It's official: New Zealand will move to the Orange traffic light setting as of 11.59pm tonight.
Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins made the announcement at around 1pm today.
"Wearing a face mask at Orange is still important, especially with capacity limits removed. People are required to wear a face mask in many indoor settings. Next to being vaccinated and having a booster, face masks are our main defence against COVID-19 at Orange.
"We know this shift down to Orange will be welcome news to many as we head into Easter weekend and the school holidays and connect with loved ones.
"But there is still Omicron in the community, and the threat of new variants arriving here is still risk, so I urge everyone to continue to be cautious and think about the health of others, especially those who are immunocompromised or at higher risk of long-term health impacts from infection.
"It’s also important to make a plan in case you get COVID-19 on holiday. If you’re not using your own vehicle to travel – such as being reliant on airplane or public transport – you need to make sure you can isolate where you are," Hipkins says.
At Orange, there are no capacity limits or distancing requirements at venues. Patrons will not need a My Vaccine Pass to sit and eat at restaurants and cafes.
Hotels can also operate with no capacity limits.
Controlled-access events involving ticketing, registration or another way to control access can go ahead at Orange and can be held either at a commercial or private venue.
Public facilities, such as libraries, swimming pools and zoos, can open at Orange.
People are still required to wear a face mask at many indoor locations at Orange, but do not need to wear them outdoors.
People can travel all through New Zealand for any reason at any traffic light colour.
More to follow.
