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Live: Rest of NZ to move to level 2, schools to reopen from Thursday

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Mon, 6 Sep 2021, 3:36PM

Live: Rest of NZ to move to level 2, schools to reopen from Thursday

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Mon, 6 Sep 2021, 3:36PM

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Keep up to date with the latest live developments in the Covid-19 Delta outbreak. 

Prime Minster Jacinda Ardern and Director General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield announced that New Zealand (outside of Auckland) would move to level 2 at 11.59pm on Tuesday 

  • Schools can re-open from Thursday morning. 
  • Cabinet would further review those levels on Monday, along with Auckland's level 4 settings. 
  • Ardern said the change was difficult for Northland, which would be cut off from the rest of the country. But those who needed to pass through Auckland to get elsewhere would be able to. 
  • Ardern said level 2 will be different under Delta. 
  • Some of the changes for "Delta Level 2" - face masks inside most public venues, including shops, malls, and public spaces. 
  • Masks could be removed at bars and restaurants, for eating and drinking. However, staff would have to wear masks. 
  • New rules on scanning also applied at level 2: mandatory scanning at bars, restaurants, cinemas, churches, hairdressers and anywhere where there was close contact between people. 
  • Level 2 would be limited to 50 people at hospitality and event venues, outdoor venues would be allowed up to 100 people 
  • At indoor public facilities, such as gyms, libraries, the same rules would apply as for supermarkets: a 2m space would be required. 
  • There are 20 new cases of Covid-19 in the community today all in Auckland. 
  • The total number of cases in the community is 821 
  • 40 are currently hospitalised with the virus across Auckland, with 6 in the ICU 
  • Only one close contact hasn’t been able to be reached by contact tracers 
  • 4,750 test swabs yesterday, and just over 2000 in Auckland '- the lowest since the start of the outbreak 
  • Bloomfield said three actions would help ensure spread was not happening in the community in Auckland, or leaking outside Auckland's boundaries. These are: firstly, testing sites. Health would also work with bosses to ensure they kept workers away from work if unwell. There would also be more regular surveillance tests of health workers dealing with Covid patients. There would also be twice-weekly testing of staff at the quarantine facilities Third, there would be testing at the border (these workers would not be required to stand down while waiting for their test if they don’t have symptoms). This will be a requirement from 11.59pm Thursday. 
  • Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said case numbers were coming down, but still "persistent." There were still mystery cases, and that was why testing was important to ensure no undetected transmission. 

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