Yesterday, the Prime Minister announced that all of New Zealand, except Auckland, will move to Alert Level 2 at 11.59 pm on Tuesday, 7 September. Auckland will stay at Alert Level 4 until 11.59 pm on Tuesday, 14 September. Cabinet will review the levels for the whole country, including Auckland, on Monday, 13 September.

Some changes have been made to strengthen the Alert Level 2 settings due to the high transmissibility of the Delta variant, particularly in shared spaces. These include:

• Face coverings are mandatory in public facilities. You can remove your mask to eat or drink at hospitality venues. Staff must wear face coverings.
• Mandatory record-keeping for a range of locations – including facilities such as aged care and those providing healthcare
• Indoor hospitality and venues have a limit of 50 people, including weddings, funerals, and tangihanga.
• A limit of 50 people applies for indoor gatherings, hospitality settings and event venues, 100 people for outdoor environments.
• Indoor public facilities, such as gyms, museums, and libraries, now require two-metre physical distancing.

Even though most of us are at Alert Level 2, there’s still work to do. Everyone has a part to play in stopping the virus from spreading, so keep up your efforts, and we can beat this together.  

Thanks for everything that you are doing. 

Nga Mihi,

Adri Isbister 

Disability Directorate COVID-19 update 7 September 2021

Today we want to keep you informed of: 

• Testing of essential workers crossing alert level boundaries
• Mandatory record-keeping
• Record-keeping at aged care and healthcare facilities
• Businesses operating at Alert Level 2
• Wear a face covering
• Ministry of Health at Alert level 2
• Staying Safe
• Keeping NASCs updated

Testing of essential workers crossing Alert Level boundaries

The Government has announced that evidence of regular testing will be required for workers who need to cross Alert Level boundaries.

The detail will be set out in an amendment to the Alert Level Order, which is currently being drafted; this will take effect from 11.59 pm, Thursday 9 September.

Under the Alert Level Order amendment, permitted workers crossing Alert Level boundaries will be required to prove having had a valid COVID-19 test within the past seven days.

This additional testing requirement is part of the Ministry of Health’s surveillance strategy to ensure that the early detection measures for COVID-19 in the community are working. There is no requirement for people to stay at home while awaiting the result of their test unless they are symptomatic.

We are working through how we will monitor compliance with this new testing requirement and envisage a process of spot-checking of permitted workers at boundaries.

We will share further information as it becomes available over the coming days; this includes Testing Guidance and timeframes to implement this new requirement.

This additional testing will assure that travel across the boundary is being done safely. We are urging permitted workers that need to cross the border to undertake testing now.

Nasal swab testing is available at community testing sites around Auckland or GP practices. Go to the Healthpoint website (https://www.healthpoint.co.nz/) for details of testing locations. Saliva testing is also available for border workers who have opted in with their employer for this type of testing.

Mandatory Record Keeping

From Wednesday, 8 September 2021, businesses and locations will be required to take steps to ensure people can easily make a record when they visit. Good record keeping supports faster communication with those who are identified as contacts of a positive case. Mandatory record-keeping will apply to a range of new locations, including:

• health and aged care facilities
• local and central government facilities
• some exercise facilities
• social services providers with customer service counters
• hospitality and entertainment businesses.

The complete list of locations, guidance for ensuring that alternative recording keeping methods protect people’s privacy, and more information about mandatory record keeping are available on the Unite Against COVID-19 website. 

Record keeping at aged care facilities and health care facilities

The new rules will apply only for “visitors to aged care and health care facilities”. It does not apply to patients or staff, as record-keeping practices are already in place for them (for example, appointments, swipe cards, or rostered shift records).

Facilities should make reasonable efforts to keep records, bearing in mind people with disabilities may require alternative arrangements.

Suppose someone is brought into a health care facility for care without an existing appointment. The facility is likely to record that the person has been there when they are receiving care. Where possible, the patient should still scan in, but this isn’t mandatory, provided the facility has an alternative way of recording the time and contact details of the person.
Anyone who accompanies the patient or visits them will need to scan or sign in (preferably both) to record them being at that facility.

Contractors should sign in to ensure they record their time on-site as an extra precaution that they may not have kept other records of their visit.

Workplaces operating at Alert Level 2

Workplaces legally must operate safely. Workplaces can open for staff and customers provided they meet public health requirements.

This means complying with general Alert Level 2 settings meeting appropriate public health requirements for their workplace (for example having contact tracing systems, face coverings, and physical distancing), and fulfilling all other health and safety obligations.

All workplaces are encouraged to use alternative ways of working if possible.

Wear a face covering

Face coverings can help reduce the spread of COVID-19. It helps stop droplets spreading when someone speaks, laughs, coughs or sneezes. We encourage you to wear a face-covering as much a possible, especially if it is hard to maintain physical distance from others.

