The announcement of a shift to the new COVID Protection Framework on December 3 was a relief for many businesses, particularly in Auckland where the Delta outbreak has meant some have been closed for more than three months.
There is still some confusion, however, so here’s a breakdown of what hospitality businesses need to know about the Traffic Light System.
Face Coverings:
Red - Face coverings will be mandatory on flights, public transport, in taxis, retail, public venues, and recommended whenever leaving the house.
Orange - Face coverings will be mandatory on flights, public transport, in taxis, retail, public venues, and encouraged everywhere.
Green - Mandatory on flights, encouraged indoors.
Vaccine Passes:
**Hospitality businesses can opt-out of requiring vaccine passes, however, if they do, more restrictions apply at every Traffic Light level**
Places Where Vaccination Certificates are Used:
Red - Able to open with up to 100 people, based on 1-metre physical distancing.
Orange - No Limits.
Green - No Limits.
Places Where Vaccine Certificates are not Used:
Red - Contactless only.
Orange - Contactless only.
Green - Able to open with up to 100 people, based on 1 metre physical distancing.
If you are a hospitality business that will be using Vaccine Passes, your employees must also be vaccinated. Workers covered by the My Vaccine Pass mandate need to have their first dose by 3 December 2021 and be fully vaccinated by 17 January 2022.
The following is from the COVID-19 Response (Vaccinations) Legislation Bill - Schedule 3A Provisions relating to COVID-19 vaccinations:
A four week notice period must be given to any employee who is not getting vaccinated and needs to be under the Vaccine Pass Mandate. The termination notice is cancelled if the employee becomes vaccinated during the notice period, however, this does not apply if cancelling the notice would unreasonably disrupt the employer’s business.
