Coronavirus Covid-19: The government pushed to extend its new face mask rules to all of New Zealand

The government is already being pushed to expand its new mandatory face masks on public transport rules to the entire country, rather than just Auckland.

The cabinet agreed yesterday that starting Thursday, people in Auckland will be required to wear face masks on public transport and during domestic trips.

The new rules are “another line of defense” when it comes to the country’s Covid-19 response plan, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told reporters yesterday.

Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said that “now is the right time to make wearing masks mandatory in these situations.”

“[The rules are] a practical, low-cost option and presents a minor inconvenience in comparison. “

Ardern also revealed that the government is considering extending the mandate of the public transport mask to the entire country.

As of yet, there is no timeline and Ardern said officials will closely monitor the adoption of the new rules in Auckland.

But the Wellington Chamber of Commerce called on the government to immediately extend the new rules across the country.

“We need to keep things simple now to ensure that any spread of Covid-19 is kept to an absolute minimum,” said CEO John Milford.

“Our business community can’t afford another lockdown. It’s the little things people can do to keep businesses open and operating.”

University of Otago professor Michael Baker said he was satisfied with the Cabinet’s decision, but that mass masking in public transportation had to be nationwide.

“There are MIQ facilities in various centers and thousands of people pass through them. We’ve had breaches in Auckland and Christchurch. We have to plan for the fact that they will continue to happen.”

He said it was just a sensible reflection of the fact that New Zealand “is not absolutely safe from this pandemic.”

He added that high school students should also wear masks on buses, as they were good transmitters of the virus, as the August group demonstrated.

“I think it is a mistake not to cover them.”

Yesterday’s announcement does not mean that New Zealand, or any region in the country, is changing alert levels.

Rather, the mandatory use of the mask will be included in the level 1 alert level settings.

Previously, the mandatory use of masks in public transport was reserved for level 2 and above.

The rules can be enforced by law enforcement, according to Hipkins, but the focus would be “educate and encourage.”

By law, people can be punished if they don’t follow the new rules, but Hipkins said this would be a “last resort.”

The punishment will be included when the orders are written.

Both Ardern and Hipkins went to great lengths to point out that bus drivers will not have to enforce the rules.

“We do not expect bus drivers to stop the bus and enforce these measures,” Hipkins said.

Although the rules do not apply to people in Ubers or taxis, drivers must wear a mask.

Children and youth traveling to and from school are exempt from face covering requirements on school buses and other means of school transportation.

Although mandatory masks on public transportation are not yet at the nationwide level, Hipkins is still encouraged to have people wear masks.

“We ask all New Zealanders to continue to play their role,” he said.

In recent days, since Auckland had a scare from the Covid-19 community, the level of compliance has been relatively high, Hipkins said.

The new public health order, which requires the new mask rules, will go into effect at 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, November 18.

“Their [a mask] It’s also a good visual reminder that while New Zealand remains relatively unfettered, we’re not out of the woods yet. We are at level 1, not at level zero. “

Auckland Mayor Phil Goff encouraged everyone to mask themselves on public transport.

“The widespread use of masks is one way that we can reduce the chances of further community transmission of Covid-19 and avoid having to go back to confinement,” he said.