Coronavirus: Prime Minister Jacinda Arden reveals changes to vaccine passes and mandate settings

Publish Date
Wednesday, 23 March 2022, 11:37AM

Prime Minister Jacinda Arden has announced the limit on outdoor gatherings is to be scrapped, as well as the end of vaccine pass use and mandates for some industries.

The number of people allowed to gather inside increases from 100 to 200 under the red light traffic setting.

Masks will continue to be used, but today's move means outdoor concerts, sports and other outdoor events would be able to resume under the red setting.

The traffic light changes will kick in from March 25.

From 11.59pm on Monday 4 April, vaccine passes will no longer be required to be used.

"This is not the end, but in some ways, it is also a new beginning," Ardern said.

The timing for easing on these restrictions was because there was a clearer picture of when Omicron would peak.

The Government will not require mandates in education, police or Defence Force workers and those workplaces using them from Monday 4 April.

"I know it has been tough but I absolutely stand by the decisions we made," she said.

At the orange setting, more gathering guidance would be coming.

On QR codes and scanning, Ardern said from this weekend, you are no longer required to scan wherever you go.

However, she said if a new variant did come along and contact tracing was needed, she asked people to be ready to adopt it again.

Ardern said being highly vaccinated would continue to be critical.

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