Kia ora John,  <[link removed]>

When faced with the threat of COVID-19 spreading across New Zealand, we believed that decisive action - going hard and going early - would give us the very best chance to stamp out the virus. And the evidence shows it’s working.

So far, thanks to our collective efforts, we have managed to do what very few other countries have been able to achieve: we have stopped a wave of devastation crashing through our country. 

Currently, our transmission rate - that’s the number of cases each person with the virus passes it on to - is 0.48. Overseas the average is 2.5. Thanks to our early response to COVID-19, we have amongst the lowest number of confirmed cases per 100,000 people in the world. This is something every Kiwi can - and should - be proud of, because we were all part of breaking the chain of transmission. 

Now though, it is our collective responsibility to make sure that we do not lose any of the early gains we have made in the fight against this virus.

That is why today, Cabinet decided that New Zealand will remain in Alert Level 4 lockdown until 11.59pm on Monday 27 April, one week from today. We will then hold in Alert Level 3 for two weeks, before reviewing how we are tracking again. We will make further decisions at Cabinet on the 11th of May.

Our move to Alert Level 3 next week is about allowing for more economic activity to restart - like construction, manufacturing and forestry - but it does not allow more social activity. And for good reason. If we want to make sure that we are a health success story, and ensure our economy can start to operate again without the virus taking off, we need to get the next phase right.

The worst thing we can do for our country is to yo-yo between levels, with all of the uncertainty that this would bring. We need to move with confidence. And that means following the rules.

With that in mind, here’s a reminder of the principles for life at Alert Level 3.

- Stay home: If you are not at work, school, exercising or getting essentials, then you must be at home, the same as at level 4.
- Work and learn from home if you can: We still want the vast majority of people working from home, and children and young people learning from home. At-risk students and staff should also stay at home, and they will be supported to do so. Early learning centres and schools will physically be open for up to Year 10 for families that need them.
- Make your business COVID-19 safe: COVID-19 has spread in workplaces, so the quid pro quo of being able to open is doing it in a way that doesn’t spread the virus. Important industries like construction, manufacturing and forestry will be able to open, as will retail so long as it is not customer-facing.
- Stay regional:You can exercise at local parks or beaches within your region, but the closer to home the better. Activities must be safe – keep two metres away from anybody not in your bubble. Make minimal trips.
- Keep your bubble as small as possible:If you need to, you can expand your bubble a small amount to bring in close family, isolated people or caregivers.
- Wash your hands often with soap: Then dry them. Stay home if you are sick. Cough into your elbow.
- If you’re sick stay at home: Please seek advice from your GP or Healthline about getting a test. And quickly. There is no stigma to COVID-19. We will only be successful if everyone is willing to play their part in finding it wherever it is.

These rules are important. We all want to continue to progress down the levels, and the best hope of getting back to normal as soon as possible is not getting ahead of where we are right now.

To recap, where we are right now is in Alert Level 4 lockdown for the next week.

From Tuesday the 28th of April, we will move to Alert Level 3 and stay there for two weeks. Those two weeks give us another cycle of transmission to assess how we are doing. From there, we will move if we can and if we’re ready. But only when we’re ready, and only when it’s safe.

This is a five million strong team effort and I couldn’t be prouder of the start we have made, but let’s not waste this chance to eliminate the virus.

So please, stay strong, stay home, be kind. And let’s finish what we started.

Jacinda




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