‘Play it safe’ call from Ardern for socialising in level 2

Friends and family will be able to socialise again in level 2 – carefully.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern stressed people should keep any social gatherings small and ‘‘play it safe’’.

So what are the rules for socialising under level 2? We’ve broken it down.

Can my friends come over?

Any social gatherings need to be kept small for now, Ardern said, with 10 people or fewer.

‘‘We will be breaking out of our bubbles. We will be around more people,’’ she said.

‘‘Play it safe – keep surfaces clean, wash your hands, and keep the numbers low so you can practice safe distancing.’’

The 10-person limit includes people who are living in your home already, as well as any children or babies.

That means if there are four people living in your home, only six people max can come over.

If 10 or more people already live in your house, don’t panic.

No one will need to be ‘‘thrown out of the house’’, Ardern said.

Will there be church services?

In alert level 2 churches and mosques will remain closed as social gatherings can only have up to 10 people.

‘‘Why 10? Simple. If something goes wrong, that’s much easier to contain, much easier to contact trace,’’ Ardern said.

Many churches have been hosting online services since the level 4 lockdown began, this will need to continue in level 2.

What about weddings and funerals?

The 10-person limit will apply for any public gathering, including weddings and funerals.

They can’t last longer than two hours and all attendees need to have their details recorded in case contact tracing is necessary.

‘‘When we come together to socialise in large numbers with one another, there is risk.

‘‘The best insurance policy we have for that risk, is to reduce the size of our socialising for now, and that is what the DirectorGeneral of Health has recommended we do, for now,’’ Ardern said. ‘‘If you’re planning a wedding, I would say hold off for a while.’’

Can I visit my nana in a rest home?

Visits to rest homes during level 2 will have ‘‘very strict requirements’’, Ardern said.

It would be up to each individual rest home whether visitors would be allowed and what precautions would be taken.

What will happen if I have a party?

If more than 10 people are present, there will be the ability to ‘‘enforce restrictions’’, Ardern said. That means police will have the power to break up large gatherings and prosecute people if needed.