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Please refer to the COVID-19 website for the latest information about whether your business should be operating, it is being updated as the disease threat and response evolves.
https://covid19.govt.nz/government-actions/covid-19-alert-level/essential-businesses/)
You should cease operating by 11.59pm on Wednesday 25 March unless you are sure your business provides essential services (or is part of the essential services supply chain) and you ensure all appropriate measures are taken to minimise the transmission of COVID-19.
If an activity is deemed essential, for a business to operate it must do so in a way that minimises the risk of COVID-19 transmission. Businesses should:
a. minimise, or eliminate if possible, physical interactions amongst staff and with and between customers,
b. ensure appropriate health, hygiene and safety measures are in place,
c. restrict activity to only what is essential during the Alert 4 period.
It is for an industry or business to decide how to best do this. We would expect practices to include the likes of:
- Working from home as far as possible.
- Limiting, or eliminating if possible, staff interaction e.g. through physical distancing, split shifts, staggered meal breaks, and flexible working arrangements.
- Limiting, or eliminating if possible, interaction with and between customers e.g. through online or phone orders, contactless delivery, or managed entry (while also avoiding crowding outside) and physical distancing both inside and outside the premises.
- Hygiene basics of hand washing and sanitisers.
- Frequent cleaning of premises, especially counters and eftpos terminals, and other high-touch surfaces (cleaning advice is available on the Ministry of Health website).
- Protective equipment for staff as appropriate.