Living at Alert Level 4 Monday 6 April Update

Our lives depend on us all staying home. Here are answers to some of our most frequently asked questions:

FOR EVERYONE: How can I purchase essential, non-food items that I need for winter?

Only businesses who have registered to sell essential, non-food items with the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) can do so. All stores selling these essential items must adhere to strict guidelines to avoid the spread of COVID-19. This includes limiting sales to items that keep people warm, replace key household appliances, or maintain people’s health, eg: blankets, heaters, kitchenware and appliances, whiteware, computer equipment, and mobile phones.

Where can I purchase essential, non-food items?

Stores that are open for essential, non-food items include Noel Leeming, The Warehouse, Harvey Norman, Briscoes and Farmers. If you need to order, do so responsibly, only purchasing items that are absolutely necessary to help your household safely isolate, stay connected to work, or study from home while we all unite against COVID-19.

Will supermarkets be open over Easter weekend?

As with previous years, supermarkets and other essential businesses that are usually required to close on Good Friday (10 April), will still do so. Trading for essential services business can resume on Saturday 11 March and remain open on Easter Sunday (12 April).

Where can I seek help if I’m feeling stressed or anxious?

If you feel you are not coping, it’s important to seek help and professional support. Your family doctor is a good starting point. For support with grief, anxiety, distress or mental wellbeing, you can also call or text the ‘Need to talk?’ service on 1737. This service is free, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and gives you the chance to talk it through with a trained counsellor.

How can I keep myself safe if I live in an apartment building?

• Keep a 2-metre distance from people who are not part of your household. • Wash your hands before you leave home and as soon as you get back. Use hand sanitiser, if available, as you enter and exit the common areas of the building. • Gyms, swimming pools, and other gathering areas should be closed. • If you need to touch a frequently used surface in a common area (such as a door handle, stair rail or lift button) use your elbow instead of fingers or use disinfectant hand wipes after contact. • If you need to use a lift, wait until it is empty and only use with people from your household. • Ask for deliveries to be left at the apartment building entrance for your collection.

Who can I contact if I see people not following the rules on self-isolation?

You can tell the Police by completing the online form at 105.police.govt.nz. Where possible, try to keep the phones free for those that need them in an emergency.

FOR BUSINESSES AND WORKERS: How do I find out more information on essential businesses and what they cover?

Essential businesses, and those that support them, will continue to provide the necessities of life for everyone in New Zealand. This means food, medicine, healthcare, energy, fuel, waste-removal, internet and financial support will continue to be available. If you have any queries about what an essential service is and if it applies to your business sector, you can get in touch with general enquiries at 0800 22 66 57 or email essential@mbie.govt.nz for advice regarding your specific business.