COVID-19

New Zealand moved into Alert Level 2 on Wednesday 11:59pm. This means a number of restrictions have been lifted but that doesn’t mean we can drop our guard as there is still a risk of the virus spreading.

Under Level 2, businesses, tertiary education and public places can open safely with health measures in place for businesses. There are still limitations of public gatherings with religious ceremonies and social gatherings, private or public, to have a maximum of up to 10 people.

For funerals and tangihanga this can be up to 50 people. For more information on gatherings and public venues at Level 2 visit covid19.govt.nz(external link).

Expanding your bubble

• You can have friends and family over to your home but gatherings are limited to up to 10 people, or people who usually live in your household
• Play it safe – keep surfaces clean, wash your hands and keep the numbers low to you can practice safe physical distancing

Traveling around New Zealand

You can travel, but make sure you do it safely.

• Follow good hygiene measures
• Keep a record of what travel services you use and keep track of who you have been on contact with
• Keep your distance from groups or people you don’t know
• Minimise the number of stops on the way to your destination

Recreation and Sport 

You can do your usual exercise, sport and recreation activities, provided you can do them safely. These includes activities that were restricted previously, including:

• Walking, biking and hunting on public conservation land
• Swimming at a public swimming pool, but there will be restrictions
• Going to the gym, but there will be restrictions
• Boating and motorised watersports
• Hunting during duck shooting season – starts on Saturday 23 May

The Government is working with sporting organisations to work through how sport can return safely.

High-level sporting events (Super Rugby and ANZ Premiership netball competitions can go ahead under Level 2 as they are controlled workplaces. These will take place without crowds but are broadcast. 

Remember - even under Level 2

You will have more freedom of movement at Alert Level 2, but it’s up to each one of us to keep the rest of New Zealand safe.

These are the most important things that you can do:

• COVID-19 is still out there. Play it safe
• Keep your distance from other people in public
• If you’re sick, stay home. Don’t go to work or school. Don’t socialise
• If you have symptoms of cold or flu call your doctor or Healthline and get tested
• Wash your hands. Wash your hands. Wash your hands
• Sneeze and cough into your elbow, regularly disinfect surfaces
• If you have been told to self-isolate, you must do so immediately
• Keep a track of where you’ve been and who you’ve seen

More information can be found at www.covid19.govt.nz(external link)

For information on specific facilities around the region check out the district council websites:

New Plymouth - www.newplymouthnz.com(external link)

Stratford - www.stratford.govt.nz(external link)

South Taranaki - www.southtaranaki.com(external link)

Taranaki Civil Defence Emergency Management is supporting the national response to COVID-19. We are working closely with the Taranaki District Health Board (TDHB) and other agencies to proactively prepare for the possibility of COVID-19 arriving in Taranaki.

This means we’ve activated our emergency response structure and will regionally coordinate the response and provide ongoing support to TDHB.

An Emergency Coordination Centre (ECC) has been set up at the Taranaki Emergency Management Office.

The role of Taranaki CDEM in support of the all-of-government response, is to prioritise and coordinate the regional CDEM interagency responses to COVID-19 necessary to support communities. We do this through:

• providing or arranging the provision of suitably trained and competent personnel (including volunteers) and an organisational structure for CDEM Group in its area
• providing, arranging the provision of, or making available materials, services, information and any other resources necessary to support the health-led response to a pandemic
• responding to and managing the non-health CDEM adverse effects of a pandemic in its area
• reporting on the coordination of CDEM welfare, infrastructure and lifeline utility aspects of a pandemic.