COVID-19 message from the Director-General of Health - 28 September 2021

Kia ora koutou,

Auckland moving to Alert Level 3 last week reflects the collective efforts of everyone in the region to help bring the COVID-19 outbreak under control. With almost all cases in the last 14 days detected among household or known contacts, we’re confident that the Alert Level 4 measures have done what we needed them to do – stopped wider community spread.

Thank you to the many people involved in testing, interviewing cases, whole genome sequencing, and contact tracing, which have been key for understanding the shape of the outbreak and linking cases, as well as informing advice to Government.

Following the identification of three cases at Whakatīwai last Monday, public health teams in both Waikato and Auckland moved quickly to put in place extensive contact tracing and testing. There was a fantastic response to testing in the rohe over the first few days and the area is now under the same Alert Level 3 measures as the Auckland region.

It’s been great to see that more than 80% of eligible Aucklanders have now received their first dose of the vaccine. Our focus now is on achieving 90% coverage (or higher!) for all communities to protect ourselves and the rest of the motu. I’d like to acknowledge the wonderful effort going into reaching people and making it easy for them to be vaccinated – whether that’s setting up pop-up vaccination events at community hubs, contacting those over 65 directly and offering them options, or taking 'Shot Bro' and 'Shot Cuzz' vaccination buses into specific neighbourhoods, and even media organisations running their own campaigns.

The ongoing public health risk of the highly transmissible Delta variant remains high. Vaccination is the strongest protection available to us against COVID-19 and we need to continue to find ways to ensure everyone in New Zealand has the opportunity to receive that protection.

Dr Ashley Bloomfield
Director-General of Health

Health sector vaccination rates

As announced by the Minister of COVID-19 Response, the Ministry is starting to consult with some key stakeholders on a proposal that requires the majority of healthcare workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19. This is in line with current requirements for MIQ and port workers, and reflects practices in other countries, including Australia, the UK and Canada.

Our consultation will include health unions, professional associations, the Office for Disability Issues, the Privacy Commissioner, Māori representatives and Aged Care employers.

The proposal will apply to staff working in roles within a COVID-19 pathway, including emergency departments, primary health care, settings with vulnerable patients, people working in aged residential care facilities, critical support services (medical laboratories, catering) and workers providing home and community care services.

DHB frontline health care workers were offered early vaccinations as part of Group 2 in the COVID-19 vaccine rollout and, at last count, at least 75% of the total DHB workforce of around 80,000 is fully vaccinated, with higher numbers for those who have had one vaccination. These figures include clinical and non-clinical staff.

We know the percentage of staff vaccinated in all DHBs will be even higher now and this is an excellent effort. However, while vaccination uptake is high in some parts of the sector, we need vaccination rates to be higher right across this workforce to better protect patients and their whānau, workers and the wider community from COVID-19.

Exemptions to cross the regional boundary

The rules to cross the regional Alert Level boundary have not changed. Personal travel across an Alert Level 3 boundary is still highly restricted. The threshold for an exemption remains very high as we still need to contain the virus.

However, while travel to attend a funeral or tangihanga, accompany a tūpāpaku (deceased person) or visit a dying family member is still not routinely permitted, people in these categories can now be considered for an exemption for personal travel out of Auckland. Likewise, there is now also the ability to apply for an exemption for individuals crossing the Alert Level boundary one way into Auckland to provide support or care to another person who is unwell or childcare where the parents or guardians are returning to work.

Only the Ministry of Health can approve personal travel exemptions to cross an Alert Level boundary. Documentation from other organisations or individuals can be used in support of an application, but do not themselves constitute permission to cross the boundary.

Exemptions for personal travel across or within an Alert Level boundary

Testing for personal travel across Alert Level boundaries

New testing requirements for people permitted to cross the Alert Level boundary regularly for personal reasons came into effect from 11.59pm on 23 September.

Most people permitted to travel one-off for personal reasons must have evidence of a negative swab test taken 72 hours prior to crossing the Alert Level boundary.

People travelling to access health services with an appointment (including vaccinations), are required to carry evidence of having taken a COVID-19 swab test within seven days prior to crossing the Alert Level boundary, if travelling from Auckland (Alert Level 3) to an Alert Level 2 area. A test is not required if you are making a return trip from Alert Level 2 into Alert Level 3 for a medical appointment.

People who have been granted an exemption to travel across the Alert Level boundary for personal reasons are already required to have a negative test result 72 hours prior to travel. This does not change.

Full details of the new testing requirements and exemptions can be found on www.covid19.govt.nz.

The requirements for permitted workers crossing alert level boundaries, who must provide evidence of a test taken 7 days prior to travel also do not change.

Testing is free for these purposes.

People travelling for personal reasons who cannot provide the required evidence of a negative test will be turned back at the boundary if stopped by Police as part of their compliance checking.

Funerals and tangihanga Alert Levels 2 and 3 updates

The Ministry has updated requirements for funerals and tangihanga at Alert Levels 2 and 3. This includes requirements on how many people can attend and travel across alert level boundaries.

View the Alert Level 2 guidance for funerals and tangihanga

View the Alert Level 3 guidance for funerals and tangihanga

Guidance for businesses with ‘at risk’ or immune compromised staff

We have published guidance for businesses and organisations that employ workers who might be classified as ‘at risk’ or immune compromised against COVID-19.

View the guidelines for businesses and organisations