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SocietyMarch 24, 2020

‘Essential services’: what stays open, and what must close, in lockdown NZ?

Staff writers
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New Zealand soon moves into alert level four to fight the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. Everyone is required to stay home as of 11.59pm Wednesday. Except essential services. What are those?

Updated with new guidelines issued at 9.30pm on March 24

Announcing the historic decision to institute a nationwide shutdown as of Wednesday, Jacinda Ardern laid out the exceptions. Supermarkets, banks, GPs, pharmacies, service stations, couriers and “other important frontline service providers” would be classed as essential services.

People can continue to use those services, though are encouraged to do so sparingly.

Schools will be closed.

Public transport and regional air travel will be restricted to “those involved in essential services and freight”, though there will be some flexibility for those striving to make it home. Domestic air travel is permitted “in some cases for people to leave the country and to get home to self-isolate.”

“Food, healthcare, energy, internet, waste collection and financial support will always be available. They must have health measures and contact tracing in place.”

Non-essential businesses must now close. All bars, restaurants, cafes, gyms, cinemas, pools, museums, libraries, playgrounds and any other place where the public congregate must close their face to face function.

Over the next 48 hours as we move to Level 4, takeaway services must move to close their operations.

But what is the detail?

This is official guidance as it stands.

Retail

Can open

  • Dairies, with “one-in one-out” rule·
  • Supermarkets
  • Pharmacies
  • Banks
  • Couriers
  • Service stations
  • Liquor stores within a Licensing Trust Area and with “one-in one-out” rule
  • Self-service laundries (with two-metre physical distancing enforced)·
  • Trade for essential services sales at Bunnings, Mitre 10, Placemakers, etc
  • Food bag/box (not cooked) services

Must close

  • General retail for Bunnings, Mitre 10, Placemakers, etc
  • The Warehouse
  • Liquor shops outside areas where trusts prevent supermarket sales
  • All cooked food delivery (except meals on wheels)

“Only the businesses absolutely essential to ensure the necessities of life, like supermarkets and pharmacies, can stay open. If in doubt, the business premises should be closed,” said Paul Stocks, deputy CEO at MBIE, in a statement on Tuesday evening.

“So unfortunately the Warehouse needs to close its shops. Leaving them open to the general public creates too high a risk of further spreading the virus.”

Stocks said “big box” retailers like Bunnings, Placemakers and Mitre 10 can stay open to trade customers for essential purposes only.

“These retailers play an important part in the construction supply chain, but they cannot sell goods to the general public.”

Businesses that are a critical part of the supply chain for essential services are also able to continue operating, but must do so in a way that is safe.

“For example, if you make chemicals that are needed for our waste water plants, then we need you to keep operating at the minimum level required.”

Dairies can continue to operate, but must observe strict physical distancing rules for customers.

“Dairies provide basic food items like bread and milk to people close to where they live, especially the elderly who may not be able to get to a supermarket. However, they will need to operate a strict ‘one-in one-out’ policy and they won’t be allowed to sell food prepared on the premises.

“If any dairy breaks the rules, we will shut it down. If there is evidence of systemic abuse, we will remove them from the essential services list.

“Food delivery services like Uber Eats and Deliver Easy pose a risk to human health. We cannot guarantee every kitchen operates strict food preparation controls or that everyone who works in a kitchen is well. Evidence overseas suggests the virus has been spread via poor food hygiene practices, so it’s a real risk we have to eliminate.

“For clarity, every restaurant, café and bar must close all aspects of their operation, including delivery.

“Delivery of food that is not pre-cooked will be allowed under strict health conditions. Many New Zealanders now receive their food via a delivery company and are in effect no different to a supermarket delivery option.

“Most people are able to purchase alcohol at supermarkets. On that basis liquor stores are being treated as other non-essential retail outlets and must close. The only exception to this are Licencing Trust Areas where there is nowhere else to purchase alcohol. These stores must operate a ‘one-in one-out’ policy.

“We are doing further work on online ordering of non-food products for home delivery to see if this type of retail can be conducted safely. We will update advice on this once further decisions are made.

