WELLINGTON, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand will move into the new COVID-19 traffic light system on Dec. 3, which provides the ability for businesses and events to re-open to vaccinated Kiwis, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Monday.
All of New Zealand will move into the COVID-19 Protection Framework at 11:59 p.m. local time on Dec. 2, making Dec. 3 the first day the traffic light system will be in operation, Ardern told a post-cabinet press conference.
The simplified framework has three levels: green, orange and red. Vaccine certificates will provide greater freedom at each level, Ardern said last month when explaining the system.
The new traffic light framework will allow businesses previously considered with high risk to fully open to vaccinated customers at green and orange, and continue to operate with some restrictions at red, she said, adding that businesses that choose to open to the unvaccinated will face restrictions in order to suppress the virus among those most likely to have it.
Cabinet provided New Zealander's certainty by confirming the whole country will move into the traffic light system, 11 days from now, Ardern said, adding, "Setting the date now gives people, communities and businesses time to prepare to move safely and smoothly into the new traffic light system."
Decisions on what color each region will move into will be confirmed on Nov. 29, giving regions time to drive up vaccination rates further, the prime minister said.
"Auckland will enter at Red. The settings for other regions will be based on factors like vaccination levels, but cabinet has already confirmed that no region will start at Green while we are transitioning and managing a current outbreak," she said.
Detailed sector guidance will be released later this week so businesses and other organizations can see how they will operate at each setting of the traffic light, she added.
Ardern calls on people to get vaccinated and download their Vaccine Pass, because the key difference between the alert level system and the new traffic light system is that vaccine passes will shortly be required at places like bars, gyms and restaurants.
To date, 91 percent of eligible people in New Zealand have had their first dose and 83 percent are fully vaccinated, according to the Ministry of Health.
Vaccine Passes will first be trialed at hairdressers and barbers in the largest city Auckland from Nov. 25 to ensure the transition into the new system goes as smoothly as possible the following week, Ardern said.
Businesses that participate in the trial must operate with Vaccine Passes, take bookings only, and all staff must be fully vaccinated, she added. Enditem
