Omicron fears sees New Zealand Government introduce Red traffic light settings

Looking to manage the outbreak of the Omicron variant in the community, the New Zealand Government has introduced ‘red traffic light’ restrictions that will impact business activity across the nation.

With the entire country moving from the Orange traffic light setting to Red from 11.59pm last night, the new restrictions will impact gatherings, hospitality, sport and events which can only be attended by those with the ‘My Vaccine Pass’ demonstrating vaccination against Coronavirus.

The ‘My Vaccine Pass’ will be needed to enter venues and events such as cinemas, concert venues, conferences, museums, sporting events and stadiums.

Events and Attractions
• Events may go ahead at Red with vaccine pass requirements.
• Public facilities such as libraries and zoos can also open at Red with restrictions.

Sport and Recreation
• People can attend sports events and play sport at Red with vaccine pass restrictions.
• Indoor and outdoor recreation facilities can also open at Red with restrictions.

Gatherings
• Under the Red alert level setting, gatherings can go ahead, with and without vaccine passes.
• However, there are capacity limits of up to 100 people for homes, and up to 100 based on 1-metre physical distancing in public venues with vaccine passes.
• Up to 25 people can gather at a home, or up to 25 in in a “single defined space” at other venues, without a vaccine pass.

Hospitality
• Hospitality venues such as cafes, bars, restaurants and nightclubs can open at Red with vaccine passes and restrictions.
• Hospitality venues which follow vaccine pass requirements, meaning only people with My Vaccine Pass may enter the premises, have gathering limits of up to 100 people based on 1-metre distancing.
• Nightclubs may also open but customers must be seated and separated. Dancing is not allowed.

Education
• Early childhood centres, playgrounds, schools and kura can operate at Red and must follow public health measures.
• Students from Year 4 and up must wear face coverings indoors and when in close contact with others. Staff and teachers must also wear face coverings.
• Students can also attend tertiary education in person with vaccine passes.

Travel
• People can travel at Red, and accommodation can open without restrictions.
• A vaccine pass or negative COVID-19 test is not required to travel unless people are travelling with some transport providers.
• Face coverings are required on flights, Cook Strait ferries and at arrival and departure points, such as airports.

Businesses and Workplaces
• Workplaces can open at Red but working from home is encouraged.
• This applies to food and drink services (excluding takeaway-only businesses), events, close-proximity businesses and indoor exercise facilities, such as gyms. The mandate also applies to on-site tertiary education when Red settings are in place.
• Close-contact businesses such as hairdressers, as well as gyms and any indoor and outdoor events, cannot open or proceed if vaccine certificates are not being used.

Women's ODI Cricket World Cup unaffected
New Zealand Zealand Sports Minister Grant Robertson has eased fears that the restrictions could impact the women's ODI Cricket World Cup, which is set to be held in March and April.

Speaking at an unscheduled press conference on Sunday, Minister Robertson said the cricket tournament was not expected to be affected, commenting “we don't know how long this will last,.

"The Women's Cricket World Cup organisers have been planning for this tournament to take place in the red setting, and it can absolutely do that.

"Bear in mind, when we brought the red setting in it is possible to use the defined space rules to effectively have pods of 100 people as long as they keep separate from one and another and come into and out of the venue separately.”

The Super Smash T20 cricket is set to continue, with matches being played behind closed doors and it is likely that Super Rugby will follow a similar plan when the season starts on 18th February.

Click here for the New Zealand Ministry of Health’s traffic light guidelines.

Image credit Christchurch City Council.