FAQs - 25 November - CPF - 5pm

Frequently Asked Questions

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This document answers frequently asked questions about the COVID-19 Protection System This information applies from 25 November 2021 Information can be used for any government, agency, local government or relevant sector and business communications.

This is a living document that will be updated frequently over November. Information that changes or is added between versions will be highlighted.

Please ensure you are using the most up to date version.

This version was current at 4pm, 25 November 2021.

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The Covid-19 Protection Framework Q. Why is it safe to move the country before every DHB reaches the 90% fully vaccinated threshold?

The new COVID-19 Protection Framework (CPF) is better suited for the future New Zealand is moving into. It’s better designed for our new strategy to minimise and protect against COVID-19 and is more fit for purpose than the alert levels. It also offers greater incentives to be vaccinated and greater protections for those who are.

The new framework provides greater certainty for businesses and communities and the opportunity through the combination of public health measures we are all familiar with, targeted testing and contact tracing and of course vaccination.

CPF provides more safety than Alert Level 2. For example in a region at AL2 everyone can go to a hospitality venue vaccinated or unvaccinated, with people seated and separated. At red of CPF people would need to be vaccinated.

Q. Does moving early risk disincentivising the remaining unvaccinated people from getting vaccinated?

We have always said 90% is a milestone not a goal, and emphasis is still being placed on getting as many people vaccinated as possible. CPF provides a greater level of freedoms for vaccinated people. The use of COVID-19 vaccine certificates (CVCs) will be used to manage the higher public health risk to and from unvaccinated people.

Under the Covid Protection Framework there will be much greater ability get back to a life with less restrictions for those who are vaccinated. For example, you may be required to show proof of vaccination in a range of settings such as events, hospitality and gatherings.

You will not have to show proof of your vaccination status to access supermarkets, pharmacies, health services, food banks, petrol stations or public transport.

Remember, there are very few people who are unable to get a vaccine due to medical grounds.

Q. What will determine what colour a region goes into?

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Vaccination rates will be key, as well as other factors including the current capacity of the local health system, testing, contact tracing, and the current transmission of COVID-19 within a community.

Q. Could there still be lockdowns in the future?

Local and targeted lockdowns will still be a part of the toolkit to help manage transmission, particularly for more vulnerable communities. But with high vaccination rates, it means that we will be less reliant on more widespread lockdowns, unless urgent action is required to protect our health system or protect New Zealanders against new variants.

Q. Why are we moving at a time that works for Pākehā but puts Māori communities with lower vaccination rates at risk?

CPF provides more protection than the current alert level system. Currently we are at 92% first doses and 84% of the eligible population in New Zealand is fully vaccinated. Going forward our approach will change from using lockdowns and boundaries to limit transmission and keeping the virus within a certain area, to using measures to keep it out of vulnerable regions while they increase their vaccination rates and build their capacity to respond.

Q. How will these communities be protected?

Moving the whole country to the Framework would allow a more pre-emptive and precautionary approach to be taken in vulnerable regions.

CPF reduces the likelihood vaccinated and unvaccinated people coming into contact with one another, particularly in higher risk settings and at higher levels of orange and red. It also allows greater freedoms for vaccinated people than is possible under the Alert Level system, and so reduces the social and economic burden of public health restrictions.

Q. How will children under 12 be protected given they can’t yet get vaccinated?

Until a vaccine is approved for under 12s, the best protection for children is high community vaccination rates around them. The same goes for people who can’t be vaccinated for health reasons. The more people who get vaccinated, the safer all our vulnerable people including children will be.

The introduction of mandatory vaccination for people working in education settings, in addition to public health measures, ensures we are protecting children under 12.

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Q. Are you worried that Aucklanders will face hostile attitudes from other New Zealanders once the boundary lifts and they can travel around the country?

Only Aucklanders who are fully vaccinated or have had a negative COVID-19 test prior to their travel can move around the country. People should be mindful of this fact, and mindful of the fact that Auckland has spent far longer in lockdown than the rest of the country, nearly a third of the year, which has kept all of us safe.

Travel Q. What happens on 17 January with the Auckland boundary?

Restrictions are in place for the Auckland boundary from 15 Dec 2021 until 17 Jan 2022, after then there will not be any restrictions in place which need to be met for people to leave the Auckland boundary, including needing to provide evidence of vaccine status or a negative COVID-19 test. This is however subject to review and change.

