Covid-Free Since 8th June

Today’s announcement of the current Covid-19 numbers reached a new milestone today. For the last 17 days there have been no new cases. Today, the final person showing symptoms has officially recovered, so there are no active cases of Covid-19 in New Zealand. Woohoo!

Shortly after 3pm, the prime minister Saint Jacinda acknowledged this, and said that New Zealand would move to Covid-19 alert Level 1 with effect from midnight tonight. There is no requirement to give 48 hours’ notice, as there had been under previous changes to the alert level, as there were no preparations which needed to be put in place to go to Level 1.

What does Level 1 look like? The borders are still effectively closed, with only specific movements of people in and out, and 14-day quarantines remaining in place for people entering the country. The recent arrival of film workers to start the Avatar sequels project are an example of this, and still need to stay in quarantine a further week before they can begin. Otherwise, businesses can open up as normal, and city centre workers are being encouraged to return to offices, in an effort to support those other businesses – hospitality and retail, for example – that rely on office workers being at their desks. People are still encouraged to maintain good hygiene, coughing etiquette, stay home if they feel ill, and record their movements in the event of a further outbreak – the government’s Covid-19 tracer app and Wellington’s Rippl are both still available for use.

We went back to pub quiz last week under level 2 for the first time, but this week we’ll be able to actually order at the bar, and mingle with other teams and our host, Andy.

Over the coming weeks we should hear more about extending our national “bubble”, both across the Tasman to Australia, and into the Pacific, when it is prudent to do so. It will probably be some time before we can return to normal travel to the rest of the world, though. For the time being it looks like we will be holidaying in New Zealand,  and we will of course be doing our bit to support local businesses and tourism.