News / Events

Following today's Government COVID-19 update we've compiled the the key information which may be helpful for members:

ALERT LEVELS:

• Northland will join the rest of the country in the orange setting from 11.59pm tonight.
• The Government has indicated that All of New Zealand will move to RED within 24 - 48 hours of the first detected community transmission of Omicron - please be aware of how a change to RED will impact you personally and professionally, along with any project you are involved with, and prepare to escalate quickly should a community case be detected.
• Lockdowns and Regional Borders will no longer be used to manage the spread of COVID-19 and there are no plans to change this decision at this stage (however they can't be completely ruled out in the future)
• Within the next six days the Government is expected to release more information of a 'graduated system' for managing Covid-19 cases during different stages of the coming Omicron spread.

Find more information about Life at RED and specifically Businesses and Workplaces at RED

TESTING:

Work is being done to bring in more frequent testing in health settings as seen overseas. Current capacity for 40,000 tests a day without putting strain our system, but this will be placed under pressure with a wide outbreak and to manage ongoing preventative testing.

In the future PCR testing will be prioritised for:

• Symptomatic people
• Vulnerable people
• Essential workers
• Close contacts
• PCR Testing will be free and available locally

Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) will also be available more widely, and will be essential when case numbers are high.

• Currently we have 4.6 million rapid antigen tests in the country
• Tens of millions of RATs are currently on order
• RATs will also be available to the community for free
• It is not currently clear how tests will be distributed and how this will allow businesses and workplaces to monitor with regular testing, and more information is expected in the coming days / weeks.

INTERNATIONAL BORDER:

• The planned opening of the International Border has been halted, along with the changes to MIQ and self-isolation.
• Following the Government announcement on 24 December 2021 International travel has been delayed until the end of February 2022
• On 18 January 22 the MIQ Lobby (scheduled for 20 January) was postponed due to the large number of Omicron cases presenting at the border.
• The decision on when the next lobby will be held will be made in coming weeks as part of Cabinet’s considerations on the border and Reconnecting New Zealand.
• NOTE: Globally there has been disruption to airlines and flights due to Omicron impacting staffing levels

We appreciate that this is once again a huge challenge for the screen sector, and will continue to advocate for sector access to MIQ and International Travel for key people.

PREPARING FOR A RISE IN CASES:

With widespread cases people are asked to take steps to plan and prepare for the possibility of illness, or isolation at home should they be deemed a close contact. It's important to understand whether you are able to safely isolate at home, and what you might need to keep yourself and those around you safe. Being prepared in advance will help you take immediate action should you or someone you're closely connected to test positive for COVID-19.

You can find more information HERE.

In regards to how to manage the risks associated with productions in this environment, please continue to follow the guidance of ScreenSafe, and SPADA will provide you with any updates and resources as they come to hand.