Q. In Red what are the rules for carpooling e.g. mixing bubbles in a personal vehicle?

Indoor gatherings are permitted at Red (with capacity limits), so carpooling with mixed bubbles would be permitted. At Orange and Red face coverings are mandatory in taxis and rideshare vehicles, and while there is no mandatory requirement for smaller private arrangements like carpooling, at Red, face coverings are recommended whenever people leave the house, especially when they’re around people they don’t know.

Q. If someone is crossing the Auckland border just to drop off or pick someone up from Auckland Airport, or take a flight out of Auckland Airport, or they are only driving through Auckland, will they still require proof of vaccination or a negative Covid-19 test, even if they haven't left their car?

Testing and proof of vaccination requirements will apply to people leaving Auckland, no matter for how long they’ve been there or for what reason, noting that those driving straight through the Auckland region without stopping would not be required to be tested or provide proof of vaccination – as is already the case with the testing requirements into/through the AL3 area. (MoH) Q. Does the proof of vaccination or negative test requirement apply on charter flights between the North and South Islands or charter boats crossing the Cook Strait?

There will not be a legal requirement for charter flights/boats to see proof of vaccination or a negative test. (MoH)

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Q. Does it cost to get a COVID-19 test if you’re travelling around the country?

Requirements by Air New Zealand for unvaccinated people to have a negative test before they fly fall outside of the public health response and must be arranged privately. Testing for this purpose is not available at Community Testing Centres. Anyone who requires a test for this purpose must make arrangements for this themselves and cover any costs associated with testing.

At this stage testing of unvaccinated people who wish to leave Auckland is free, but the Ministry is currently reviewing its cost of testing policy under the new COVID-19 Protection Framework. Details on where this testing can be undertaken will be provided as soon as possible.

Elimination Q. Are we moving away from elimination?

High vaccination rates mean our focus can move away from elimination to a strategy of minimisation and protection - aiming to keep the spread of COVID-19 low, while protecting people from the virus.

Q. What is the minimisation and protection approach and how does it differ from elimination?

Minimisation and protection will aim to shield both those who are most at risk of severe disease/outcomes, and the health system that is required to treat these people and continue to function to maintain other health services.

Vaccine passes Q. What is a vaccine pass?

My Vaccine Pass provides proof you are either fully vaccinated or have a medical exemption for vaccination.

The Pass will give people access to places within New Zealand that require proof of vaccination under the new COVID Protection Framework.

My Vaccine Pass will help ensure we are reducing the risk of the virus spreading and can enjoy a Kiwi summer.

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MVP is the official proof of vaccination, it’s free and will be issued by the Ministry of Health.

Q. Are vaccination passes ready? What will happen if this tech doesn’t work?

My Vaccine Pass is now available for fully vaccinated New Zealanders.

The technology itself is based on similar solutions used around the world, and we have looked at how these work in other jurisdictions to apply that knowledge to My Vaccine Pass.

The fact that over 80% of us are fully vaccinated means everyone is keen to get their My Vaccine Pass – we may experience high demand, so we do ask people to be patient.

Q. At what stage do I need to do anything or ask the customer for their My Vaccine Pass?

If the COVID-19 Protection Framework puts vaccination requirements on your business in order to operate, you will need to check your customers’ My Vaccine Passes before you let them into your business. We recommend that you use a Verifier app to check a customer’s vaccine pass. You can also choose to require a My Vaccine Pass for customers if you want, even if not required by the Framework.

Q. How do I verify someone’s My Vaccine Pass?

The Ministry of Health has launched a free verifier app called NZ Pass Verifier which is available on the App Store and Google Play, for companies to use to scan and verify a My Vaccine Pass. Scanning each customer’s My Vaccine Pass using the app is the best way to be sure that their pass is valid.

Q. Do businesses need to check photo ID with someone’s vaccine pass?

Under the COVID-19 Protection Framework, businesses should check customers’ My Vaccine Pass at the point of entry. There will be a graduated enforcement model in place to support business compliance, with an emphasis on education first as businesses work out how best to implement new requirements.

Based on experience with the Alert Level system, businesses can expect strong feedback from their customers and competitors if they do not follow the rules. Ministers are considering further detail on the enforcement model and additional guidance and information will be available soon.

Q. Is it technically possible for someone to use someone else’s vaccine pass?

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We are aware that, as is the case for many official documents, people can share copies of their My Vaccine Pass – either by printing out extra hardcopies or emailing the pass or sharing it via airdrop or other mechanisms.

There is only one official vaccine pass - any other forms aren’t recognised because they can’t be verified. Use of fake vaccine passes, or someone else’s pass, may be referred to the Police. Police may also carry out spot checks at large events. (MoH) Q. Finally, for how long does the ministry expect domestic vaccine passes to be in use in NZ? As part of the COVID-19 Protection Framework, you will need proof of your vaccination status to access the majority of public settings in New Zealand until further notice. This is to help ensure we are reducing the risk of the virus spreading at large gatherings and events over the summer and into next year. (MoH) It’s anticipated that the need for proof of a vaccine certification when travelling internationally will be in place for years to come.

