It’s back to level 3 for Aucklanders today, as health authorities try to get a grip on a case of community transmission of COVID-19 in a South Auckland family.

The rest of the country goes to level 2 at noon, with the restrictions running until midnight Friday.

The three-day lockdown was announced late last night by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and the Director-General of Health, Ashley Bloomfield.
There will be updates this morning and again at 1 pm, when the government will have the results of tests of close contacts of the four known cases, one of whom is a preschooler.

Schools and other educational facilities will only be open for the children of essential workers.

In Auckland gatherings of more than 10 people are banned, except for weddings, funerals, or tangihanga.

People are encouraged to work from home but businesses can open if they do not interact directly with customers.

Restaurants and bars must close to customers, but food deliveries can continue.

Businesses that do have direct interactions with customers like restaurants will not be able to open, although delivery food services are allowed to continue.

Pharmacies and supermarkets will remain open.

People who normally live in Auckland can travel home, and visitors can leave.

For the rest of the country gatherings of up to 100 people are still allowed, schools, businesses, and public venues will be allowed to open, but people are encouraged to physically distance where possible, and to wear a mask where it is not.

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