The COVID-19 Protection Framework, also known as the traffic light system, will be removed from 11.59pm tonight, Monday 12 September, so all New Zealanders can continue to move forward with certainty, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced.
โItโs time to safely turn the page on our COVID-19 management, and live without the extraordinary measures we have previously used,โ Jacinda Ardern said.
โToday marks a milestone in our response. Finally, rather than feeling that COVID dictates what happens to us, our lives, and our futures, we take back control.
โFor the first time in two years we can approach summer with the much needed certainty New Zealanders and business need, helping to drive greater economic activity critical to our economic recovery.
โThe most recent health advice now tells us that with the lowest cases and hospitalisations since February, our population well vaccinated, and expanded access to anti-viral medicines, New Zealand is in a position to move forward.
โYou will no longer be required by Government to wear a mask anywhere, except in healthcare settings like hospitals, GPs and aged residential care facilities.
โSome places, such as workplaces, special events, or marae may ask you to wear a mask, but this will be at their discretion and no longer a Government requirement. Please respect those who choose to keep wearing masks as a form of protection.
โAll remaining Government vaccine mandates will end in two weeks on 26 September. It will now be an employerโs discretion as to whether they require their workforce to be vaccinated.
โVaccination requirements for all travellers arriving into New Zealand including air crew also ends, and the requirement to test on day 0/1 and 5/6 will now just be encouraged.
โOur 7 day isolation period for COVID cases will remain.
โHowever, the 7 day isolation period will now only be required for those who test positive for COVID-19. Their household contacts will only be asked to undertake a daily RAT test before going about their life as normal.
โIn short, we now move on to a simple two requirements system of masks in healthcare settings and 7 days isolation for positive cases only,โ Jacinda Ardern said.
COVID-19 Minister Ayesha Verrall also announced today a significant additional purchase of 40,000 more anti-viral medicine courses, expected to enter New Zealand in the next few days.
โWe are giving greater access to anti-viral medicines for New Zealanders, and have secured agreements that provide a significant boost to our supply for the long term,โ Ayesha Verrall said.
โSo now, anyone over the age of 65, and Mฤori and Pacific people over the age of 50, or anyone who meets Pharmac requirements, can access the treatment in the early stages of contracting the virus.
โThis means more than double the number of New Zealanders will be able to access these medicines if they need them than previously,โ Ayesha Verrall said.
โThere is no question โ thousands of lives have been saved by the efforts of Kiwis. Be it iwi and Maori health providers, Pacifica organisations, aged care providers, businesses or the sacrifices of New Zealanders separated from loved ones, everyone played a part.
โSo today, I say again to everyone, from the bottom of my heart, thank you,โ Jacinda Ardern said.