Q. Is there a helpline to contact for issues getting a MVP? If you have a query about My Vaccine Pass, you can call 0800 222 478 between 8am and 8pm, 7 days a week. If you would like to request your My Vaccine Pass and it is not urgent, please try calling after 6pm or in the weekend.

Please note there is significant demand on the helpline and calls can take a while to get through.

Q. What enforcement will be in place to ensure workplaces are following the rules?

As with any workplace requirement it is a high trust model, however, based on experience with the alert level framework, businesses can expect strong feedback from their customers and competitors if they do not follow the rules. If a concern is raised, WorkSafe will take a similar approach to how we’ve acted with requirements around QR codes/record keeping, using an “educate first” approach. If a business or service then fails to make the changes we expect to see, we'll consider taking enforcement action. (WorkSafe)

Economic support Q. Will there be economic support available to businesses who choose to remain open to unvaccinated people and have to shut down in Red areas?

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More information about potential economic support will be provided in the coming weeks.

Care in the Community Q. Given the number of deaths already, is care in the community safe? What will you do differently?

Most people with COVID-19 are likely to have a mild to moderate viral illness, more so if they are fully vaccinated. This will require no treatment but does need regular monitoring. Isolating at home is an alternative model to staying in a managed isolation facility or alternative accommodation.

The criteria for isolating at home is based on clinical risk and a health & welfare assessment.

Part of this assessment considers other conditions/factors that put the individual at increased risk from a health and wellbeing perspective.

Any community cases and contacts whose needs are best met in an MIQ facility, or alternative suitable accommodation, will continue to be transferred there wherever possible.

Each individual’s health and wellbeing is reviewed at regular intervals and in the event of an individual requiring hospital-level care, they will be safely transferred to the hospital. More information on care in the community will be provided next week.

Q. Will the health system be able to cope with supporting the number of people who will have to isolate at home?

Throughout the COVID response we have seem primary care adapt quickly to virtual models of care to support patients i.e. online/phone consultations The management of COVID-19 in the community will build on the work that primary care already do with their enrolled populations. Primary care, DHB and other Hauora providers will be supported by established telehealth clinical services, working in conjunction with community providers, social services and welfare supports.

Our aim is to provide continuity of care for people in managing their illness at home, by professionals who know them and their health history and needs and can provide a trusted pathway to assess changes in clinical situation.

Q: What are the projections for people who will need hospital level care, compared to those that can isolate at home?

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The single best tool for minimising the impact of COVID-19 is vaccination – fully vaccinated people are much less likely to develop serious illness, and much less likely to need hospital care. Some portion of the population will need hospital level care, and each will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Community providers, public health units and district health boards are working together to ensure that each case, and their household, is monitored appropriately so if someone needs hospital care, it is identified early.

Q. Three people who were self-isolating at home with COVID-19 have died. Why should anyone feel safe to isolate at home?

As Aotearoa New Zealand’s vaccination rate increases, people with COVID-19 will have the opportunity to isolate at home. People with COVID-19 need to isolate to help contain the spread of the virus and keep our wider community safe.

For many, home isolation, or in suitable alternative accommodation, is a good option while infected with COVID-19. Decisions relating to this will be made by the individual, and their care provider. General practitioners, social and wellbeing providers, Kaupapa Māori and Pacific providers, district health boards and public health units are working with each COVID-19 positive person and their household to ensure an appropriate model of care for them. This will ensure their clinical needs are met, as well as their social and wellbeing needs.

Care in the community sits under a clinical governance framework that ensures all adverse health outcomes, not just in the instance of a death, are reviewed to ensure that any improvements to the care in the community model are identified and implemented.

Q. Will there be more deaths under Care in the Community and if so, what will you do?

The single best tool for minimising the impact of COVID-19 is vaccination – fully vaccinated people are much less likely to develop serious illness, and much less likely to need hospital care.

Through the Care in the Community model, each person with COVID-19 will receive the tailored support they need to manage their illness and reduce the chance of transmission to their families and the community around them.

While people are isolating at home, their care provider will check up on them regularly to make sure that they, and the people in their household, are safe. In the event of someone requiring hospital-level care, they will be safely transferred to hospital.

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Q. What will you do if someone who can isolate at home doesn’t want to, or if someone who shouldn’t isolate at home doesn’t want to move? Is there an enforcement aspect to this?

