Lockdown at the beach not on
Police engage in 2248 pandemic-related activities across Hawke's Bay and Tairawhiti during lockdown
Fishermen itching to cast their lines out, like those caught by police along coastal Hawke's Bay last week, had just a few days to wait before it would have been officially allowed.
This week Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the Hawke's Bay region, along with the rest of the country, except for Auckland and Northland, would move to alert level 3 from 11.59pm yesterday.
The news came as the number of community cases related to the current Delta outbreak rose to 347, 14 in Wellington and the remainder across Auckland.
There have been no cases reported in Hawke's Bay.
As last week, 62 contacts were listed on the National Contact Tracing Centre register as currently isolating in Hawke's Bay DHB region.
Bayleys Hawke's Bay principal James MacPherson confirmed that by late last Friday all staff and partners who had been self-isolating after attending a national awards night — which was a location of interest — had been confirmed as returning two negative results.
More than 1000 people attended the function at Auckland's Spark Arena on August 13, most of whom were back in their regions by the time the issue was raised, after a bar staff member at both that function and a function at the venue 24 hours earlier had tested positive for Covid.
MacPherson said all Bayleys staff had tested negative.
“So it's good news, there are no cases at Bayleys,” he said, highlighting the relief by adding, “Some people thought we all had Covid”.
Police have generally been pleased with the public's behaviour across the region during alert level 4 despite reports of people flouting the rules including a group of snorkellers.
In one incident last week police in Central Hawke's Bay were called to Kairakau Beach when a group of people was spotted snorkelling.
Senior Constable Andy Walker said a car-load of people had travelled from Flaxmere, Hastings, stating they had gone to the beach “to picnic”.
“They said they didn't know they weren't meant to be snorkelling,” he said.
“There were five people in the water, all came out without argument and they didn't bring out any seafood.”
Walker said there had been a similar group at the same beach the day before, also snorkelling.
He thinks people were coming to Central Hawke's Bay due to a rahui having been placed on Waimarama Beach.
“Kairakau is the next closest beach to Hastings,” he said.
Police have now undertaken 2248 pandemic-related activities across the Hawke's Bay and Tairawhiti during lockdown.
Since lockdown began on August 18, Eastern District police have issued 63 fines to people flouting the rules — most of which were for failing to remain at home for a non-essential reason.
Police have also received 461 reports of people flouting the rules since the lockdown began in the Eastern Police District, through their online reporting website.
No one has been charged with a Covid-related criminal offence.
Level 3 rules
While alert level 3 means people are still expected to lock down at home, household bubbles can be expanded to include family or isolated people from one other bubble.
Children of essential workers unable to find alternative care can attend school or other childcare services.
Travel remains only to access essential services or for exercise.
Travel between regions is heavily restricted.
Low-risk activities close to home are allowed.
The only events allowed at alert level 3 are weddings, funerals and tangihanga, with a maximum of 10 people.