Traffic light system nz

2022 - 9 - 12

Post cover
Image courtesy of "New Zealand Herald"

Lights out at midnight? Cabinet set to scrap traffic light system today (New Zealand Herald)

The Covid-19 traffic light system is almost certain to be scrapped by Cabinet today and the change could come into effect as soon as midnight tonight, ...

But our approach has been tweaked and changed all the way through in response to things to be proportionate, and so Cabinet will look at that today and make our decision. The NZ Herald revealed last Thursday that Cabinet was expected to decide on scrapping the traffic lights altogether rather than changing the rules or moving to green. The traffic light system was set up under the Epidemic Preparedness (COVID-19) Notice 2020 which has been renewed by the Prime Minister every three months since March 2020. "No other jurisdiction requires seven days mandatory isolation for cases and household contacts. On Newstalk ZB this morning, Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson said there would "absolutely" be clarity about the Covid rules after Cabinet met. The Notice is required to be able to make orders for the Covid-19 response.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Newshub"

Government considers scrapping traffic light system, broader COVID ... (Newshub)

If the country moved to the green setting, or scrapped the traffic lights altogether, there would no longer be any COVID-19 restrictions. Speaking with AM's ...

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Otago Daily Times"

Covid traffic light system to be scrapped today? (Otago Daily Times)

On Newstalk ZB this morning, Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson said there would "absolutely" be clarity about the Covid rules after Cabinet met. He said ...

The New Zealand Herald revealed last Thursday that Cabinet was expected to decide on scrapping the traffic lights altogether rather than changing the rules or moving to green. The traffic light system was set up under the Epidemic Preparedness (COVID-19) Notice 2020 which has been renewed by the Prime Minister every three months since March 2020. But our approach has been tweaked and changed all the way through in response to things to be proportionate, and so Cabinet will look at that today and make our decision.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Stuff.co.nz"

Decisions on Covid-19 traffic light settings and a public holiday for ... (Stuff.co.nz)

Cabinet is poised to make a significant change to the pandemic rules, while also considering a memorial for the Queen.

They work for you, not the parties or people in power. People are a bit unsure of what they’re doing [and] you don’t get that internal enforcement.” Hospitalisations are also going down: On Friday, 243 people were in hospital with the virus. “All the evidence is around having something active in place that people are aware of, rather than trying to create something new.” Whatever your politics, we can all agree: New Zealand is better off when Kiwis are well-informed. Six people were reported as dying with the virus. “If you go down the street today and you go to the shop, a lot of people are not wearing masks,” he said. “I get very frustrated, a lot of this stuff was predicted, we know what the impacts are going to be and we didn’t prepare for it,” Hopkins said. Hopkins said the real issue with scrapping the framework was less to do with the legislation which underpins the rules and more to do with the levels of public compliance. If New Zealand were to drop to the green setting, it would be the biggest loosening of restrictions in more than a year. But Professor James Hopkins, who specialises in disaster law at the University of Canterbury, said tweaks to the traffic light system would be difficult because they would create public confusion and put a dent in compliance. Also up for discussion is the traffic light setting for controlling the spread of Covid-19, as the country moves to a potentially less dangerous phase of the pandemic.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "The Spinoff"

Goodbye traffic lights? Hello…? (The Spinoff)

Reports suggest the decision today could mark the end of the traffic light system and mask mandates.

[ it’s outlived its usefulness](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/the-front-page-michael-baker-on-what-should-follow-the-covid-19-traffic-light-framework/2O24QO3AFHSE3FQDATG3YEI774/). [compliance with mask mandates](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/covid-19-explained-where-and-why-nz-must-keep-masks-on/FJDGDJXHW53UTAJWOFFOPFDNDY/) is dwindling, though still recommended by experts. [a constitutional disgrace](https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/24-11-2021/in-rushing-through-the-traffic-light-legislation-the-government-has-failed-us)”. [meet today](https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/129848450/decisions-on-covid19-traffic-light-settings-and-a-public-holiday-for-the-queen-due-today) to decide on the next phase of our Covid response. The main legal instrument which allows the government and officials to exercise special powers during our Covid response, the Epidemic Preparedness (Covid-19) Notice 2020, will expire next Wednesday if cabinet decides not to renew it. Cabinet will meet today to decide the next phase of our Covid response.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Newstalk ZB"

Grant Robertson promises transparency around Covid-19 protocol (Newstalk ZB)

The Deputy Prime Minister is promising transparency around Covid-19 protocol. The decision about whether to do away with our traffic light system will be a.

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.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "1 News"

Covid-19 traffic light system to be scrapped late tonight (1 News)

Mask requirements will be largely removed, except in healthcare such as GP clinics, pharmacies, hospitals, and aged care facilities.

We will be living with new waves of the infection for many years to come. If we're going to visit older relatives in a rest home, it's probably wise to keep wearing that mask." People with Covid-19 will still need to isolate for seven days, but their household contacts will not. Ardern said earlier this month New Zealand had been "working with the traffic light system for upwards to a year now, so now is it the time to look at whether or not all those settings are fit for purpose". "Today marks a milestone in our response. ACT's David Seymour said removing the traffic light system is, "Absolutely the right thing to do, but it was the right thing to do six-months-ago as well".

Post cover
Image courtesy of "RNZ"

Watch live: Covid-19 traffic light system scrapped from midnight, PM ... (RNZ)

All mask wearing requirements except in healthcare and aged care will be scrapped, and household contacts will no longer need to isolate, the government has ...