Local providers will work with individuals and whanau who have tested positive for COVID19 on a case-by-case basis to determine the best care plan.

At the time of notification of their test status the care provider and the individual will discuss if home isolation, managed isolation, alternative suitable accommodation or hospital is the best way to ensure that the person with COVID is appropriately cared and supported.

Care in the Community is built on trust, and we need everyone to play their part to keep themselves, their whanau and community safe. (MoH) Q. Will the health packs be individualised for the person? What will be in them? How much will they cost?

While case investigation and contact tracing are taking place, the care that people and their households will receive will be planned through a conversation with the individual and their care provider.

Within the first 48 hours of receiving a positive test result, the individual will receive a health pack with all the information needed along with any health equipment specifically identified for their individual needs to help them keep track of their recovery. This may include things like a pulse oximeter although not everyone will need one. (MoH) Q: What training with the healthcare contacts will people have, so they can properly assess a person’s needs? Are they doctors or nurses?

COVID Care in the Community will be delivered by local care providers who know their communities, with regional coordination from their district health board and centrally supported by the Ministry of Health. The level of care will be tailored for each whanau depending on their health and social support needs.

General practice teams, social and wellbeing providers, Kaupapa Maori and Pacific providers, district health boards and public health units will work with each COVID-19 positive person and their household, according to their needs, to ensure an appropriate model of care for them. (MoH) Q. If someone dies while isolating at home in the future, will there be any kind of audit of the system to determine if health contacts made the wrong decision about

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someone isolating at home? Will there be consequences for health contacts who make the wrong assessment?

Care in the community sits under a clinical governance framework that ensures all adverse health outcomes, not just in the instance of a death, are reviewed to ensure that any improvements to the care in the community model are identified and implemented. (MoH) Q. Am I at greater risk of catching COVID-19 if I am holidaying at a popular tourist destination A: The risk of contracting COVID-19 still remains when you are out and about on holiday, particularly where there are a lot of people or you are in a crowded area. This is why it is important to be protected by being vaccinated. It is also important to follow the key health behaviours of scanning in, regularly washing/sanitising your hands, wearing a mask and maintaining physical distance where possible. (MoH) Q. Is it safe to go away on holiday this summer?

With New Zealanders travelling over the Christmas/summer holiday period 2021/22 and attending events and gatherings, it is important that Kiwis have a plan in place to keep their friends and whānau safe.

Vaccination is the best protection, so we encourage you to be fully vaccinated before you leave town. Although its summer and people may be outdoors more, it’s important that people are vigilant with recording where they have been using the COVID Tracer App, maintaining physical distancing when out and about especially in crowded spaces, regular hand washing/sanitising and wear a face mask.

If you are unwell, stay at home. Do not travel to events or activities if you are unwell.

Testing services will be available over the holidays so if you are unwell – even if you are vaccinated - go and get a test immediately and isolate until you receive your result and further health advice.

In the same way we are asking you to have a preparedness plan for COVID-19 when you are at home, you should have a similar plan in place if you are travelling. You may be required to self-isolate where you are for up to ten days. Be prepared. Have a plan. (MoH)

Testing and contact tracing

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Q. Will unvaccinated people be able to use community testing capacity as proof to do certain activities, e.g. take a domestic flight with Air New Zealand?

Testing outside of the public health response is not covered by the public health sector and must be arranged privately. Testing is free if part of the public health response. Testing is not free if you’re seeking a pre-departure COVID-19 test for air travel, domestically (unless it is out of Auckland at alert level 3) or internationally.

Currently, anyone who requires a pre-departure test for air travel, domestically (unless it is out of Auckland at Alert Level 3) or internationally must decide for this themselves and cover any costs associated with testing.

Testing for this purpose is not available at Community Testing Centres. For a list of testing locations providing this service, go to the Healthpoint website and under ‘COVID-19 Testing’, select service type, ‘Testing for Travel’.

Q. If COVID-19 is going to be widespread, what is the point of contact tracing now?

Contact tracing is still an important part of managing COVID-19. Identifying the disease where it occurs helps us mitigate the impact of COVID in our communities by identifying cases and their close contacts earlier, ensuring that their health and welfare needs are met and preventing transmission to other people in the community. Containing the spread of COVID will protect individuals, their communities and the health system.

People who are fully vaccinated will now spend less time isolating if they get COVID-19 or are a close contact of a case.

The isolation period for fully vaccinated COVID-19 cases in the community has been reduced from 14 days to 10 days, including 72 hours symptom-free.

