Two important things today:
1.  As promised, here is the information you need to apply for a border exemption if you have staff that live in Level 3 that you need to cross into Level 4 to work, and vice versa.  Obviously these do not come into effect until midnight on Tuesday 31 August but there could be some delays in processing so don't wait to apply.
 
2.  Those classed as essential workers under the Public Health Order i.e. businesses operating at level 4, are now cleared as part of the priority vaccination process and can be given the earliest possible vaccination appointments.  

ESSENTIAL WORKER TRAVEL EXEMPTIONS

Please note that you won’t be able to re-use the travel documents that you applied for during previous Alert Level changes and everyone will need to reapply for new documents

However, if you have applied for an exemption before, your Business Connect login should still be active, with some of your details saved, although you may need to update these.  If you have not applied for an exemption before you will need a RealMe Login to create a Business Connect account.

If you are carrying out a permitted activity listed in the Public Health Response  Order (No. 9) that I circulated last week, you are already allowed to cross the boundary provided you have evidence that your activity is permitted, but getting the official travel exemption will make it much quicker and easier.

Remember there is only one border in place at this point - south of Auckland. A map of the border can be viewed by clicking here.

To apply for an exemption please click here and login.

As this is the first time we have had a Level 4/Level 3 border, the threshhold for granting travel permits will be high and you need to understand exactly which category of the Public Health Order you fit into.  Let me know if you have any questions/issues with your applications.

PRIORITY VACCINATION CRITERIA EXTENDED TO INCLUDE ALL LEVEL 4 WORKERS

All essential workers listed on the Public Health Order (No. 9) - all those able to work at Level 4 - are now able to be prioritised for receiving the vaccination. 

They are best to book this by calling the COVID Vaccination Healthline on 0800 28 29 26 (rather than doing it online). They will need to tell the call taker they are an essential worker working under Alert Level 4 so that their vaccination can be prioritised. All calls are free, and the team are available from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week. Interpreters are available if needed. 

This is a great way to encourage your staff to get the vaccine sooner rather than later. One in six Covid infections in the current outbreak is an essential worker. While it may not stop them getting COVID-19, with two doses, they are far less likely to fall seriously ill and less likely to transmit the virus to others, which in turn helps protect your workers and your workplace.


Time to get back to the jigsaw - only 993 pieces to go......