• At 11.59pm on 12 September 2022, the COVID-19 Protection Framework (the ‘traffic lights’) was removed.
• Protecting lives and livelihoods remains the goal of the Government’s COVID-19 response.
• As of 11.59pm, 26 September 2022, all Government vaccine mandates will end. Some employers may still require workers to be vaccinated due to their responsibilities under health and safety legislation.
• Vaccination and testing requirements for all travellers arriving into New Zealand will also end, including air crew, from 11.59pm, 12 September. People arriving in New Zealand from overseas will continue to receive free RATs at the airport and will be encouraged to test on day 0/1 and 5/6.
• You can catch COVID-19 more than once or suffer a relapse a little way down the track if you don't fully recover the first time around. If you have symptoms at any time, stay home and take a test. Vaccination will help to further protect you, so get your next dose once it’s been 3 months since you tested positive.
• Everyone has a different experience with COVID-19 and it’s important not to rush back into normal levels of exercise or work. You may still experience symptoms after your 7-day isolation and it’s important to give yourself time to rest and recover fully. 
• Start talking with your whānau now about what you will do if someone gets sick. Make sure you put the information you need in one place and that everyone knows where to find it. For are some preparation tips click here.

• Face masks are still an effective tool for reducing the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses.
• We will continue to supply them for free when picking up RATs and in many other sites.
• Masks are not be required anywhere, except when visiting certain healthcare facilities like hospitals, GPs, pharmacies and aged care residential facilities. This requirement does not apply to people visiting psychotherapy, counselling, or mental health and addiction service premises.
• Masks are recommended in confined places where there is a higher risk of you getting or spreading COVID-19 or other illnesses, places such as public transport or when visiting vulnerable people.
• Some places, such as workplaces, special events, or marae may ask people to wear a mask as a condition of entry. This will be at their discretion and no longer a Government requirement. People are encouraged to respect those who continue to keep wearing masks for the protection they offer against COVID-19.
• During the five days that they are testing, Household Contacts are encouraged to wear a mask whenever they leave home, particularly if visiting vulnerable people, like elderly or immunocompromised people, using public transport, or when in a crowded indoor space.
• Full guidance on when people will be required and recommended to wear a masks is available on the Unite against COVID-19 website

• Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) are a helpful tool in slowing the spread of COVID-19, however, they have limitations. They are most effective at identifying people who are most infectious, which is why they’re best used by people who have symptoms or have had more exposure to the virus.
• A positive RAT result means you have COVID-19. You do not need a PCR to confirm it unless you are directed to do so by a health official. 
• If you’ve had COVID-19 in the last 28 days and have symptoms again, you don’t need to take a RAT. It’s likely that your symptoms relate to your initial infection. You should stay home and recover.
• If you have already had COVID-19 but you get new symptoms 29 days or more after your original infection, take a rapid antigen test. If you test positive again you will need to isolate for 7 full days. You don’t need to get a PCR test.   If your result is negative, you might still have COVID-19. Your symptoms could also be caused by another infection such as the flu or another virus. If symptoms continue, you should repeat a RAT 48 hours later. If it’s still negative, stay home until 24 hours after symptoms have gone.
• Make sure you register your RAT result at mycovidrecord.nz or by calling 0800 222 478. It’s important and will help make sure you get linked with the health and manaaki support you need. You can also record a RAT result on behalf of someone else aged 5 and over through your My COVID Record. Go online and follow the prompts. 
• If you are having trouble reporting your RAT result and need support to isolate safely, this service is still available. Ring the COVID-19 welfare line on 0800 512 337. 

• Isolation is the most effective way to keep case numbers low and so remains a requirement for everyone who tests positive.
• You must isolate for 7 days if you test positive for COVID-19.
• Household Contacts do not need to isolate. If you are a Household Contact, you should test daily for 5 days with a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) from the day the person with COVID-19 tested positive. To reduce the risk of infecting others, during these 5 days you should wear a face mask when you leave your home.
• If you test positive and still have symptoms at day 7, you are advised to keep isolating until 24 hours after your symptoms have gone.
• Most people who get COVID-19 will experience mild or moderate symptoms. It’s important you isolate and rest so you can recover as fast as possible.
• There are a few things you can do to make isolation safer and less stressful – prepare your pantry, freezer, cleaning supplies and make sure to stay on top of refills for any regular medications.
  

Getting vaccinated is still one our best protections against catching or getting sick with COVID-19.  

Vaccination is available at sites and clinics across the region.  Find your closest clinic at Healthpoint.co.nz

• Everyone in Aotearoa New Zealand aged 5 and over can get free COVID-19 vaccinations.
• Tamariki aged 6 months to 4 years who are immunocompromised or have complex and/or multiple health conditions are now eligible for a paediatric COVID-19 vaccine.  This is a three dose course for this group. For more details on the vaccine, eligibility criteria and how to book visit Unite against COVID-19.
• Most people need two primary doses of the COVID-19 vaccination. Those over 5 years of age who are severely immunocompromised might need a third primary dose - if you think you qualify for a third primary dose, reach out to your GP or local healthcare provider or call Healthline on 0800 28 29 26
• It’s important to stay up to date with your vaccinations after you have had COVID-19 as it helps prevent you from getting it again, and offers some protection against new variants. For optimum immunity, you should wait 3 months after your positive test result before you get your next COVID-19 vaccination.

Additional Boosters - from 1 April 2023

An additional Pfizer BA.4/5 COVID-19 bivalent booster is now available for people who have completed a primary vaccination course (for most people this is 2 doses).

You can get this booster, regardless of how many boosters you have had, if you are:

• aged 30 and over or
• at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19.

It will need to be at least 6 months since your last COVID-19 vaccine or a positive COVID-19 test.  

If you are 16 to 29 years old, you can have 1 booster dose.

You can have a booster if:

• it has been at least 6 months since you had your first 2 COVID-19 vaccinations (your primary course)
• it has been at least 6 months since you had COVID-19.

If you are 16 to 29 years old and at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19, you can have an extra booster dose.

Higher risk groups include:

• severely immunocompromised people 
• people who live with a disability with significant or complex health needs or multiple comorbidities
• people with a medical condition that increases the risk of severe COVID-19 illness.

If you are immunocompromised there are different recommendations in place. Read more about Vaccination on the Unite against COVID-19 website.  Read more about vaccine boosters here.

• Anti-viral medicines are available for free to people at risk of becoming very sick with COVID-19. This includes any New Zealander aged 65+. For Māori and Pacific peoples, these medicines will be available for free to anyone aged 50 and over.
• In addition, anyone with three high-risk conditions is eligible for free anti-viral medicines. For more information on who can get antivirals, visit here.