It’s alert level three, not level free
Regional mayors are calling for residents tomaintain their lockdown routines as the rules loosen slightly.
After almost five weeks in nationwide lockdown, restrictions eased from 11.59pm yesterday to alert level three. New Zealanders have a touch more freedom, allowing for an expansion of their established home bubbles and increased trading of businesses.
However, there is concern the public will relax their adherence to social distancing and travel practices as the number of new coronavirus cases remain low.
More that 500 people were caught flouting lockdown travel rules at police checkpoints over Anzac weekend. Throughout the country, police took action against 546 people breaching The Civil Defence Emergency Management Act or the Health Act.
The number of breaches was 76 fewer than over Easter weekend. There have been 5627 breaches and 592 prosecutions.
Mayors across the wider Manawatu¯ are calling for residents to maintain their solidarity, despite their being no new confirmed cases in the region for more than a week.
Palmerston North mayor Grant Smith said it was a relief to get people back into their jobs and back to business, but level three did not bring extra freedom. ‘‘Level three is really just level four, but with the economic business stuff. You can’t go and have drinks down the road. In saying that, people have been exceptionally good [following the rules].’’
People in Rangitı¯kei had risen to the challenge of keeping in their bubbles, but mayor Andywatson was concerned some may become complacent.
‘‘I wouldn’t like to see us back discussing level four, that would be incredibly damaging. We haven’t had Covid-19 people. There is a feeling of ‘we’re fine, no-one’s really affected here, so things can go back to normal’, but I don’t think that will happen. I think public pressure [to stick to the rules] will put a stop to that.’’
Horowhenua mayor Bernie Wanden said his district deserved a ‘‘pat on the back’’ but maintaining government guidelines continued to be essential to beating the virus.
‘‘The sacrifices that we are making will pay off. As we’ve seen ... social distancing is what makes the difference.
‘‘Level three’s not a licence to change their patterns of behaviours of what you’ve been doing. All it means is that there are some opportunities for some businesses to operate.’’
Lockdown has been challenging for Tararua, particularly for those also suffering in the most severe drought the district has seen in decades, Mayor Tracey Collis said, but the community couldn’t take its eyes off the ball.
‘‘It is a concern for people breaking the rules and people are getting really upset about that. The more these rules are stretched the more risk we are putting ourselves in.’’
Manawatu¯ mayor Helen Worboys urged people to not become complacent and maintain social distancing, even if they had been tested and were symptomless.
‘‘When you look at what happened overseas, it’s about our older people. There are the vulnerable people and we have to focus on that. ’’