The isolation period for partially vaccinated or unvaccinated COVID-19 cases will remain 14 days, including 72 hours symptom-free.

It’s very important that people to continue to use the COVID Tracer App throughout New Zealand. Notifications are sent through NZ COVID Tracer to people who have scanned into locations of interest wherever possible. If you test positive, you can also share your digital diary with contact tracers. This speeds up the contact tracing process.

Q. Are there any plans of greater use of Bluetooth to alert people if they have been in close contact with a person who has tested positive for COVID-19?

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There has been very good use of the scanning data with location alerts and diary uploads being used daily. There is also very good uptake of Bluetooth by the public (2,278,458 of 3,369,913 registered devices) and the system is working.

More than 65,000 people received a notification through NZ COVID Tracer that they’ve scanned in at a location of interest since the beginning of the outbreak in August.

Testing Rapid Antigen Testing Q. Why has it taken so long to supplement Nasopharyngeal PCR tests with salivabased PCR testing and rapid antigen testing, when other countries have been using them for ages?

The Elimination Strategy required the most accurate and reliable test to detect all possible COVID-19 cases. Which has been a nasopharyngeal swab test by RT-PCR. As more research and scientific insights became available, we needed to start working to assess alternate COVID-19 detection and identification tests.

Q. Who will be able to use rapid antigen tests and under what circumstances?

Rapid antigen testing will be used for surveillance testing only. PCR tests will continue to be used as the primary diagnostic test.

The Ministry of Health are taking a phased roll-out to rapid antigen testing in health and non-healthcare settings, including community settings, as part of the minimisation and protection approach to bolster surveillance for COVID-19.

Trials of RATs as a surveillance tool in Auckland DHBs, MBIE Business Charter Pilot and as a point of arrival test in the Self-isolation pilot have informed planning for the rollout of RATs as a surveillance tool across the health sector and other government agencies, wider rollout to other businesses and the community.

Planning is well advanced for rapid antigen tests to be available to the general public from 15 December. Work is also underway with the pharmacy sector to consider supervised testing. Our priority will be to use this network to provide greater equity of access to our high-risk communities.

Q. What is happening with the rapid antigen testing trial with business?

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A coalition of 27 businesses across a range of sectors have been using approved rapid antigen tests as part of a trial. As at November 22, more than 12,000 rapid antigen tests had been taken during the course of the trial. There had been nine positive rapid antigen tests and 76 invalid tests - all of which MBIE say resulted in negative PCR tests. Rapid antigen testing can provide a result within around 15 minutes.

From 1 December, businesses in the pilot will be able to continue to directly source approved RAT from current authorised suppliers. Other businesses not involved in the trial will also be able to directly source RATs for their use if they so wish from 1 December.

From 15 December, small to medium businesses who do not wish to source RATs directly from the current authorised suppliers can purchase them from a local distributor.

Q. Where else is rapid antigen testing being used in New Zealand?

Testing has been used as a surveillance tool in pilots at Emergency Department Middlemore Hospital, Auckland DHB NICU, and the Waitematā DHB Delivery Suite.

The aim of rapid antigen testing in a hospital setting is: • to quickly identify patients presenting as COVID-19 positive • to manage hospital capacity • to demonstrate that hospitals are serious about ensuring the safety of visitors • to inform clinical decision making Rapid antigen testing is also being used as point-of-arrival testing of participants in the selfisolation pilot running from 31 October to 8 December 2021, when the last participants arrive back in the country.

The pilot is running at two sites, Auckland and Christchurch but point-of-arrival testing is only happening at the Auckland self-isolation pilot site.

Q. What training and support will be available for businesses?

Documentation is being developed to support businesses on the processes for the use of rapid antigen testing, and guidance to help them make decisions on whether it’s appropriate for their use.

Q. Where will businesses order rapid antigen tests from?

Changes have been made to the regulatory framework and from 1 December, businesses in the pilot will be able to continue to directly source approved RAT from current authorised

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suppliers. Other businesses not involved in the trial will also be able to directly source RATs for their use if they so wish from 1 December.

The Ministry is currently working through the details of supply of RATs through a variety of local distribution networks. From 15 December, small to medium businesses who do not wish to source RATs directly from the current authorised suppliers can purchase them from a local distributor.

Prioritising testing Q. What process and criteria will be used to prioritise tests, to ensure quicker turnaround for those at higher risk?

Work is underway by the Ministry of Health to review the testing strategy to take a riskbased approach to “test the right people using the right type of test at the right time,” which may include rapid antigen testing across a range of settings and scenarios.

