Mayoral update 15 during COVID-19 response
Transcript:
Kia ora koutou
Saturday August the 15th. I thought I'd do a quick update.
We are remaining at alert level 2 for another 12 days while Auckland remains at its alert level 3.
I think this is a sensible safe approach which gives us the reassurance to continue on remain calm and kind but we still need to be giving more notice to physical distancing in public places - two meters - high levels of hand washing and hygiene.
Please people stay home if you're unwell and ring your GP if you think you need to be tested. We should only be tested if we think we have symptoms, or if we are a close contact of an actual case. At the moment I don't think that's any of us here in Ōpōtiki.
Quite a lot of our local government construction projects, the footpaths etc, are continuing at level two. All of the companies are providing the appropriate health and safety and physical distancing measures and when they're ensuring they're in place these essential services can keep going.
You'll have seen our OPAC CEO has already issued his staff with the same messages regarding continuing work but with a few changes in how those things are done.
Parents - all school children should still be attending schools or early learning centres. Tertiary Students you are also okay to be going to your institutions and working. Please continue to go while we are in alert level two. We have had too many breaks in our school year already.
Sports and recreation are allowed as long as there aren't groups more than a hundred and i know that local sporting codes have already issued directions as to how they want to operate so that's really neat.
If possible please please download the NZ Covid Tracer app. It's free and available. Get it on to your smartphone. There is only a week left for all businesses in town to have a QR code displayed at the door of their businesses. And then it's just a matter with your phone and scanning or taking a photo of the code every time you go wherever you're going. Otherwise old school with a notebook. Please keep track of where you've been and who you've met during the course of your days.
Finally please know that all marae in Te Whānau a Apanui are closed at the moment and please contact your hapū pou if you need any further information.
All of us in Ōpōtiki must remain ready, calm, and kind to do our bit to help all of New Zealand. We all need to work hard against this new COVID-19 threat but with the beautiful weather enjoy your weekend, just be conscious of what it means to us in alert level 2.
Ka kite.
