COVID-19 update from the New Zealand Government

25 August 2020

Help stop the spread

Auckland is still at Alert Level 3, the rest of New Zealand is at Alert Level 2.

If you have cold or flu-like symptoms, please stay home and call Healthline for free on 0800 358 5453 or your doctor for advice about getting tested. Remember, it is free to get tested

Making face coverings work for everyone

Please be ready to start wearing a face covering or mask when travelling on public transport from Monday 31 August 2020 while New Zealand is at Alert Level 2. 

Children and people with health issues will be exempt. If someone is not wearing a mask, they may have a legitimate reason – please trust that people are doing the right thing.

Ideally people will use a mask that has three layers of fabric. However, any kind of a face covering that covers the nose and mouth is allowed and is better than nothing. For example, if you don’t have access to a mask, a scarf or t-shirt can be used. 

For advice on how to wear a face covering safely, see the Covid19 website

 

Dispose of your face masks safely 

Please be aware that used masks are potentially something that could pass on COVID-19, so they need to be treated carefully.

If it’s a disposable mask, put it in a rubbish bin with a lid, or in a plastic bag and then into a rubbish bin. Don’t leave used masks lying around.  

Please do not dispose of any used face masks or gloves or any other PPE in household or public recycling bins. 

If it’s a reusable mask, put it in a plastic bag once used and take it home to wash it. 

Safe disposal of used masks and gloves is essential to containing the community spread of COVID-19 and helps protect rubbish and recycling workers. 

 

Keep it tight, Auckland 

Gathering size limits of 10 people will continue in Auckland under Alert Level 2 from 11:59 pm on Sunday 30 August 2020.

The limit of 10 applies to informal, social, and religious gatherings. The numbers will increase over time.  

You can go to cafés, bars, and restaurants as a group of up to 10. Hospitality venues can host up to 100 people in total at any time. The groups in the venue must be physically distanced from one another. No single booking may have more than 10 people. 

 

Travel in, out, and through Auckland without an exemption

Remember you don't need an exemption to travel into, out of, or through Auckland for a limited range of personal circumstances and work purposes.

For the up-to-date list of those who can travel without an exemption, head to Travel into, out of, or through Auckland. This page also explains exemptions and how to apply for one.

If you're travelling for permitted reasons, please carry supporting documents and photo ID.

 

COVID-19 cases update

There are seven new confirmed cases of COVID-19 to report in New Zealand today. All are related to the community outbreak in Auckland. 

There are no new imported cases.

Of the seven community cases, four are linked to churches in Auckland. Three are separate household contacts.

This brings our total number of confirmed cases to 1,339.

 

Increased testing for COVID-19

We are aiming to complete 70,000 tests over the next week with 7,000 a day in Auckland and 3,000 in the rest of the country.

This will include testing some asymptomatic people, alongside symptomatic people, border workers, and returnees.

Laboratories completed 4,434 tests yesterday, bringing the total number of tests completed to date to 701,504.

 

NZ COVID Tracer app

More than 1,810,200 people have downloaded the NZ COVID Tracer app. This is more than 45% of the population aged 15 and over. 

There have been well over a million scans every day for the past seven days with 318,278 QR codes created. 

Ka pai, New Zealand!

 

Resources

Information for Pacific peoples.

Useful posters for your workplace or community.

Financial support for individuals, whānau, foreign nationals, and businesses. 

Up-to-date Alert Level information

COVID-19 Public Health Response (Alert Levels 3 and 2) Order 2020 

 

Contact information 

Call Healthline if you have symptoms 0800 358 5453

Need to talk? Call or text 1737

Report breaches of self-isolation 105.police.govt.nz

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