All regions in New Zealand, except for the Auckland region, will move to Alert Level 2 at 12 noon on Wednesday 12th August 2020.

Auckland region will move to Alert Level 3.

Effective midday today the following applies to all shops EXCLUDING AUCKLAND. AUCKLAND SHOPS ARE TO CLOSE UNDER THEIR ALERT LEVEL 3 UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

What you need to know

Alert Level 2 is not life as normal. You can still go to work and school, but you should:

• keep your distance from other people in public
• wash your hands
• sneeze and cough into your elbow
• keep a track of where you’ve been and who you’ve seen
• wear a mask if you can.

Protect yourself and others from COVID-19

People at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 are encouraged to take additional precautions when leaving home.

We'll continue to:

• keep tight controls in place at our borders
• test for COVID-19
• find and self-isolate anyone who is unwell, as well as their close contacts.

Businesses

Businesses can open to the public if they are following public health guidance, which include physical distancing and record keeping.

Gatherings

• No more than 100 people at gatherings, including weddings, birthdays, funerals and tangihanga.
• If you're unwell
• 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 advice about being tested.
• If you have been told to self-isolate you must do so immediately.

Personal movement

At Alert Level 2, you can leave home, but you should follow public health measures and consider others around you.

Physical distancing

Keep your distance when out and about:

• 2 metres in public and in retail stores, like supermarkets and clothes shops.
• 1 metre in most other environments like workplaces, cafes, restaurants, and gyms.

Masks

At Alert Levels 2 the risk of COVID-19 being present in the community is higher. You should wear masks in situations where physical distancing is not possible, like on public transport or in shops.