She says the government has been open to the idea of an independent inquiry into the response but is still getting advice about what that would look like. "As a nation, Covid has hurt us in many ways but perhaps the one we talk about less than others is the toll it's taken on everyone's mental health. That's why isolating Covid cases to protect our most vulnerable is important, and why treatment is too." And so today I say again to everyone from the bottom of my heart, thank you. "I'm sure there will be many who over the years will pore over the details of every nation's response including ours. Ardern said it marked a milestone in New Zealand's response to the virus.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Stuff.co.nz"

Covid-19 traffic light system, masks scrapped from midnight Monday (Stuff.co.nz)

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says the announcement - which is the end of more than two years of Covid rules - "marks a milestone in our response".

They work for you, not the parties or people in power. [a further 40,000 anti-viral medicine courses](https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/300686157/covid19-pharmac-widens-criteria-for-antiviral-treatments), would arrive in the next few days. High vaccination levels and better access to anti-viral medicines also means “New Zealand is in a position to move forward”, she said. She made the announcement during her regular post-Cabinet update. “Today marks a milestone in our response. All mask requirements have been dropped except for healthcare and aged care facilities – and vaccine mandates will be dropped in two weeks.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Interest.co.nz"

NZ abandons Covid 'traffic lights' system (Interest.co.nz)

PM announces Covid-19 'traffic lights' protection framework will end at 11.59pm tonight; mask wearing rules removed except for healthcare and aged care ...

[Brock Landers](/users/brock-landers) 12th Sep 22, 4:31pm [Brock Landers](/users/brock-landers) I'm so over it that's 2 years gone and so far still not caught it and I'm not vaccinated. Labour just completely change the Framework... Rather than follow the framework... Sensible restriction re Drs surgeries etc - arguably should have been a policy before the pandemic. 12th Sep 22, 4:38pm [kiwikidsnz](/users/kiwikidsnz) 12th Sep 22, 4:54pm [dumbthoughts](/users/dumbthoughts) The current rolling seven day average of hospitalisations is 241, the lowest since February and down from 273 this time last week. As of 11.59 pm tonight (Monday), New Zealanders will no longer have to wear masks while inside public places and on public transport. “You will no longer be required by Government to wear a mask anywhere, except in healthcare settings like hospitals, GPs and aged residential care facilities. “Today marks a milestone in our response.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "RNZ"

Covid-19 traffic light system, vaccine mandates and most mask ... (RNZ)

All government vaccine mandates are set to end in two weeks on 26 September; Vaccination requirements for incoming travellers and air crew will also be removed ...

We'll also use targeted surveillance at the border to keep a check on new variants," Ardern said. seven days gives us a level of protection and assurrance that we're not unnecessarily growing those numbers." However, the government would bring back mask use if the circumstances demanded it, Ardern said. "People will use masks for their own individual reasons. She would still personally choose to wear a mask on a plane and in some other circumstances, she said. Ardern said people may still be asked to wear a mask in some places but it would be at the discretion of those managing the location, not a government requirement.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "New Zealand Herald"

Lights out! Covid-19 traffic light system scrapped - all you need to ... (New Zealand Herald)

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced that the country will scrap the traffic light system from 11.59pm tonight. New Zealand will ditch the Covid-19 ...

A further 40,000 courses of anti-viral medicines have been purchased by the Government and are expected to enter New Zealand in the coming weeks. "In short, we now move on to a simple two requirements system of masks in healthcare settings and seven days isolation for positive cases only," Ardern said. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the changes marked "a milestone" in the country's response and it was time to "safely turn the page" in our Covid-19 management. "The 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." Today, the Government announced the system would end completely, and all Government vaccine mandates would be removed on September 26. A four-tiered alert level system was introduced to New Zealanders on March 21, 2020, before it was replaced with the traffic light system at the end of 2021.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Stuff.co.nz"

Traffic light system scrapped: What it means for travel (Stuff.co.nz)

Air New Zealand says it's dropping masks on flights, as Covid-related requirements are axed.

However, the Government will still encourage them to do so. Air New Zealand announced on Monday evening it was scrapping the requirement for passengers to wear masks, but they may still be required on some outbound international flights. “This will be the first summer in three years when there won’t be the question of what if?” she said. The first summer where we have our certainty. All travellers to New Zealand will still be required to fill in the You can also go maskless at airports and transport terminals.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "RNZ"

Reactions mixed as Covid-19 traffic light system comes to an end (RNZ)

The government's decision to scrap the Covid-19 Protection Framework is reasonable, but it is a mistake to drop mask mandates for public transport, ...

"While some customers and employees will welcome this news, it doesn't mean masks are disappearing forever. Goff said lifting restrictions brought New Zealand in line with other similar countries around the world. "I think it's a really positive signal ... So I'm going to make sure I'm wearing a high quality mask in those settings." "The government must invest now in long-term protections. "No other jurisdiction requires seven days mandatory isolation for cases and household contacts. "It'll be interesting to see if it actually encourages a few people to go back to work in the hospo and retail sectors, because they won't have to wear a mask all day," he said. While masks would no longer be required on Air New Zealand flights, the airline said customers would still be welcome to wear them and they would continue to be available. "I think that's a mistake, unless they have some information I don't have... "The traffic light system has helped Kiwis to manage the risk to themselves, their families, and our communities for nearly a year," he said. "We need a Covid-19 response that considered all the costs to New Zealanders' wellbeing as well as the benefits of fighting Covid-19 when putting controls in place," Seymour said. Jackson said he would still be wearing a mask in confined spaces, and encouraged people to wear N95 masks - "that is incredibly protective for most of us".

Explore the last week