Delta outbreak: Business leader calls for ‘expanded criteria’ for Auckland’s COVID-19 limits

A business leader could cross Auckland’s territorial borders, calling for a change in standards after the Prime Minister announced the Super City gates would be restricted even at Level 2.

Jacinda Ardern said today the cabinet will not consider removing Auckland’s north and south borders when it meets on Monday to discuss the possibility of moving from Alert Level 3 to Level 2 in COVID- restrictions. 19.

“At the moment, we have the epidemic under control, but we have the epidemic, so we will continue to assess the role of the border,” she said. “But right now, that’s not one of the things I expect to see picking up on Monday.”

Nineteen more cases of the Delta coronavirus were announced in the community today, including 18 in Auckland and the other is a child who attended Mangatangi School and was isolated.

Following the announcement, Brett O’Riley, chief executive of the Association of Employers and Manufacturers (EMA), told the Herald whether the government should consider “expanding border crossing standards” so that border restrictions remain in place.

“I think that explains in detail how the range is managed,” he said, adding that the EMA has been involved in border management and has supported the test from the start.

“I can understand why the Prime Minister is suggesting this, some sort of compromise where if we go to Alert Level 2 you keep the limit. But we will need a change in border crossing standards. “

O’Riley said Aotearoa is now at the point where it is vital for many businesses to get in and out of Auckland.

“And yes, exemptions have been granted, but they are very difficult to obtain,” he said.

“We have companies like [building design company] Summit Homes which comprised 80 percent of the workforce in Auckland and 80 percent of the workforce living in Waikato.

O’Riley said Auckland’s many blockades have shown that many people work in the city but do not live there.

It would support a continuously managed threshold at Level 2, which requires people to show evidence of a recent negative COVID-19 test, if certain restrictions are relaxed.

“Because it is clearly a protection of public health, but that would require broadening the criteria to know who can cross the border …”

O’Riley said he didn’t think it was an unreasonable wait as more kiwis are being vaccinated.

When asked if the limit would stay in place until vaccination rates exceed 90 percent, Ardern said this was not a “link” made by the government.

However, higher vaccination rates were key to removing all restrictions, she said.

“We want to get to a position where we can get restless again,” said Ardern. “This results in a tremendous amount of work to safely manage the border and also a tremendous amount of stress and anxiety for those who are isolated.

“Of course we want to get this movement back, but it needs to be protected.”

O’Riley said it would be difficult for businesses if Auckland is on Alert Level 2 but still manages the Level 4 range.

“It’s going to be really complicated. At alert level 3 it was quite difficult, but in 2 it will become really difficult. “

Border restrictions, which were also hurting regional economies like Rotorua, were another boost for vaccination, he said.