What happens before lockdown HOURS

Schools will close, buses will come to a standstill, and businesses will shut, as New Zealand shuts down in hope of halting coronavirus’ spread.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced yesterday that the country would enter level 4 of the Covid-19 threat alert system at midnight tomorrow, placing every New Zealander into lockdown.

Prepare yourself for a fourweek closure. That was the message from a raft of government officials who are planning just how the country will shut down.

‘‘The end game is we don’t want this virus to pass from person to person,’’ said John Ombler, the all-of-government controller for the Covid-19 response.

Some details were yet to be worked out – whether dairies would be open, for instance – but much is already certain. Here’s what you need to know.

Stay at home

Everyone will have to stay at home from tomorrow. This means you can’t go to work, unless you’re considered an ‘‘essential worker’’ – see below.

Staying at home is meant to reduce the transmission of the virus and, for it to work, you are asked to only have contact with the people you live with.

If you want to talk to a friend, call them. If you want to talk to a neighbour, do it over the fence. Drop off groceries to your grandma, but keep a 2-metre distance for her safety.

Ardern said this did not mean you cannot leave your house.

‘‘You can leave your home for fresh air, a walk, exercise. To take your children outside. But remember the simple principle. It must be solitary,’’ she said.

Schools and universities

Schools and early educations centres have been ordered to close to most students from yesterday, with only the children of essential workers still able to attend school until the end of tomorrow. Doctors, nurses, ambulance officers and police officers are considered essential workers who can send their children to school until tomorrow. From tomorrow midnight, schools will be closed for at least four weeks.

Universities will close, effective immediately. Many universities have already began holding virtual lectures, for students now learning from home.

READ MORE, PAGE 7

Am I an essential worker?

Supermarket workers, pharmacists, teachers, doctors and nurses, ambulance officers, and police officers are all counted as essential workers.

A list of essential workers, found on the government’s Covid-19 website, also includes accommodation providers that are required for people in selfisolation or quarantine, staff at the border, and people working in courts and the justice system.

Building and construction workers will carry on working on essential services, critical services, or in cases where they’re needed to maintain human health or safety.

Meaning if your roof is taken off by a gust of wind, a builder would presumably be allowed to fix it. Electricians, telco workers, internet providers, and the media will still be able to go to work.

Freight and courier drivers are also essential workers as they transport and deliver food.

Local and central government workers at key agencies and those involved in the Covid-19 response can still go to work. So too will New Zealand’s spies, scientists involved in tackling Covid-19, and charity workers who are helping the needy.

Primary industry workers – which includes food production, packaging, and processing – are considered essential workers. So too are vets.

Food distributors, such as supermarkets, will be expected to keep showing up to work. Takeaway shops will be closed. READ MORE, PAGE 7

Buying groceries

Supermarkets and pharmacies will remain open throughout the month-long shut down. Within an hour of the announced lockdown, queues were already forming at supermarkets.

But Ardern and government officials continue to issue the same advice: Don’t panic buy.

‘‘If you do not have immediate needs, do not go to the supermarket ... there will be enough for everyone if we shop normally,’’ Ardern said.

Businesses closing

Non-essential businesses will be closing. This means bars, cafes, gyms, cinemas, and public facilities likes pools, museums and libraries will be closed for at least four weeks. The definition of a non-essential business or public place is broad, any place ‘‘where the public congregate must close their face to face function’’.

Domestic travel

Airplanes, ferries, and public transport including trains and buses will not be available to the general public after midnight tomorrow.

While some services may continue to transport essential workers to their jobs, and freight around the country, by-and-large movement will be extremely limited.

Meaning, if you’re currently away from home, you have 48 hours to get in a car, or on an aircraft, which should have fewer available seats than usual due to social distancing.

Air travel

Air New Zealand will increase domestic flight capacity to allow people to get home before a country-wide lockdown to limit the spread of coronavirus starts tomorrow.

The airline made the announcement following the prime minister’s address yesterday. More information would be made available in the coming hours, it said.

If travellers were feeling unwell, particularly with a cough, shortness of breath or fever, or sneezing or have a runny nose, the Government urged them not to travel.

After tomorrow – once the alert level 4 lockdown is in place – the only internal flights available will be for freight or people working in essential services.

Public transport, car travel

Public transport will only be available for those working in essential services, for medical reasons and to get to the supermarket.

Driving in private vehicles is allowed, but where possible people must practice physical distancing.

Personal walks and other active travel is allowed, provided the two-metre physical distancing requirement is adhered to at all times.

InterCity Buses would still be operating but warned people over the age of 70, or with underlying conditions, not travel on its services.

Trains

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The Capital Connection service, a commuter service that runs weekdays between Palmerston North and Wellington, would continue to operate because of the role it plays in public transport.

Ferry services

On Sunday, KiwiRail also made changes to its Interislander ferry service due to the coronavirus outbreak.

From yesterday, the Aratere would become a freight-only service, including rail freight and commercial vehicles, until the end of June.

Affected passengers have been transferred to the Kaiarahi or Kaitaki, which would continue to operate passenger and commercial vehicle services.

Will there be soldiers in the street?

Maybe. You can expect police, and possibly the Defence Force, to enforce the shut down in the coming month.

‘‘Failure to play your part in the coming days will put the lives of others at risk.

‘‘There will be no tolerance for that and we will not hesitate in using enforcement powers if needed,’’ Ardern said.

Police officers will be visible on the streets almost immediately, Commissioner Mike Bush said. Again, it was hoped the rules wouldn’t have to be enforced, ‘‘but we will when required’’.

When will NZ open again?

Currently, the answer is in four weeks time. But this will depend on how the virus spreads.

Ardern said the restrictions would lift if the country had been successful in reducing transmission of Covid-19.