Covid-19 Live Updates: NZ will go into 4-week lockdown (Monday 23 March)

By Anna Harcourt

Right now, there's a flurry of information - some true and some false. If you're getting a bit fatigued and just want the key, verified facts, check in here for rolling live updates.

5:30 pm Monday, March 23rd

Here's the geographic spread of Covid-19 cases as of today. We'll be updating this map daily.

4:00 pm Monday, March 23rd

What's included in the term "essential services"? It includes the following:

Health
Covid-19 response, planning and logistics
Civil Defence and emergency services
Key public services
Transport, freight and courier including Kiwirail and NZ Post
Teachers for essential services
Public safety and national security staff
Utilities and communications
Building and construction
News media
Supermarkets and pharmacies
Social services
Financial services
Food producers
Biosecurity and animal health staff

Source: All of Government Controller John Ombler

The All of Government Controller John Ombler is speaking to a press conference now. He’s said:

Border: The influx of people into New Zealand has significantly reduced.

If people live close to where they land they can go directly home. If they do not live close, other self-isolation measures will be necessary.

The focus is on keeping exports and imports going as much as possible.

1:50 pm Monday, March 23rd

New Zealand has moved to Alert Level 3.
In 48 hours we will move to Level 4.
All non-essential businesses must now close.
Schools will be closed from tomorrow.
These measures will be in place for four weeks.

The Prime Minister has announced that New Zealand has entered Alert Level 3, and within 48 hours will move to Alert Level 4.

This means that the country has 48 hours to prepare for a total lockdown.

The Prime Minister said medical modelling has shown without these measures “tens of thousands of New Zealanders will die of Covid-19.”

“The worst case scenario is simply intolerable, it would represent the greatest loss of New Zealanders’ lives in our history, and I will not take that chance.”

These are the strictest restrictions to New Zealanders’ movements in modern history.

The decision was made after the Ministry of Health announced two cases of community transmission earlier today. A case of Covid-19 is considered to be community transmission when it is unclear where or who it came from.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said medical modelling showed that when community transmission occurs, the number of cases will double every five days. “If that happens unchecked our health system will be inundated and tens of thousands of New Zealanders will die.”

“Right now we have a window of opportunity to break the chain of community transmision.”

Schools

Schools will be closed from tomorrow, Tuesday 24 March, except for the children of essential workers. Schools will be closed entirely from midnight Wednesday 25 March.

Universities will also close.

For the remainder of term schools will teach online and remotely.

Business

All businesses must close within 48 hours, including takeaway services.

Over the next 48 hours workplaces must transfer to working from home. Essential services must ensure that workers maintain a 2-metre distance and have appropriate personal protective equipment.

The business support scheme is increasing to $9.3 billion. Source: Minister of Finance, Grant Robertson.

All businesses are eligible for the scheme including businesses that are less than a year old, self-employed people, registered charities, NGOs, and incorporated societies.

The Government has called a freeze on all rent increases and a stop to “no cause” terminations. “Paying the rent is one of the biggest weekly bills and want to ensure we ease pressure on that,” said Robertston.

Stay at home

“We are now asking all New Zelanders who are outside of essential services to stay at home and stop interaction outside of your household,” said Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

You are allowed to leave your home for fresh air, a walk or exercise but it must be solitary. You must only spend time with those you live with. You must keep at least 2 metres distance from others.

“If you hang out with your friends at a park or see a family member for lunch you risk spreading Covid-19 and extending our time at Level 4.”

“It is huge and I know it will feel daunting.”

Travel

After 48 hours air travel and public transport will only be allowed for essential services.

“Everything you will give up … it will literally save lives, thousands of lives,” said Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

Essential services

The essential services of healthcare, supermarkets and pharmacies will remain open at all Alert Levels.

Health system response

Testing and contact tracing will continue at pace.

“If we flush out the cases we already have and see transmission slow, we will potentially be able to move areas out of Level 4 over time,” said Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

“Things will look worse before they look better. In the short term the number of cases will likely rise.”

Enforcement and role of the community

The Prime Minister said the government “will not hesitate to use our enforcement powers if needed”.

“I know people will want to act as enforcers but we will play the role of enforcer.”

“What we need from our community is for you to support others. We will get through this together but only if we stick together so please be strong and be kind,” said Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

12.30pm Monday, March 23rd

The Ministry of Health says there are two cases that are being treated as community transmission.

This means it is not clear where these people got the virus from, and there’s no clear link to someone else with the virus.

Today there are 36 new Covid-19 cases. Total = 102

Over half of the new cases are directly related to overseas travel. Most of the other cases are close contacts of a previously confirmed case.

“There are two cases that we cannot be certain where the infection came from. They are being treated as community transmission.”

Source: Dr Ashley Bloomfield, Ministry of Health Director-General

The Prime Minister will be giving an update at 1.30pm today.

12.00pm Monday, March 23rd

The United States White House has announced a task force for Covid-19 in the USA. New medical stations will be set up in New York, California and Washington, adding thousands of hospital beds. Source: White House Press Conference

Sir Peter Gluckman, the former Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor, is saying on Twitter that the best thing New Zealand can do is to go into “extreme shutdown now”.

Event Cinemas will temporarily close nationwide.

Flight Centre is making 250 people redundant and closing 33 shops across New Zealand from today. Source: Flight Centre press release.

Emirates will close down all passenger flights worldwide by this Wednesday 25th of March. Cargo flights will continue as normal. Source: The Emirates Group press release

Tonga has closed its borders. Source: Prime Minister of Tonga on Tonga Broadcasting Commission.

Two of the eight suspected Covid-19 cases in Samoa have come back negative.

Right now, there's a flurry of information - some true and some false. If you're getting a bit fatigued and just want the key, verified facts, check in here for rolling live updates.

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