Cabinet will be meeting from this morning to decide whether the Covid lockdown level should remain at 4 or lower to 3. The decision will be announced at 4 pm.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has made it clear Government intends to be cautious in lowering the level, despite growing pressure to allow businesses who had to shut down to crank up again, albeit with limits as Level 3 is still quite restrictive. Under level 3 businesses will have to prove they are safe to operate, and most shops and all cafes, restaurants and bars will remain closed.
RNZ: Will we leave level 4 this week?
Ardern recognised the huge toll on business in particular, but said it was in everyone’s interest to stamp out the virus
She stood by the decision to put New Zealand into lockdown and said the success so far was due to having a plan, sticking to the plan and doing it together.
“We have stayed home, we have saved lives and we are breaking the chain of transmission.”
But the government would be moving “cautiously” as it considered what the next step should be, said Ardern.
“No one wants to lose the huge gains we’ve made as a country off the back of the hard work of every New Zealander.”
Cabinet would have to be satisfied it was “unlikely” the virus wasn’t spreading or going undetected, along with strong border and quarantine controls, and the ability to contact trace and test.
We will have to wait until this afternoon to find out what the Government decision is.