There has been no reported COVID-19 cases in the South Island for over a year. So why has the Government kept the South Island in Alert Level 2?

At yesterday’s Press conference, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Director General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield made no mention of the South Island frustrating South Island mayors.

Chris Lynch Media asked the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet what considerations were taken into account to keep the South Island in Alert Level 2, and whether the Prime Minister had considered a regional bubble supported by Public Health Professor Nick Wilson from Otago University.

A DPMC COVID-19 Group spokesperson said “the current Delta outbreak presents a very serious risk to New Zealand, which is why Alert Level 2 settings are in place for much of the country apart from Northland, Auckland and Waikato which are at Alert Level 3.”

“Alert Level 2 indicates there is a low risk of community transmission within the area. The settings in place such as limits on gathering sizes, and important health measures like physical distancing and wearing face coverings, offer important protection against the virus should it emerge outside the Alert Level 3 area.”

DPMC COVID-19 Group spokesperson said “in this outbreak we have seen cases emerge outside of Auckland, with parts of Waikato in Alert Level 3 as a result. It is vital we stop any further spread through the Alert Level 3 boundary and restrictions, and through Alert Level 2 protections in COVID-free areas.”

 “The most important thing every person can do is get vaccinated, and encourage their friends and family to get vaccinated as well. This has never been more urgent. High vaccination rates will protect our communities and allow everyone to experience fewer restrictions and more freedoms.”

“Public health risk assessment is the first and most important consideration guiding government decisions on alert levels. Other factors include a range of factors such as case numbers, the number of active and uncontained clusters, cases where we cannot identify the source or cases who were not identified as contacts before they became cases.”

Considerations also include hospitalisation rates, vaccination and testing levels, wastewater results and geographical spread.  

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told RNZ “it will become very clear to people that if you are not vaccinated there will be things that you miss out on, everyday things that you will miss out on.”

“It’s about both rewarding people who have gone out and done the right thing but also keeping away people who are less safe.”