This will contribute to managing the demand on laboratories and provide greater capacity for them to undertake priority testing as part of the management of outbreaks and protection of vulnerable and at-risk communities as well as help with managing increased demands for testing.

Targeted testing will provide greater capacity for laboratories to undertake priority testing as part of our efforts to protect vulnerable and at-risk communities. (MoH) Q. How will you expand capacity to 60,000 PCR tests per day early next year?

Laboratories in the testing network work collaboratively to ensure the laboratories in the areas and at times of high demand are supported to deliver results in a timely way. This includes transfer of samples to laboratories across the network, nationally, to reduce turnaround times for results.

Innovations in testing technology will be adopted with the deployment of testing modalities in settings to ‘test the right people using the right type of test at the right time. This will help manage the demand on laboratories and provide greater capacity for them to undertake priority testing as part of the management of outbreaks and protection of highrisk communities.”

Targeted testing will provide greater capacity for laboratories to undertake priority testing as part of our efforts to protect our high-risk communities.

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We will continue to engage with other laboratory providers to meet additional demands for testing as required. (MoH) Q. What is the capacity of the new national telehealth case investigation service, and how will this impact overall case investigation capacity?

The Ministry of Health has established a case investigation service within an existing telehealth provider. We are training 475 investigators by the end of this month, which will significantly increase the existing capacity within Public Health Units.

The service has been performing a national allocation and triage function to assess the public health complexity of a case before referring medium to high complexity cases (such as Māori, Pacific, unvaccinated, not registered with a GP or persons living in transitional housing) to a Public Health Unit to manage.

The service will complete case investigations for cases that are defined as low public health complexity, using the referral and escalation pathways that have been developed. While this service will be first utilised to support cases in the Auckland metro region, it is intended that this service will operate nationally, managing cases across the country.

Within the existing trained telehealth workforce of 175 people, we have additional capacity to manage approximately 150 cases per day through this service. This is in addition to the capacity across PHUs who are currently managing 160 to 200 cases per day, meaning national capacity for case investigation is 300 to 400 cases per day.

Scaling plans are being developed, to enable an additional 500 people to be trained over the next four weeks through to 20 December 2021. That will ensure there’s capacity to manage 1,000 cases per day, through a retained workforce of approximately 900 people.

Actual capacity will increase each week over the next four weeks as cohorts of people are trained and begin working within the service.

Q. How this will address challenges in reaching communities such as Māori and Pasifika There is a priority on recruiting Māori and Pacific staff, to enable ethnicity matching of caller to cases and contacts, and help us reach at-risk communities This workforce operates under clinical governance with cultural competence and necessary escalations processes in place, to ensure the service delivers equitable outcomes.

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Q. Will unvaccinated people be able to use the free community testing service to get a negative test in order to cross the Auckland boundary or fly on Air New Zealand?

Requirements by Air New Zealand for unvaccinated people to have a negative test before they fly fall outside of the public health response and must be arranged privately. Testing for this purpose is not available at Community Testing Centres. Anyone who requires a test for this purpose must make arrangements for this themselves and cover any costs associated with testing.

A list of ‘Testing for Travel’ service providers can be found on the Healthpoint website.

The Ministry is currently reviewing its cost of testing policy under the new COVID-19 Protection Framework but, at this stage testing of unvaccinated people who wish to leave Auckland is free. Details on where this testing can be undertaken will be provided as soon as possible. (MoH) Q. The testing system is already struggling, with people who test positive sometimes getting their results 4 days later. How’s it going to cope when there is COVID-19 across the whole country?

Results are generally available within 48-72 hours from receipt of the sample at the laboratory, however this depends on testing volumes. It should be noted that during a community outbreak, samples of high-risk individuals and close contacts of cases are prioritised by laboratories.

Innovations in testing technology will be adopted with the deployment of testing modalities in settings to ‘test the right people using the right type of test at the right time. This will help manage the demand on laboratories and provide greater capacity for them to undertake priority testing as part of the management of outbreaks and protection of highrisk communities. (MoH)

Reconnecting New Zealand Q. What’s the definition of a medium-risk pathway?

A medium-risk pathway means the traveller can enter New Zealand without the need to go into MIQ. The requirements for entering through the medium-risk pathway include: • •

a negative pre-departure test within 72 hours prior to boarding; evidence of being “fully vaccinated”;

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declaration of required information (using Nau Mai Rā) including that they have not been in a VHR country in the past 14 days; a seven-day self-isolation requirement; a day 0/1 test; and a negative day 5/6 test prior to release from self-isolation.

Travellers who do not meet the requirements for the medium-risk pathway will still need to enter MIQ for 7 days, followed by 3 days in self isolation, with negative tests at Day 0/1, Day 3 and Day 5/6 in MIQ and at Day 9 in self-isolation.

