Welcome back to Alert Level 2
Rowan Schindler
07 September 2021, 6:18 PM
What you need to know about living under Alert Level 2. The government announced New Zealand, apart from Auckland, will move to Alert Level 2 at 11.59 Tuesday September 7.
Today we begin in the new Level 2.
As such, every person needs to be aware of what constitutes living under the Alert Level 2 guidelines.
“We need your support to protect New Zealand and eliminate COVID-19,” the Ministry of Health (MoH) says.
“At Alert Level 2, there are no restrictions on who can be included in your household bubble.
“You can go to work, and all businesses and services can open but legally must follow public health rules.
“Early learning services, schools, kura and tertiary education facilities are open to everyone.
“Even if you have been vaccinated, you still need to follow the rules to keep everyone safe.”
Wear a face covering
“We encourage you to wear a face covering when you cannot maintain physical distance from others,” the MoH says.
You legally must wear a face covering if you are aged 12 or over when:
- using public transport, airplanes (including in departure points such as train/bus stations) and in a taxi or ride-share vehicle
- visiting a healthcare or aged care facility (other than for a patient)
- inside retail businesses, such as supermarkets, pharmacies, shopping malls, indoor marketplaces and takeaway food stores
- visiting the public areas within courts and tribunals, local and central Government agencies, and social service providers with customer service counters.
You legally must wear a face covering if you work:
- as a driver of a taxi, ride-share vehicle, ferry, bus or train used for public transport — this excludes school buses and ferries between the North Island and South Island
- as a delivery driver to residential addresses — delivery drivers only need to wear a face covering when they are out of their vehicle
- at a cafe, restaurant, bar, nightclub, soup kitchen or any other food or drink business
- at a close contact business — for example, barbers, beauticians and hairdressers
- at a retail store — including those that were operating at Alert Levels 3 and 4
- at an indoor public facility — for example, libraries, museums and gyms (but not swimming pools)
- in the public-facing area of a court or tribunal, local and central Government agencies, or social service providers.
Face covering advice and requirements
Keep track of where you have been
Mandatory record keeping comes into effect from 11:59 pm on 7 September 2021.
Everyone aged 12 and over legally must keep a record of where they have been when visiting certain places so contact tracing can happen quickly. You must do this at all Alert Levels.
Keep track of where you have been at all Alert Levels
Use the NZ COVID Tracer app if you can. This helps with rapid contact tracing if it is required.
At all Alert Levels, businesses and workplaces legally must display an NZ COVID Tracer QR code for each location.
Get your NZ COVID Tracer QR code poster
Maintain good hygiene
It is important that you use basic hygiene measures, including washing your hands, coughing or sneezing into your elbow and cleaning surfaces.
How to practise good hygiene and stay healthy
If you are unwell
If you have cold, flu or COVID-19 symptoms, call:
- Healthline for free on 0800 358 5453
- your doctor or nurse, or
- your iwi health provider.
A health professional will let you know the next steps and if you should get a test.
Travel and transport
At Alert Level 2, you can travel, but make sure you do it in a safe way.
You can:
- use public transport, but to help achieve physical distancing passengers you must be seated — you are not permitted to stand
- use taxis and ride-share services to travel anywhere in New Zealand
- take a domestic flight for recreation and tourism.
You legally must wear a face covering when using public transport, airplanes (including in departure points such as train/bus stations) and in a taxi or ride-share vehicle.
Travelling over Alert Level boundaries
Anyone wanting to travel across an Alert Level boundary needs to check whether they are eligible to travel.
International air travel
Visitors and tourists can use international air services to travel home.
International travel and transit
If you are unwell or at risk
You should not travel if you:
- have been requested to self-isolate
- have symptoms of COVID-19
- are awaiting a COVID-19 test result.
If you are unwell or at risk, you should not leave your home at all.
If you are unwell and you need to travel, you should use private transport if possible. If private transport is not available, call Healthline on 0800 358 5453 for advice.
Work and business
Businesses can open at Alert Level 2, but they legally must follow public health rules. These include physical distancing and record keeping.
How to do business at Alert Level 2
Travelling in or out of an Alert Level 2 area for business
Business travel across an Alert Level boundary is only allowed for permitted reasons. If your employees need to cross the Alert Level boundary, they will need evidence that their travel is permitted.
Food, shopping and services
At Alert Level 2, all shops and services can operate but with extra safety measures. You can go instore to shop.
Remember to scan in using the NZ COVID Tracer app, and turn on Bluetooth tracing.
Meeting friends and whānau
At Alert Level 2, you can get together with friends and whānau but gatherings are limited to 100 people.
Meeting friends and whānau at Alert Level 2
Events and entertainment
At Alert Level 2, you can hold social gatherings including weddings, civil union ceremonies, birthdays, funerals and tangihanga, but they are limited to 100 people.
There are specific restrictions at Alert Level 2, depending on the type of gathering.
Public facilities such as libraries, swimming pools, cinemas and museums can open.
Cafes, bars, restaurants and night clubs
At Alert Level 2, cafes, restaurants, bars, night clubs and takeaway services can open, but with extra safety measures.
Bars and night clubs can open with seated service only. Dance floors are closed.
Cafes, bars, restaurants and night clubs at Alert Level 2
Funerals and tangihanga
At Alert Level 2, funerals, tangihanga, kawe/hari mate, unveiling ceremonies/hura kōhatu and other faith-based or religious ceremonies can go ahead, but are limited to 100 people.
Funerals and tangihanga at Alert Level 2
Education
At Alert Level 2, all early learning services, schools, kura and tertiary education facilities are open to everyone.
Schools should put extra public health control measures in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and keep staff, ākonga (students) and tamariki (children) safe.
Shared custody and childcare
At Alert Level 2, tamariki (children) can travel between their parents' or caregiver's home under a shared custody arrangement.
If you or your child are unwell or have been asked to self-isolate, please stay home.
Shared custody and childcare at Alert Level 2
Sport, exercise and recreation
At Alert Level 2, you can do your usual sport and recreation activities if you can do them safely.
Public parks and playgrounds are open.
Indoor sports facilities such as gyms, swimming pools, dance studios and health clubs can open, but with extra safety measures.
Team sports events can continue, but are limited to 100 people. This includes both indoor and outdoor venues.
Professional leagues can go ahead at Alert Level 2 because they take place in controlled workplaces.
How to exercise safely at Alert Level 2
Healthcare and emergencies
Healthcare
At Alert Level 2, health and disability services will open and operate as normal, where possible.
Emergency care is still available, but some appointments will move to online or over the phone where possible.
Healthcare businesses, such as pharmacies, can open.
COVID-19 vaccinations
The COVID-19 vaccination programme will continue at Alert Level 2.
Emergencies
If there is another emergency while we are at Alert Level 2, you should do what you would normally do.
Emergencies at all Alert Levels
Family, whānau and sexual violence
Family violence and sexual violence support lines are open for people to call, email or text. If someone is in danger, call 111.
Help and support is available if you are experiencing violence
Financial support
If you are having trouble with money, there may be support for you.
Wellbeing and COVID-19-related support
Find services and contact information for when you need help.
If you feel you are not coping, or you have concerns for others, it is important to talk with a health professional. There are helplines available if you need help.
You can also find support, advice and information about COVID-19, or you can contact us directly for help with your enquiries.
At-risk people
People are at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 if they are older or have an underlying medical condition. If you are an at-risk person, you will need to take extra precautions at Alert Level 2.