Ministry of Health at Alert Level 2

Given the need to maintain physical distancing in the office and on public transport, the Ministry of Health has decided at this stage to have most of our people working from home. Your Sector Lead will continue to be your primary contact point- contact details are at the end of this update.

You can find more information about life at the different Alert Levels on the Unite Against COVID-19 website:

• Alert Level 2 | Unite against COVID-19 (covid19.govt.nz)
• Alert Level 4 | Unite against COVID-19 (covid19.govt.nz)

Keep NASCs updated

As a reminder, if needs have changed for a disabled person, we want to encourage you to stay connected with your NASC. Ensuring disabled people continue to access good life outcomes is as important as seeking medical advice during a lockdown.

General COVID-19 updates

Staying safe

We have updated information about staying safe during COVID-19 lockdowns and who you can contact for support; this includes information and advice for anyone who feels they have experienced any form of abuse and a list of supporting organisations to contact for advice. You may want to include this in your publications - see further information on this web page.

Safety from abuse or violence during COVID-19 lockdowns | Ministry of Health NZ

Police are reminding people to drive safely

Despite the travel restrictions that have been in place across the country since Alert Level 4 restrictions came into place, emergency services continue to be called to severe and fatal crashes throughout New Zealand. Police encourage everyone to focus on the basics – drive within the speed limit and at a safe speed for the conditions, ensure everyone in the vehicle is appropriately restrained, don’t drive while impaired, and put your phone away.

Viewing of tūpapaku at Alert Level 4 (funerals, tangihanga and burials)

Previously, viewings of tūpāpaku were not allowed under Alert Level 4; this has now been updated to enable viewings at funeral homes, with requirements that you must meet. These include that the attendees must be from the same household or shared bubble arrangement as one another, wear masks, maintain physical distancing, and not be self-isolating or have symptoms of COVID-19. There has also been clarification on provisions for religious and cultural rituals.

Funerals, tangihanga and last rites | Unite against COVID-19 (covid19.govt.nz)

Summary of updated web links 

Get more information on essential services on: 

COVID-19: Essential services in the health and disability system 

Disability residential care providers

Alert Level 4 | Unite against COVID-19 (covid19.govt.nz)   

Re-applying for Business Travel Documents: 

For personal travel across an alert level boundary, please go to Unite Against COVID 

Business travel across Alert Level Boundaries — business.govt.nz  

National PPE and critical medical supply chain:

COVID-19: Personal Protective Equipment Central Supply | Ministry of Health NZ 

Key Disability Directorate contacts

If you need to speak to someone, these are the contact details for those in the Disability Directorate.   

Provider streams/service types:   

Disability Information and Advisory Services, Needs Assessment Service Co-ordination, and Needs Assessment Service Co-ordination Association   

• Doug Funnell doug.funnell@health.govt.nz    

National Intellectual Disability Secure Services, Regional Intellectual Disability Support Accommodation Services, Intellectual Disability (Compulsory Care & Rehabilitation) Act.   

• Amanda Smith amanda.smith@health.govt.nz   

General Manager Operations   

• Amanda Bleckmann amanda.bleckmann@health.govt.nz   

Residential, Contract Board, Foster Care and Respite    

• Viv Ruth, viv.ruth@health.govt.nz    

Home and Community Support and Supported Living    

• Martin Anderson, martin.anderson@health.govt.nz    

Individualised Funding and Personal Budget Hosts, Day Services and MSD (Ministry of Social Development) contact    

• Christy Richards, christy.richards@health.govt.nz      

Child Development Services and Autism Developmental Coordination    

• Ondine Claridge, ondine.claridge@health.govt.nz    

Equipment and Modification Services    

• Cath Williams, catherine.williams@health.govt.nz    

Vision and Hearing Services    

• Sarah Payne, sarah.payne@health.govt.nz    

Key Stakeholder Groups:   

Carers and Carers Alliance    

• Stuart Parkinson, stuart.parkinson@health.govt.nz     

Disabled People Organisations/EGL Governance and Leadership Groups/Human Rights Commission    

• James Poskitt, james.poskitt@health.govt.nz     

Maori Equity, Providers, Te Ao Marama and Whānau Ora interface Group    

• Noho Williams, nohopuku.williams@health.govt.nz     

Pacific Equity, Providers and Favia Ora    

• Tofa Gush, tofa.gush@health.govt.nz    

General Contacts:   

Deputy Director General Disability     

• Adri Isbister, adri.isbister@health.govt.nz     

COVID-19 Disability Lead    

• Rāwā Karetai Wood-Bodley, rawa.karetai@health.govt.nz     

General Disability Enquiries  

• disability@health.govt.nz