Q. Why can’t we open sooner?

We have always said we will open the borders in a staged and safe way and looking after our most vulnerable is paramount and remains a priority. It’s important that we take the time to put in place the layers of protection needed which mitigate the risk of arrivals at the border seeding additional COVID-19 cases in the community.

While high levels of vaccination enable greater flexibility at the border, we still need to take a cautious approach.

Q. Why are we talking about opening the borders when we haven’t sorted out caring for people with COVID-19 in the community?

The public health requirements for the medium-risk pathway provide layers of protection which help mitigate the risk of arrivals at the border seeding additional COVID-19 cases in the community.

Already, most international arrivals report being fully vaccinated and from November 1 it was compulsory for all non-New Zealand citizens to be fully vaccinated before coming here.

Also, data from MIQ shows only 0.2-0.3% of international arrivals are positive, i.e. 2 or 3 cases in 1000 arrivals. These facts give us confidence that the risk of COVID coming across the border is manageable.

A focus on symptomatic and surveillance testing, and rapid antigen testing, particularly in vulnerable communities, will ensure early detection.

Q. What about our vulnerable people? How will they be looked after with this increased risk of people isolating in the community all over the country?

Looking after our most vulnerable is paramount and remains a priority.

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Vaccination is still the best thing people can do to protect themselves from COVID. There will be a range of health, welfare and wellbeing services available for people isolating in the community.

Q. Have we got the capacity to give a PDT to everyone going abroad and to test everyone that might have COVID? Yes, although people travelling abroad will need to book a PDT with a private provider (such as their GP) in advance of departure. Local people who have been at a location of interest or have symptoms will be able to go to a community testing site for a free test.

Q. Will people be able to come to Australia, spend 14 days there and travel on to New Zealand?

Yes, if they are fully vaccinated New Zealand citizens and residence-class visa holders and other travellers eligible under our current restrictive border settings.

Q. Is it proportionate to still insist on MIQ if people aren’t vaccinated?

The risks associated with unvaccinated travellers are higher, therefore more precautions to protect the community are warranted.

Q. Which overseas vaccinations are accepted in New Zealand?

While all 23 vaccines are able to be recorded, these do not mean that you will be eligible for the My Vaccine Pass. At this stage, there are 8 approved vaccines that can be used as proof of vaccine status when applying for My Vaccine Pass.

They are: Pfizer/BioNTech, Janssen (Johnson and Johnson), AstraZeneca (Oxford), AstraZeneca/Covishield (Serum Institute of India), Moderna, Sinopharm, Sinovac (CoronaVac), Covaxin (Bharat Biotech) Travellers will need to be fully vaccinated with one of the approved vaccines to enter through the medium-risk pathway.

Q. How will we check vaccinations from non-EU-DCC countries and Australia and what proof is required?

For Step 1 and 2, holders of digital vaccination certificates, (for example EU, UK, Australia and Singapore,) will able to be checked and scanned automatically upon arrival. The remainder will be assessed manually.

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Guidance on what form of proof will be required and what vaccines will be acceptable to enter under the medium risk pathway will be provided to travellers before they fly.

Digital or paper certificates are likely to be accepted, as not all countries have the technical capability to issue digital certificates.

The Traveller Health Declaration System will be in place from the end of March 2022 which will enable vaccination certificates to be assessed offline prior to a traveller’s departure to New Zealand.

Q. How do travellers get a My Vaccine Pass, if they don’t have a NHI number and they’re not a NZ citizen but have the right to enter?

A process is being established to record COVID vaccinations administered overseas in the New Zealand COVID-19 Immunisation Register.

A person must apply for this information to be included in their records. This will take up to 14 days and people will need to provide proof of the vaccines and dates administered so they can be entered into the COVID-19 Immunisation Register.

More information can be found here.

Q. Will New Zealand vaccination certificates be recognised overseas?

New Zealand’s digital COVID-19 vaccination certificate uses the EU’s digital COVID certificate (EU DCC) format. The EU confirmed on 15 November (CET) that New Zealand has been formally accepted as a third country in the EU’s DCC trust framework. Being part of the EU DCC trust framework means that New Zealand-issued COVID-19 health credentials will be recognised by all jurisdictions that join the EU DCC trust framework. It also enables New Zealand, through the Traveller Health Declaration system, to recognise and trust COVID-19 certificates issued by all jurisdictions in the EU DCC trust framework. To date 49 jurisdictions are now part of the EU DCC trust framework with momentum continuing to grow.

