COVID-19 | WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW


The COVID-19 Protection Framework has been retired as of 11:59pm Monday 12 September 2022.  Here's what that means for your business. 


MASK REQUIREMENTS
Government requirements for mask wearing have been lifted. Mask use is now only mandated in healthcare settings including hospitals, aged care facilities and pharmacies.


WORKPLACE VENTILATION
Good ventilation makes your workplace safer for your staff and customers by reducing the spread of COVID-19, colds and other viruses.


VACCINATION MANDATES
All remaining government vaccine mandates will now end. The last workforce with a government vaccine mandate is health and disability workers. This will end on 11:59pm 26 September 2022. Until that time, the COVID-19 Public Health Response (Vaccinations) Order 2021 remains in force. If you have questions on how this affects you or your workforce,  please contact [email protected]

Some employers may still require workers to be vaccinated due to their responsibilities under health and safety legislation. Under those circumstances, employers should undertake a work health and safety risk assessment, ensuring that the assessment is based on current risk within the community.


RESOURCES
COVID-19 official resources updated regularly.


ISOLATION REQUIREMENTS
Household contacts are no longer required to isolate when a member of their household tests positive for COVID-19. But, they should get tested if they feel ill or have COVID symptoms. Those testing positive for COVID-19 must isolate for seven days.


ADVICE AND SUPPORT
Unclear on how changes in COVID-19 protocols may impact your business? We're here to help. Contact The Chamber for advice or support.

COVID-19 and other virus prevention in the workplace

Though the COVID-19 Protection Framework has been retired, it is important to remember under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, employers have a legal duty to ensure the safety of employees while at work. In the context of coronavirus (and any others like it), this means taking measures to prevent both employees who are travelling to, or coming back from, affected areas from contracting the disease or allowing others in the workplace to contract it from an infected person. 

WHO advise people follow basic principles to reduce risk of viruses spreading. These are:

- Avoid close contact with people suffering acute respiratory infections
- Wash hands frequently, especially after contact with ill people or their environment
- Avoid close contact with sick farm animals or wild animals
- People with symptoms of acute respiratory infection should practice cough etiquette: 
          o     Maintain distance
          o     Cover coughs and sneezes with disposable tissues or clothing
          o     Wash hands

The Ministry has also outlined a number of actions that businesses can take to minimise the spread of infectious diseases in the workplace - read more here.

As different businesses and organisations may be impacted in different ways, if you would like to discuss the implications of this advice, please get in touch with our team directly on the details below.



For more information and advice, please contact The Chamber on 03 366 5096, or the COVID-19 South Island Business Helpline 0800 50 50 96.


Further information:

 

The Chamber

As the home and voice of Canterbury business, we are here to help.  Being part of the BusinessNZ Network, we are here to offer advice and support for businesses through the impacts of Covid-19.

For advice specific to your situation, please contact The Chamber on 0800 50 50 96 or 03 366 5096, or email [email protected] or contact one of The Chamber’s advisory team. See all The Chamber contact information on our Advice and Support page.