”

Foodstuffs Head of Corporate Affairs & CSR Antoinette Laird says advice from the Ministry of Health makes it mandatory that all staff and customers must wear masks in-store while we are in Alert Level 4.

“Our advice is #maskupNZ it’s the best way to keep yourself, your family and our teams safe,” Antionette says. 

“Additional advice from government is to take a face covering when you leave home and wear it indoors or if you are unable to socially distance – we think this is great advice for New Zealanders who have already increased their mask wearing habits significantly.

“It is a government requirement that our staff and customers wear a face covering while in-store and our teams will be managing this on entry into store. 

“At Alert Level 4 stores are required to manage the number of people in store at any one time so asking customers to wear a face covering on entry will simply be another action they will employ. 

“In order to meet our legal requirements, we will not be able to allow people in-store if they are not wearing a face covering. 

“Should a customer refuse to wear a face covering and not fall within an exemption then we would encourage them to try our online offering.”

The announcement comes alongside Foodstuffs confirmed to The Central App Central Otago New World stores are well-stocked and for customers to purchase goods as they would normally. 

“Our South Island stores have swung into action for Alert Level 4 and stock levels are being managed well – as can be expected some stores have experienced a bit of a run from shoppers over the last 24 hours. 

“Store teams worked hard to replenish shelves overnight and are continuing to manage stock levels throughout the day. 

“We continue to encourage customers to #shopnormal, there is plenty of food to go round and by only buying what is needed customers are helping our teams on the shop floor.”