PM Jacinda Ardern taken further steps to protect New Zealand from COVID-19

PM Jacinda Ardern taken further steps to protect New Zealand from COVID-19

You’ve probably heard that today we’ve taken further steps to protect New Zealand from COVID-19. Below is an update on what this means for you and your family. As usual, if you have questions, please add them in the comments and I’ll do my best to address them in my next update. In the meantime, head to covid19.govt.nz for the most up to date information.

A warning: it’s another long post. I’ll go into more detail below, but there are four things I wanted to draw your attention to this evening:

1. From 11:59pm tonight (Thursday), all non-residents and non-citizens will be effectively stopped from boarding a plane to New Zealand. New Zealand citizens and residents, their partners and their children will be able to return home, but tourists or temporary visa holders such as students or temporary workers will not be able to enter New Zealand

2. On Monday, we announced gatherings and events of 500 or more people outside should be cancelled. We have now extended that to indoor events with more than 100 people.

3. Due to the global nature of this pandemic, we have raised the travel advice to its highest level: do not travel. All New Zealanders are asked not to travel overseas.

4. There’s been significant misinformation online today about the government’s COVID-19 response. Check the sources of what you’re seeing and, to be sure what you’re reading is accurate, please visit www.covid19.govt.nz.

Now, for the longer version.

BORDERS

Protecting New Zealanders from COVID-19 is our number one priority. In recent days it has become increasingly clear that the spread of the virus in other parts of the world means we need to take even stronger border measures at home. This afternoon, Cabinet met and took the decision to stop any tourist, or temporary visa holders such as students or temporary workers, from coming to and entering New Zealand. This will effectively stop all people from boarding a plane to New Zealand from 11:59pm today, except for returning New Zealanders, their partners and children. Exemptions can be sought for very limited reasons, such as humanitarian reasons and essential health workers. We have also decided to close our borders to visitors and temporary visa holders from the Pacific Islands too.

EVENTS

On Monday I announced that gatherings and events of 500 or more people outside should be cancelled. Today, we have extended that advice to cover indoor events where there will be more than 100 people present.(These measures don’t apply to workplaces, schools, universities, supermarkets or public transport.)

Making sure we put in place social distancing rules is one of the most important things we can do to protect the public.

Large gatherings are a high risk environment for the spread of infectious diseases. It’s also hard to trace those that someone with COVID-19 may have been in contact with if a large gathering is involved.

TRAVEL

COVID-19 is an unprecedented global event, and as such, we are taking unprecedented action to protect the health and wellbeing of New Zealanders. Today, we upgraded our travel advice to its highest level: do not travel. This is the first time the New Zealand Government has advised Kiwis against travelling overseas.

We know that many of you will have holidays with friends and loved ones planned, or work trips that have been booked months ahead, but your long-term health, and the health of your loved ones, co-workers and communities, is just too important.

MISINFORMATION

Today, a worrying piece of misinformation regarding COVID-19 was brought to my attention that I want to address. A social media post, claiming to have insider information regarding our Government’s planned response to the virus, was being widely shared among New Zealanders, causing real anxiety. I want to reassure you that if you saw this, it is not true. In the midst of what is a global issue, as you would expect, there are a number of rumours that circulate. I am present on social media. I see it myself. I cannot dismiss every single rumour I see, as tempted as I might be. So instead, I just want to assure you that we will share with you the most up to date information daily.

You can also rely on the Director General of Health and the Ministry of Health. I’d encourage you to visit their website any time to help dismiss any rumour you may hear or answer any questions you may have - that’s covid19.govt.nz.

OUR ECONOMIC RESPONSE

We’ve gone hard with our health response, and now we’re going hard with our financial response too. This week we announced the most significant peace-time economic plan for New Zealand, a $12.1 billion COVID-19 Response Package, to help people stay in work and reduce the blow for business.

This morning, I spent the day in Rotorua meeting with people whose businesses will be most directly affected by the impact of the virus to discuss their concerns, and talk them through the package. It was great to hear the difference it would make - especially to keep people employed while businesses work up a plan for the future.

If you own a business and think you’ll be affected by COVID-19, no matter what your size, you are eligible to apply for help. I’d encourage you to do so at www.workandincome.govt.nz.

Finally, this is a rapidly evolving global situation, and protecting New Zealanders’ health and slowing the spread of this virus is our number one focus. It’s also the best thing we can do for the economy. That is why we must go hard, and go early. And we have.