“Covid-19 alert level 4 is not business as usual and means there will be significant restrictions on what New Zealanders are able to purchase. However, these changes are essential to stop the spread of the virus.

“We are ready to change the list if necessary. If we discover there are essential services that have not been made available we will react to that as we go.”

The above is based on new information as of 9.30pm March 24 

Essential services

  • (Includes the supply chains)

Accommodation             

  • Accommodation services for essential workers and people who need to be isolated/quarantined.

Border 

  • Customs New Zealand, Immigration New Zealand and the Ministry for Primary Industries

Building and construction

  • Building and construction related to essential services, critical infrastructure, or immediately needed to maintain human health and safety at home/work.

Courts, tribunals and the justice system              

  • Courts of New Zealand and tribunals.

Critical Crown entities

  • (eg Electoral Commission)

Fast-moving consumer goods   

  • Businesses involved in the supply, delivery, distribution and sale of food, beverage and other key consumer goods (but not takeaway shops)

Financial services

  • Banks, insurers and other financial institutions
  • NZX
  • Securities registries

Health 

  • Hospitals, primary care clinics, pharmacies, medical laboratories, care facilities
  • Midwives, kaiāwhina workers, social workers, aged care and community workers and caregivers more generally
  • Any entity producing health sector equipment, medicines and PPE

Ambulance services

Mortuary services

Local and national government

  • Any entity involved in Covid-19 response or that has civil defence/emergency management functions

Key public services

Primary industries

  • Including food and beverage production and processing
  • Packaging, production and processing of food and beverage products.
  • Food safety and verification, inspection or associated laboratory services, food safety and biosecurity functions

Veterinary and animal health/welfare services

Public safety and national security

Emergency services

Security and intelligence services

Justice system

Public safety and national security roles

Science               

  • Any entity (including research organisations) involved in Covid-19 response, hazard monitoring, resilience, diagnostics for essential services
  • ESR, GNS, GeoNet, NIWA, MetService

Social services 

  • Welfare and social services, including NGOs, which meet immediate needs (further guidance will be provided)

Transport and logistics 

  • Transport services
  • New Zealand Post and courier services.
  • Any small passenger service vehicle driver – including taxis and ride-share services
  • Businesses providing services to keep vehicles safe (e.g. testing, mechanics and tyre services)

Utilities and communications, including supply chains

  • Electricity, gas, water, waste, fuel, telecommunication services, internet providers
  • News and broadcast media
  • Businesses that provide essential services to these essential businesses (e.g. cleaning and security)
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    These businesses will continue working, but will put in place alternative ways of working to keep employees safe, including shift-based working, staggered meal breaks, flexible leave arrangements and physical distancing.

    A more detailed list can be found here. A call centre and 0800 number for each sector is promised to be forthcoming. Keep an eye on this page.

    Updated 11am, March 24, to reflect revised guidelines.

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    SocietyMarch 24, 2020

    Covid-19: What are the rules for lockdown in New Zealand?

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    Get used to seeing the other side of your front door for the next four weeks. Here’s the rules of Alert Level 4.
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    New Zealand is about to move to alert level four in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. It will put the nation, in effect, on lockdown for four weeks. At least. Here’s what that means in practice.

    When does it start and what do I do?

    The lockdown starts at 11:59pm on Wednesday. From this point on, unless you are providing an essential service or going to the supermarket or getting a bit of brisk exercise (at a distance from others), you must self-isolate at home.

    What should I do before the lockdown starts?

    Don’t panic. Make sure everyone in your household knows the rules of self-isolation. Prepare to work from home if you’re not already.

    What will be open?

    “Essential services” will remain open. You can find a list of them here. In summary: Supermarkets, doctors, service stations and pharmacies will remain open, and will remain stocked. There may be certain restrictions, like different opening hours or a limit on the amount of people allowed in-store, but they will remain open.

    Shop for the supplies you need, but go as infrequently as possible. The point of the entire exercise is to as far as possible eliminate people’s contact with one another. And remember to stay vigilant, even while you’re shopping. Stay two metres away from each other. 

