Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has addressed the national today to announce an Alert Level system and prepare the country for the way the government intends to respond to COVID-19.

New Zealand is currently at Alert Level 2.

Those aged over 70 or who have compromised immunity or an underlying respiratory condition are asked to stay at home as much as possible. New Zealanders are asked to help these people by offering to get supplies and by keeping in contact but to ensure good handwashing practices, stay away if they feel ill, and keep their distance.

Business that have the ability for staff to work from home or implement plans that stagger shifts or meal breaks, are asked to implement these measures.

Everybody is asked to cut all non-essential travel around the country.

Schools will continue to operate but will be closed if a case affects a school, as was the case at Logan Park in Dunedin.

At all Alert Levels, access to supermarkets and pharmaceuticals will continue.

There have been 14 new cases confirmed in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of cases to 53. Around 1500 tests were processed yesterday.

Three of the confirmed cases are in hospital. A man in his 60s is in Lakes District Hospital in Queenstown, a woman is in hospital in Nelson and another in North Shore Hospital. All three are stable.

None of the new cases are in Southland.

Most of the cases confirmed today are travel-related but as yet, in at least two instances, no link to overseas travel has been ascertained

Director General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield says it is more important than ever that efforts to trace and track individuals who may have been in contact with confirmed Covid-19 cases continue.

"Physical distancing is fundamental to our collective response and we ask all New Zealanders to conscientiously play their part in following the guidelines relating to social contact and the ban on large gatherings, which can be found on the Ministry’s website."

The government's explanation of the Alert Level system is as follows:

Level 1 - Prepare

Disease is contained

Risk Assessment

• Heightened risk of importing COVID-19 OR
• Sporadic imported cases OR
• Isolated household transmission associated with imported cases

Range of Measures (can be applied locally or nationally)

• Border entry measures to minimise risk of importing COVID-19 cases applied
• Contact tracing
• Stringent self-isolation and quarantine
• Intensive testing for COVID-19
• Physical distancing encouraged
• Mass gatherings over 500 cancelled
• Stay home if you’re sick, report flu-like symptoms
• Wash and dry hands, cough into elbow, don’t touch your face

Level 2 - Reduce Disease is contained, but risks of community transmission growing

Risk Assessment

• High risk of importing COVID-19 OR
• Increase in imported cases OR
• Increase in household transmission OR
• Single or isolated cluster outbreak 

Range of Measures (can be applied locally or nationally)

• Entry border measures maximised
• Further restrictions on mass gatherings
• Physical distancing on public transport (e.g. leave the seat next to you empty if you can)
• Limit non-essential travel around New Zealand
• Employers start alternative ways of working if possible (e.g. remote working, shift-based working, physical distancing within the workplace, staggering meal breaks, flexible leave arrangements)
• Business continuity plans activated
• High-risk people advised to remain at home (e.g. those over 70 or those with other existing medical conditions)

Level 3 - Restrict

Heightened risk that disease is not contained

Risk Assessment

• Community transmission occurring OR
• Multiple clusters break out 

Range of Measures (can be applied locally or nationally)

• Travel in areas with clusters or community transmission limited
• Affected educational facilities closed
• Mass gatherings cancelled
• Public venues closed (e.g. libraries, museums, cinemas, food courts, gyms, pools, amusement parks)
• Alternative ways of working required and some non-essential businesses should close
• Non face-to-face primary care consultations
• Non acute (elective) services and procedures in hospitals deferred and healthcare staff reprioritised

Level 4 - Eliminate

Risk Assessment

• Sustained and intensive transmission
• Widespread outbreaks

Range of Measures (can be applied locally or nationally)

• People instructed to stay at home
• Educational facilities closed
• Businesses closed except for essential services (e.g. supermarkets, pharmacies, clinics) and lifeline utilities
• Rationing of supplies and requisitioning of facilities
• Travel severely limited
• Major reprioritisation of healthcare services