MFAT is working with jurisdictions to ensure wide recognition. We expect New Zealand’s certificate to be widely accepted outside the EU and EU DCC countries, noting that the EU DCC format has been in place since July 2021 and is widely recognised. For example New Zealand’s certificate meets the criteria for acceptable proof of vaccination in the US and Australia.

Anyone 12 years and over who has had any dose of the COVID-19 vaccine administered in New Zealand can now request an International Travel Vaccination Certificate.

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Requesting your certificate takes just 1 to 2 minutes and will be emailed to you within 24 hours. The quickest way to get your pass is through your My Covid Record, but if you cannot access this service you can call 0800 222 478 — have your NHI number ready.

Q. How much will it cost to send Airport Liaison Officers (Immigration officials) abroad for the manual process?

Immigration has trained a pool of ALOs to support the reopening of New Zealand’s borders to ensure appropriate controls are in place offshore to meet New Zealand border entry requirements. Costs vary depending on where we are sending them or their location of deployment.

Q. What happens with private flights?

Private aircraft operators have been notified of the new travel measures that came into effect from 2nd February 2020. Passengers from private flights are being processed in the same manner and subject to the same entry criteria as those arriving from commercial craft.

Customs works closely with airport companies to ensure passenger processes are being followed.

Q. Will you prioritise family reunification, work visas or tourism?

The Minister of Immigration will report back to the Reconnecting New Zealanders Ministerial Group in December 2021 with proposals for staging and phasing the re-opening of visa categories and options for visa processing priorities for reopening the third step.

Q. What are the requirements of self-isolation?

Travellers will be required to self-isolate for 7 days, have a Day 0/1 test and a negative Day 5/6 test before completing self-isolation.

Further details on how self-isolation will be implemented will be made available in December.

Q. How is ‘stay at home’ different to self-isolation at home?

Self-isolation’ is a stricter version of ‘staying at home’ with more requirements on the person concerned. People with COVID or their close contacts must self-isolate. People who have just been at a location of interest can ‘stay at home’.

Q. What happens if people don’t self-isolate?

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People with COVID who are being cared for in the community are required to self-isolate by a Section 70 order. Failure to comply with the order is an offence under section 72 of the Health Act 1956.

Q. What if a traveller doesn’t have a home to self-isolate in, where do they selfisolate?

Travellers to New Zealand are expected to make suitable arrangements for any required isolation prior to travelling.

Q. What community support is available for people self-isolating?

For people with COVID being cared for in the community, a range of health, welfare and wellbeing services will be available to support people according to their needs and those of their whānau.

Q. What if people are new to the community they are self-isolating in?

There is a range of agencies and NGOs able to provide support to those isolating in the community who may require additional support, or who do not have support networks available to them.

For those who test positive for COVID-19 someone will be in contact with the patient to discuss their clinical, welfare and well-being options. This will involve an assessment of whether home isolation will work for them, or whether alternative accommodation, or hospital is more appropriate for them. This will depend on how severe the COVID-19 symptoms are, or how at risk the person might be for complications, and the suitability of their home for isolation.

Key contacts for official advice Immigration Visit www.immigration.govt.nz/about-us/covid-19 or call the Immigration Contact Centre (6am – 10pm, Monday – Friday (NZST) from landlines only on 0508 558 855, or Auckland 09 914 4100, Wellington 04 910 9915, or from overseas +64 9 914 4100 Kiwis returning from overseas Managed Isolation and Quarantine www.miq.govt.nz or call on on +64 4 888 1670 if you’re overseas (rates will apply) or 0800 476 647 if you’re in New Zealand (calls are free). Hours are 0800 to 2200 hours (NZST), seven days a week.

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All New Zealanders overseas are encouraged to see the advice and register on www.safetravel.govt.nz Healthline 0800 358 5453 or +64 9 358 5453 Translations For resources in other languages, visit https://covid19.govt.nz/updates-and-resources/translations/ Accessible information Information and advice in other formats for people with particular accessibility needs https://covid19.govt.nz/updates-and-resources/accessible-information/ Pacific communities For information to support Pacific communities, visit https://www.facebook.com/MinistryforPacificPeoples/ Transport For information on transport go to www.transport.govt.nz/about/covid-19 or email essentialtravel@transport.govt.nz Unite Against Covid 19 Website Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Twitter Newsletter

www.covid19.govt.nz https://www.facebook.com/UniteAgainstCOVID19/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/uniteagainstcovid19/ https://www.instagram.com/uniteagainstcovid19/ https://twitter.com/covid19nz https://confirmsubscription.com/h/t/6925B3D1925FFCCF

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