    Will schools be closed?

    Yes. Same for ECE and tertiary institutions.

    Do I have to self-isolate from my own household?

    No. The idea is you form a bubble; say, your family or the group you flat with. Unless one of you is sick, in which case that person should self-isolate as a precaution within the self-isolation. A bubble within a bubble.

    Can I go visit friends or family?

    No. Your self-isolating unit, or “bubble”, is the only direct social contact you’re allowed. That means you and the other people you live with. As Jacinda Ardern put it, “Whatever your bubble for the month is the bubble that you must maintain.”

    If you need to stay social – which is recommended for mental health and wellbeing – we’ve written a few tips about things you can do while self-isolating.

    What if I live alone?

    Ardern has suggested a “buddy system”; if you live alone, you and another person who lives alone can form a bubble together and support one another, on the basis that they agree not to have contact with anyone beyond.

    This isn’t an extreme version of what you should be doing.

    What if I can find a way to qualify as an “essential worker”? Does that mean I get to catch up with friends?

    No. John Ombler, who is overseeing the Covid-19 operationally, put it plainly: “The goal of the lockdown is to limit the spread of the virus and if you’re looking for exceptions to the rule, you’ve missed the point of it and means other New Zealanders would die.”

    Can I go outside?

    Yes. You’re allowed go to the supermarket, pharmacies and doctors (phone ahead!). You are also allowed to go outside for some fresh air or exercise, but the two metre rule remains the same. You should not be interacting with anybody outside your self-isolation unit.

    You can drive locally, if you are going to essential services. The key is that there must be no face-to-face congregation in public spaces. Once more, you should not be interacting with anybody outside your self-isolation unit.

    My family member is due to arrive home on a flight after the lockdown has begun. What do they do?

    They must self-isolate for 14 days in the city in which they arrive, with the rules that have been in place for the past while.

    What if I am an essential worker and I need childcare?

    Iona Holsted, secretary for education, clarified today that some parents who are essential workers will need to find a childcare. Their carer then becomes a “trusted buddy” who is identified as part of that particular self-isolated group. “It is critical that that buddy cannot then have other contacts other than your own household. You all become one group … the smaller the better.”

    I have shared custody of kids. Can they move between homes?

    The guidance is that they can if you live in the same community as the other household, but not if we’re talking separate cities. If you have kids going from one household to another, however, both homes become part of the same bubble. Or to switch metaphors, the only two links in the chain. 

    Will I still continue to receive mail?

    Yes. NZ Post is an essential service, and will continue to deliver. Post shops may be closed, so if you use those to pay your bills, you will need to find other arrangements.

    Will I still be able to shop online? 

    It depends entirely on the business. Some overseas-based digital storefronts for buying movies, games and ebooks, for example, will remain open, though deliveries may be delayed. Most NZ shopping portals for non-essential items will be closed for the duration of the lockdown.

    Online supermarket shopping will continue but people are encouraged not to gobble up the delivery slots, so that people who really need those deliveries can get them.

    Will my rubbish and recycling be collected?

    Rubbish, yes. Recycling, usually, but check online. Some authorities may suspend recycling collections.

    How will this be enforced?

    Compliance with the lockdown will be enforced by the police and the New Zealand Defence Force.

    Police commissioner Mike Bush said New Zealanders could expect to see a strong police presence, and likely also some military presence. These authorities have the power to enforce the lockdown if they see people flouting the rules, for example, by congregating in public.

    Bush stressed that this is about education and encouragement. “We don’t want to get into a place where we have to enforce these decisions, but we will if required.”

    When will it end?

    Four weeks is the minimum. It will be reviewed as we approach that date. Keep in mind that, despite the lockdown, the Covid-19 numbers will get worse before they get better. 

    What would make it get extended?

    A lack of success in stamping out Covid-19. As prime minister Jacinda Ardern put it: “If you hang out with that friend at a park or see that family member for lunch, you risk spreading Covid-19 and extending everyone’s time in level 4.”

    Society