Hospo premises to stay shut under alert level 3 – PM

16th April 2020 By Shannon Williams | shannon@tourismticker.com | @tourismticker

Outlets like the Lake Bar at Wanaka won’t be able to open under Covid-19 alert level 3. Image: TT

Restaurants, bars and cafes will remain closed at Covid-19 alert level 3, prime minister Jacinda Ardern says.

In a media conference this afternoon, Ardern gave details about what life and business could look like post-Covid-19 level 4 lockdown.

“The principles for businesses and workplace at level 3 will move from essential operations to safe operations only. We still want to reduce contact with one another, so you must work from home if you can,” she said.

Jacinda Ardern

Under level 3, bars, restaurants and cafes would remain closed, as would malls and retail stores. Unlike level 4, food delivery, drive through services, online shopping and click and collect could operate. Face-to-face transactions would not be allowed.

“There is a high level of responsibility that comes with reopening many businesses in this way and it isn’t without risk,” Ardern said.

“We have consulted with major sectors, like hospitality and retail on these changes, and we are working with other sectors on industry-specific guidelines to minimise risk. But at level 3, we cautiously open up our economy albeit with significant mitigations.”

The prime minister said all workplaces should begin to work on a plan for how they would manage risks and protect workers and customers under level 3, and these must be made available for staff. A self accreditation scheme would be made available online.

“We expect businesses to put in hygiene and cleaning regimes and social distancing within their workplaces. We will be putting in place some support through the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment to help people self-accredit, and to be able to formulate a worksite plan that they will have to make available at their worksite for employees and customers.”

More information would be made available by MBIE next week.

Travel restrictions would still remain at level 3, Ardern said.

“Previously we have talked about keeping it local. At level 3 we will ask that you keep it regional. The principle here is that we know at level 3 more people will travel to work, or to take children to school. We don’t, however, want potential Covid-19 cases to move to other parts of the country, so restricting movement to only what is necessary is still the goal here.”

Recreation activities would also remain restricted at level 3. Boating and jet skis would still be disallowed, however, swimming, surfing and fishing from shore would be allowed as a solo activity or within a person’s bubble.

Life events such as funerals, tangi and weddings would be able go ahead with 10 people or less, however, no food, meals or receptions would be allowed.

Ardern emphasised that these details “in no way foreshadowed” the decision that would be made next week regarding a potential lift of the current lockdown.

The Government would make a decision on whether New Zealand moved out of level 4 lockdown on Monday 20 April, two days before it was set to end.