There are currently outbreaks of a new disease called COVID-19.
With continued vigilance the chance of widespread community outbreak is expected to remain low.
The amount of information currently being shared around COVID-19 is becoming overwhelming for many people.
Over the weekend, Cabinet met to make a range of significant decisions to further protect the health of New Zealanders and reduce the threat of transmission of COVID-19 in New Zealand, including:
- Every person entering New Zealand from anywhere in the world will be required to self-isolate for 14 days, excluding the Pacific (Cook Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Republic of Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu & Wallis and Futuna);
- Self isolation/staying at home information can be found here
- These restrictions will all be reviewed in 16 days’ time;
- Existing travel ban retained for China and Iran;
- Cruise ships banned from coming to New Zealand, until at least June 30, 2020;
- Strict new health measures at the border for people departing to the Pacific;
- A range of measures to assist those in self-isolation to be announced this week;
- Government will work closely with the aviation sector to encourage airlines to remain active in New Zealand, limit impacts on the tourism sector and exporters; and
- Directive on mass gatherings to be announced early this week.
Visit here for the full press release
Additionally we still have official key messages from the Ministry of Health, which people are advised to follow:
- COVID-19 is mostly spread through droplets in sneezes and coughs, so the best way to stop it spreading is by staying home when you're sick, sneezing and coughing into your elbow, and washing your hands with soap (and drying them well).
- If you are concerned and would like to seek medical advice, Healthline has a dedicated COVID-19 number 0800 358 5453 which is free and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
- Travel advisories are under close review so please check the Safe travel website as well as the IATA Travel Centre website if you have any upcoming international travel.
- Additional resources and fact sheets available in various languages can be found on the Ministry of Health website here.
- For the latest updates and trusted facts visit HERE.
On the MPP website, these key messages are provided in the languages of Samoa, Kiribati, Cook Islands, Rotuma, Tonga, Tuvalu, Tokelau, Niue, and Fiji.
