The measures to fight Covid-19 are outlined
WHAT LEVEL 3 MEANS
Level 3 means limited travel in areas with clusters of Covid-19 cases, affected educational facilities closed, mass gatherings cancelled, public venues closed (such as libraries, museums, cinemas, food courts, gyms, pools, amusement parks), some non-essential businesses closed, and non face-to-face primary care consultations, with non elective services and procedures in hospitals deferred.
Level 4 means people instructed to stay at home, schools and universities closed, as well as nonessential businesses, major reprioritisation of health services, and severely limited travel.
“All indoor and outdoor events cannot proceed. In short, we are all now preparing as a nation to go into self-isolation in the same way we have seen other countries do. Staying at home is essential.”
That would give the health system a chance to cope, said the Prime Minister.
WHAT LEVEL 4 MEANS
While in alert level 4, the PM said contact tracing would continue and testing would go on “at pace” to find out where cases are.
If we flush out cases we already have, and slow down transmission, areas could move out of level 4, she said.
Community transmission had a lag time, and these measures would be in place for at least four weeks, she said.
She repeated that pharmacy products will still be available, and supermarkets would stay open.
NEW RESCUE PACKAGE
Finance Minister Grant Robertson said that Cabinet decided to do more to cushion the impact of Covid-19.
The wage subsidy would have no cap, so all businesses will be eligible.
Businesses less than a year old were now also eligible, as were selfemployed people, registered charities, NGOs, and incorporated societies.
The cost would now be $9.3b, up from $5.1b.
He said rents would also be frozen.
The Government had also agreed in principle to guarantee lending to businesses to help their survival. Details were being finalised.
“We are also making urgent preparations for further income support for all workers as we move into alert 4.”
He asked workers and firms to talk to each other, to talk to banks, and to make a plan.
He said all workers would keep making an income in this period.
“We are all in this together.”