Mask mandate NZ

2022 - 9 - 12

covid 19 - mask wearing nz - masks nz - nz covid - traffic light system

Post cover — Image courtesy of "New Zealand Herald"

Watch live: Lights out tonight! Govt scraps traffic light system, almost ... (New Zealand Herald)

KEY POINTS. • The Covid-19 Protection Framework, also known as the traffic light system, will end at 11.59pm tonight. • All mask wearing requirements ...

It will hopefully further facilitate the movement of tourists, international students, and skilled migrants into New Zealand," Goff said. "Masks do have downsides and it's important to weigh those against the benefits they provide. However, we encourage the Government to review the isolation period for Covid-19 cases within the next four weeks." The seven-day rolling average of hospitalisations today is 241; last Monday, it was 273. "It is sensible to take away isolation requirements for household contacts, but it would also make sense to shorten the isolation period for cases. This is particularly vital for ensuring that our disabled and immunocompromised whānau can continue to go about their normal lives without putting their health at greater risk." We will be living with new waves of the infection for many years to come. Focus must immediately shift to slowing the spread of Covid-19 through long-term protective public health measures, alongside equal access to all future vaccines. We applaud the removal of the requirement for household contacts to isolate. "The impacts of our response have been immense. There would continue to be monthly "check-ins" on these two settings, Ardern said. Vaccination levels were also high and there was increased access to anti-viral medicines, she said.

New Zealand Scraps Most Covid Rules as Virus Battle Winds Down (Bloomberg)

New Zealand will no longer require people to wear masks in indoor public spaces or to be vaccinated to work in certain roles, as the country winds down its ...

New Zealand dropping vaccine mandates and most mask ... (Axios)

"It's time to safely turn the page on our COVID-19 management," PM Jacinda Ardern said today.

[stamped out COVID-19](https://www.axios.com/2020/08/09/new-zealand-no-community-spread-ardern-re-election) community cases with some of the world's toughest measures. [President Biden told](https://www.axios.com/2022/09/05/biden-tie-israel-hands-iran) Prime Minister Lapid the U.S. [Iran](https://www.axios.com/world/iran) even if a nuclear deal is signed. [New Zealand borders fully reopen as COVID travel restrictions end](https://www.axios.com/2022/08/01/new-zealand-borders-fully-reopen-covid-measures-lift) After Omicron arrived, the government switched its response to [mask and vaccine mandates](https://www.axios.com/2021/10/04/new-zealand-covid-elimination-strategy), which [Ardern pledged ](https://www.axios.com/2022/02/21/new-zealand-pm-indicates-mandates-will-lift-after-omicron-peaks)to lift once the threat of the variant had passed. [pandemic restrictions](https://www.axios.com/2021/10/26/new-zealand-covid-vaccine-mandate-businesses), Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced Monday.

New Zealand drops mask and vaccine mandates in sweeping Covid ... (The Guardian)

Jacinda Ardern says it is time to 'turn the page' on the pandemic as she scraps all but a handful of restrictions.

So today, I say again to everyone, from the bottom of my heart, thank you.” “Where our borders are fully reopened and there isn’t a fear of being separated or stranded. Also gone are the few remaining vaccine mandates, for workers and inbound travellers. “Today marks a milestone in our response. From Tuesday, mask-wearing will only be compulsory in healthcare settings, excepting mental health services. [dropped sharply in recent weeks](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/aug/15/new-zealand-covid-cases-at-six-month-low-in-sign-winter-wave-is-easing), giving the government confidence to move past onerous restrictions.

Covid-19 rules mostly scrapped - will masks be missed? (RNZ)

The Covid-19 traffic light system is gone and people can hop on a bus, go shopping or visit the library without wearing a mask.

And the government's now come down to people to make their own choices which is a good thing. On Wellington's Lambton Quay, some were not ready to throw away their face coverings just yet, especially for flights and in crowded places. "To be honest we're all sick of wearing masks. ["The sense I get is that most people will be very pleased" - Retail NZ chief executive Greg Hartford duration 2:35](/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018858472/retail-nz-on-loosening-mask-rules) ["The sense I get is that most people will be very pleased" - Retail NZ chief executive Greg Hartford](/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018858472/retail-nz-on-loosening-mask-rules) So how are Aucklanders feeling about the change? Several spoken to by RNZ said it was "about time" and welcomed "getting back to normal".

New Zealand government ends COVID mask mandates (WSWS)

On Monday, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the end of mask mandates and other public health measures.

This fight must be conducted in opposition to the Labour Party-led government and all of the parliamentary parties, as well as the trade unions. The party, which is part of the government, calls for minimal and inadequate mitigations, and does not advocate a return to a properly-funded elimination strategy. Hospitals, understaffed and overcrowded even before the pandemic, remain in a constant state of crisis, with emergency departments overwhelmed. After being re-elected in 2020 largely on the basis of this policy, Labour succumbed to business pressure to scrap it, against the advice of public health experts. She said: “Damage from Covid-19 can be seen in every organ system including the heart and brain… All businesses and schools must be kept open without restrictions, regardless of the cost to people’s health and lives. Ardern contrasted New Zealand’s death toll with the “tragic loss of 15,500 people in Scotland,” which has a similar population. These deaths were the entirely preventable outcome of ending all lockdowns and reopening nonessential businesses and schools during the Delta and Omicron waves, allowing COVID to spread everywhere. Voices for Freedom is the anti-vax group that helped organise the occupation of parliament’s lawn for three weeks earlier this year. The government has also ditched the requirement for household contacts of positive cases to isolate at home for any period. The inevitable result will be a resurgence in infections, hospitalisations and deaths, as has occurred internationally. On Monday, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the end of mask mandates and other public health measures.