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The government today launched its Covid-19 resurgence plan in the event of a possible outbreak during the summer, along with a new payment scheme for companies at Level 2 and another payment for when employees are awaiting the results of the tests. Covid testing.
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Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins and Dr. Ashley Bloomfield unveiled three scenarios and how the government would respond. Source: 1 NEWS
The government also recommends that kiwis carry a ‘Covid kit’, to be prepared if the virus spreads.
“The summer vacation period poses some unique challenges in responding to an outbreak,” said Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins.
“Many of us will travel for vacations or seasonal work, there will be more social gatherings and big events like festivals and, like other Kiwis, there will be health workers who will take a well-deserved leave.”
“At worst, if it becomes clear that there is a high risk of widespread transmission, you will have to stay where you are and in your bubble until you get official advice. We don’t want people rushing home and possibly taking the virus with them. with them “.
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The Covid-19 Response Minister outlines the four basic messages from the Government’s latest campaign to keep Covid-19 at bay. Source: 1 NEWS
The Government’s plan consists of the ‘reduction’ of the public, with movements such as activating Bluetooth for the tracking application, scanning QR codes, maintaining hygiene standards and traveling with a Covid kit that includes soap, disinfectant, mask, food and medicines .
The second is to be ‘ready’: that is for the government to maintain border measures, contact tracing, community testing and implement changes in the alert level and for the public to wear masks when social distancing is not possible.
The third is how the government would ‘respond’ to an outbreak. That includes evaluating a confirmed community case and the risk of transmission, then, if necessary, the Covid-19 Resurgence Plan is activated.
From there, if a sustained response is needed, a team from central and local government, iwi and community leaders will work with local emergency management. They will implement the immediate public health response, serve vulnerable individuals and communities, and support businesses.
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Hamish Pinkham said that people should be grateful to be able to attend the Gisborne festival amid the pandemic. Source: 1 NEWS
The government published scenarios and the likely response during the summer period, should Covid-19 hit.
One of them was a person who tested positive after traveling home after a large festival held in another region.
“The investigation does not find any link with the border. A large number of people were possibly exposed at the festival and have now traveled outside the region. There is a high risk of transmission throughout the country,” the stage notes.
Testing would intensify in New Zealand, a change to the national alert level would be possible, events could be canceled, and kiwis could be asked to stay where they are in their bubble.
“It’s important to remember that this is the worst case scenario,” Hipkins said.
“After a long and hard year, we all deserve to enjoy our summer, including those who are working hard during the holidays to keep us safe.”
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Tourists could be asked to go home and emergency closures could be enforced if a new outbreak occurs. Source: 1 NEWS
New payment scheme at alert level 2, salary subsidy at level 3 and 4, new one-time payment for employees awaiting Covid tests
A new payment scheme is being introduced for affected businesses if there was a change to alert level 2 for a week or more, to help with wages and rent.
The resurgence support payment would be eligible for businesses that have a 30 percent reduction in revenue for two weeks. It would give $ 1500 per business and $ 400 per employee, up to $ 21,500.
Finance Minister Grant Robertson said the wage subsidy had been committed at alert levels 3 and 4, either at the national or regional level.
“The wage subsidy scheme has been very effective in keeping people working so far with more than $ 14 billion paid to protect 1.8 million jobs,” he said.
“We also maintain the licensing support scheme and complement it with the introduction of a new short-term absence pay to also cover eligible workers who need to stay home while they wait for the Covid-19 test result.
“This will be a one-time payment of $ 350 to employers to pay workers who need to stay home while they wait for a test or while someone who is their dependent does it,” Robertson said.
Revisit commercial rentals
After months of back and forth on companies struggling to pay rent in the aftermath of Covid-19, the government was forced to sidestep the legislative change after being blocked by NZ First from making changes to commercial rent.
That’s already back in the cards, with plans for the Cabinet to discuss possible changes early next year.
