What does traffic light RED level mean?

Red is not a lockdown, but there are restrictions to slow the spread of COVID-19.

• You will always be able to access basic needs services, such as food and healthcare.

• You can travel anywhere in New Zealand for any reason, and see friends and whānau.

• You must wear a face mask on flights, public transport, and taxis, in retail shops and public venues, and in health and education facilities.

• With My Vaccine Pass, most parts of life continue as usual. You can visit cafes and bars, attend gatherings and events, and go to the hairdresser and gym. There are capacity limits and distancing requirements at some venues.

• Without My Vaccine Pass, there are restrictions.

• Workplaces and schools are open.

• Keep scanning QR codes and recordkeeping wherever you go.

• Keep physically distanced wherever possible.

• If you have cold, flu or COVID-19 symptoms, isolate immediately and call Healthline for advice.

Visiting a business

IIf you enter a business as a visitor or customer, you may be asked to show your My Vaccine Pass.

Businesses that are subject to My Vaccine Pass requirements are expected to check My Vaccine Pass for people on their premises, including workers.

Businesses may check your My Vaccine Pass, either by looking at it, or scanning it with the NZ Pass Verifier app.

Children under 12 years and 3 months can enter businesses without a My Vaccine Pass.

• Find out when you need your My Vaccine Pass

• Shopping at Red

• Close-proximity businesses at Red, like hairdressers and beauty salons

• Hospitality at Red

Scan in or keep a record of where you go

Scan the QR code or keep a record of where you go. This will help with contact tracing for any cases in your community.

Where you must wear a face covering at RED

We encourage you to wear a face mask whenever you leave the house.

You must wear a face mask:

• on domestic flights

• on public transport, this includes Cook Strait Ferries but does not include passengers within their allocated carriage on specified Kiwirail services

• at arrival and departure points for domestic flights and public transport

• if you are aged 8 years or over or are a student who is in Year 4 or above on public transport and Ministry of Education funded school transport

• in taxis or ride share vehicles

• inside a retail business, for example supermarkets, shopping malls, pharmacies, petrol stations, and takeaway food stores

• inside public venues or facilities, such as museums and libraries, but not at swimming pools

• at a vet clinic

• in an indoor setting at schools, for example classrooms and assemblies. This includes visitors, workers, and students and teachers in Years 4 to 13

• inside at tertiary education facilities

• when visiting a licensed early childhood service

• at food and drink businesses, for example cafes, bars and restaurants. You can take your mask off when seated and to eat and drink

• at close-proximity businesses, for example hairdressers, barbers, beauty salons

• when you are at a gathering, except when you have exclusive use of the venue or defined space

• in the public areas within courts, tribunals, local and central government agencies, social service providers, and NZ Police

• in the public area of premises operated by NZ Post Limited

• when visiting a health care service, for example a healthcare or aged care facility

• at any business that requires face masks be worn

When to wear a face covering

Keep up healthy habits to protect us

Even though we are a highly vaccinated country, COVID-19 can still spread in our communities.

To slow the spread of the virus, and continue to help protect you, your whānau, and your community, it is important to keep up the healthy habits we know.

• Regularly wash and thoroughly dry your hands or use hand sanitiser.

• Sneeze and cough into your elbow.

• Keep your distance from people you do not know.

• Clean or disinfect shared surfaces often.

• If you have cold, flu or COVID-19 symptoms, stay home and get a test.

Keep up healthy habits

Travel at Red

You can travel anywhere in New Zealand at all traffic light settings. There are no boundaries under the traffic lights.

• You can travel for any reason.

• Do not travel if you are unwell, isolating or waiting for the results of a COVID-19 test.

• Unless your transport provider requires it, you do not need a My Vaccine Pass or a negative COVID-19 test to travel.

• You must wear a face mask on all flights and public transport, in taxi and ride-share services — unless you are exempt.

• Scan the QR code or keep a record of which service you travelled with and when.

If you test positive for COVID-19 while travelling away from home

You may get COVID-19 while you are away from home. If you test positive or find out you are a contact of a positive case while travelling, here is what you need to know.

Be prepared

While vaccination is highly effective, it is still possible to get COVID-19. You may get it while you are away from home on holiday or for work, even if you are following the rules. You should prepare for what you may need to do if this happens.

Make a plan for how to get home to isolate if you get COVID-19, if you can travel there safely. You will only be able to return home if you or someone you are travelling with are able to drive.

You will need to make as few stops as possible, so you will need to think about:

• the route you might take

• how you would get fuel — you should only stop at a contactless petrol station

• supplies you might need for the journey home to reduce the number of stops you make, including supplies to treat COVID-19 symptoms.

The people you are travelling with, whether it is friends or whānau, will need to be prepared for what might happen. You should talk through the plan together.

If you have travelled to your destination on public transport, for example ferry or plane, it is likely you will need to stay at that location for your isolation period.

If you get symptoms, get tested immediately

Common symptoms of COVID-19 are like those found with illnesses such as a cold or flu. If you have these symptoms when you are on holiday or away from home, it is important that you get tested immediately. Do not wait until you get home to get tested.

If you become unwell or have been exposed to COVID-19 while you are away from home, you should:

• call Healthline on 0800 358 5453 for advice on testing and what to do

• isolate at your accommodation if you are symptomatic, until you get your test result.

Find a COVID-19 testing location | healthpoint.co.nz(external link)

COVID-19 symptoms

Close Contacts

Casual Contacts

If you test positive

You will not be able to:

• take a commercial flight home

• do any long-distance road travel that requires an overnight stay

• take an interisland ferry or public transport.

If you need urgent medical help or are having difficulties breathing, call 111 immediately. Tell them you have COVID-19.

If you test positive for COVID-19

Tell your accommodation provider

You will need to tell the owner or operator of your holiday accommodation whether you are a contact of a case or if you have tested positive. This will allow them to make sure the property is safe for the next booking.

If you are a contact and your test is negative, you should tell your accommodation provider you are not a COVID-19 case.

If you are unable to get home

If you are travelling around the country, there is a risk that you may not be able to return safely to your home to isolate. You will have to remain in place. You will still have support available to isolate as part of the Care in the Community programme.

If you are unable to get home, you will need to think about:

• getting someone to look after your house

• care for your pets

• taking things with you to help with boredom while isolating

• making sure you have enough money to cover an extended time away from home

• have a list of medical information — include everyone’s names, ages, NHI numbers, any medical conditions, and medication or medical supplies each person needs.

If you are unable to return home safely and you can isolate at your accommodation, you will need to follow the self-isolation guidelines:

How to self-isolate

If it is safe for you to return home

You will only be able to return home if you or someone you are travelling with are able to drive.

You must not use public transport or undertake any long-distance road travel that requires an overnight stay or interisland travel.

You must drive directly to your home or alternative accommodation, making as few stops as possible. You need to minimise your contact with others.

Remember to:

• scan everywhere you go

• wear a face mask when not in the car

• maintain physical distancing in public spaces.

If you are borrowing or renting a car, you will need to tell the car owner or rental service so they can clean the vehicle thoroughly afterwards.

Once you are home, a health professional will tell you what to do, and you will be able to follow the self-isolation guidance.

Anyone travelling with you is a Close Contact and will need to know what to do:

How to self-isolate

Close Contacts