With Auckland back at Alert Level 3 and the rest of the country at Alert Level 2 for at least 72 hours, it is important to remind ourselves of the rules and guidelines for operating a business at each level.
Golden Rules for business at Alert Level 3
- If your business requires close physical contact it cannot operate
- It is recommended for staff to work from home if possible
- Businesses must to display a QR code and have an alternative contact tracing system. We recommend you make sure that people either scan in or provide their contact details via a logbook or similar
- Customers cannot come onto your premises — unless you are a supermarket, dairy, butcher, fishmonger, greengrocer, petrol station, pharmacy or permitted health service
- Your business legally must be contactless. Your customers can pay online, over the phone or in a contactless way. Delivery or pick-up legally must also be contactless
- Basic hygiene measures legally must be maintained. Physical distancing, hand washing and regularly cleaning surfaces. Workers legally must stay home if they’re sick
- Staff legally must remain a minimum of 1 metre apart at all times where practical. We recommend other measures, such as PPE including face coverings, be used where appropriate
- Different advice applies to essential healthcare workers, border agencies, courts and tribunal staff, first responders and corrections staff
- You legally must meet all other health and safety obligations
How to do business safely
Under Alert Level 3, there are restrictions to keep workers safe, limit interaction with customers and help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
We recommend businesses self-assess their ability to meet these restrictions and operate safely, just as they would normally to meet their duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act. Government agencies will not make these decisions for businesses.
Be Contactless
If your business requires close physical contact it can’t operate. Remember, customers cannot come instore to try clothes on even if it's just you and the customer instore.
Retail is possible through delivery and non-contact collection of goods, you can drop parcels off at doorsteps, or customers can attend to a designated area to pick up their prepared order. We recommend ensuring pick up times are strict to eliminate any unnecessary waiting time for customers.
Customers can pay online, over the phone or in a contactless way. We recommend delivery or pick-up should also be contactless.
Contact tracing at your workplace
To stop any future spread of COVID-19, we need to trace the contacts of anyone who may have been exposed to COVID-19 and break the chain of transmission. Contact tracing helps us do that.
To enable contact tracing all businesses, workplaces and public transport operators legally must display an NZ COVID Tracer QR code for each location and provide alternate contact tracing systems.
Here are some helpful links below:
Get more information about what your business needs to do
Workplace operations at COVID-19 Alert Levels
Your COVID-19 safety plan — what you need to think about
Golden rules for business at Alert Level 2
- Reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission at work
- All businesses can operate if they can do so safely. Alternative ways of working are encouraged where possible
- Talk with your staff to identify risks and ways to manage them
- Ask everyone — workers, contractors and customers — with cold or flu-like symptoms to stay away from your premises
- Keep workers 1 metre apart and customers in retail businesses 2 metres apart
- Keep groups of customers at least 1 metre apart, or 2 metres for retail businesses
- Businesses are legally required to display a QR code and provide an alternative contact tracing system
- Face coverings are strongly encouraged if you are in close contact with others
- Reduce the number of shared surfaces, and regularly disinfect them
- Wash your hands. Wash your hands. Wash your hands.
For more information on Alert Level 2 restrictions, click here.
