Covid coronavirus Delta outbreak: Rotorua back at alert level 3

Rotorua is back at alert level 3. Video / Andrew Warner, Ben Fraser

KEY POINTS:
• NZ, apart from Auckland and Northland, has moved into alert level 3
• Partial reopening of stores and restaurants for contactless pick-up, delivery or drive-through.
• You can do low-risk recreation activities in your local area.
• Level 3 settings will be reviewed by the Cabinet on September 6.

Police have been called to a KFC drive-through in Rotorua this evening after the queue of cars blocked a road.

Police were notified at 5.15pm that vehicles lining up to enter KFC on Amohau St were blocking the road.

A police spokesperson said staff have attended and found no issues, but they would monitor the situation over the course of the evening.

The Rotorua Daily Post has received reports of "massive" queues at both the Amahou St KFC branch and at the Fairy Springs Rd outlet this evening.

While still confined to household bubbles, people can enjoy more freedom today and for many that means supporting local businesses, which can now offer contactless pick-up, delivery or drive-through.

This evening Rotorua Economic Development chief executive Andrew Wilson said level 3 was great for businesses able to operate safely from an economic perspective.

"What we've heard so far is that food outlets have been extremely busy today so it's great to know that people are getting out to support local businesses."

Brendon Kenny was happy to have his morning coffee from Zippy Central Cafe. Photo / Andrew Warner

This morning, Kawaha Point resident Brendon Kenny said it was "good to grab a coffee" and "go back to support Zippy's [Zippy Central Cafe] again".

"Just to say gidday and make sure everyone's alright and surviving. They're happy as."

Kenny, who works for Property Inspect BOP, said it was his first day back at work today.

"It's good just to be out and about again instead of closed in between your four walls."

Renee Mua and her kids were first in line at the KFC drive-through at 9am this morning and placed her order at 10.30am.

"I'm so thankful the takeaways are back open," she said.

Mua's 12-year-old son Rawiri Tawhai said: "It feels good because I can finally have KFC again."

Rawiri Tawhai, 12, was stoked to have KFC again. Photo / Andrew Warner

Grounded Cafe owner Ren Tako said it had been a "really busy" morning.

"People definitely want their coffee fix," he said.

"It's great having customers back and talking to people, that's what it's all about."

Rotorua's Karri-Ann Vercoe-Black was at Grounded getting her usual flat white and a mochaccino for her daughter.

She said she couldn't help but do a "little dance" when she picked up her coffee.

"I was so excited for a proper coffee. I live around the corner and Grounded do the best coffee - Grounded and Scope are the best for sure."

Grounded Cafe owner Ren Tako has had a busy morning. Photo / David Beck

Eatem Food Bar owner Amanda Seeley said they opened at 5am and had been "very busy".

Seeley had seen a "positive response" from workers in the area such as engineers and factory workers and said she was "happy to be here and helping them out."

"I'm feeling really positive about [level 3]. It's great to be back at work."

Eatem Food Bar owner Amanda Seeley, (left) with Camile Alley. Photo / Andrew Warner

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About a dozen cars were lined up at the Fenton St McDonalds from about 5.30am, waiting for the drive-through to open at 6am.

The first woman in line at the Fenton St McDonalds drive-through, who asked to remain anonymous, said her three boys had been hanging out for some nuggets since lockdown began.

People waiting at McDonald's Fenton St this morning. Photo / Ben Fraser

"We were most definitely waiting for level 3," she said.

"My boys have been waiting for McDonalds, my oldest is 13 and my baby is 5. They're stoked, the chicken nuggets have arrived."

She said when staff started taking orders this morning the line of cars waiting extended onto the road.

The dinner rush at KFC on Fairy Springs this evening. Photo / Andrew Warner

"The rest of the day will be the same old routine - schoolwork, work - the McDonalds was the highlight of the day."

Maraea Woods said she was watching the news this morning and when she saw McDonalds was open again she decided to surprise her moko with breakfast.

"I got in at a good time, I'm buzzing over that," she said.

"I have two beautiful girls here, one is 11 and the other is 4. I had to wake my big girl and she thought she was dreaming, the little one just went 'woohoo!'."

Maraea Woods went to Fenton St McDonalds to surprise her moko with breakfast. Photo / Andrew Warner

Woods said she has worked right through lockdown so other than starting today with McDonalds, life would not change much in level 3.

"It's a beautiful morning, I've got a skip to my step today."

Another Rotorua resident in line at Fenton St McDonalds was Chanel Smith, who said she had been hanging out for a hot chocolate. She said it was not something she had regularly but she had been craving one during lockdown so stopped to get one on her way home from work.

"It was everything I dreamed of and more, they even gave us extra marshmallows. I got my son one too and he enjoyed it. It wasn't too busy when I was there."

Arts Village and Hello Stranger Cafe owner and operator Bianca Nieuwboer said she'd had all of her "regulars" come back this morning.

"We offer nationwide delivery on our keto food so that's kept us going."

Nieuwboer said she thought it would be a busy week because they were now doing local deliveries on their food and had their own delivery service.

She said the move to level 3 was "a bit of a pain" as they had to rearrange everything.

"But at least we get to do something. It's better than sitting at home."

Police will continue to stop people at random across the Bay of Plenty to ensure movement is for essential purposes only, and are urging people to stay in their region at level 3, a spokeswoman said.

She said police will still take an education-first approach but will move to enforcement action quickly where it is required.

"For the safety of our communities, it is absolutely vital that everyone continues to adhere to the restrictions in place."

Chanel Smith picks up some hot chocolates. Photo / Andrew Warner

Small businesses that watched their incomes drop to nothing overnight due to a snap lockdown are eager to reopen at alert level 3. Among them is a business owner who quit his job to work on the business full time weeks before the lockdown began.

The building industry will be back on the tools under level 3 restrictions starting today but it is still a hard road ahead for the embattled industry.
STORY CONTINUES AFTER LIVE BLOG

STORY CONTINUES

Meanwhile, Domino's NZ general manager Cameron Toomey said the pizza delivery company was "definitely expecting a busy day ahead" - both for deliveries and people coming into stores in level 3 areas.

"We have zero-contact delivery available, and we do have direct contact pickup available as well," he told Newstalk ZB's Kate Hawkesby.

"But we'll be making sure that we've got some procedures set up at the stores to ensure everybody can safely distance as well. We've been here before - we've taken a lot of learnings from last year, and the various other movements in levels before, and from around the world as well. We just make sure we've got the right amount of people rostered on and we've got our procedures in place that allow us to meet the demand."

Karri-Ann Vercoe-Black was dancing for joy when she picked up her coffee this morning. Photo / David Beck

And KFC is appealing to customers to be patient when the stampede starts for takeaways, Newstalk ZB reports.

Contactless and drive-through sales are operating again at most KFC, Pizza Hut, Carl's Junior and Taco Bell stores south of Auckland under level 3.

A Restaurant Brands spokeswoman says customers are being asked to treat staff kindly while they wait for their orders. She says staff have stepped up cleaning and sanitising and will be wearing masks and gloves at all times.

KFC's menu's being reduced so social distancing rules can be maintained in kitchens.

Alert level 3 - rules around gatherings and face masks

The last time New Zealand was in alert level 3 was more than a year ago. With the loosening of restrictions looming, do you know what the shift will mean?

From 11.59pm on Tuesday everywhere apart from Auckland and Northland has moved to alert level 3.

The changes will not be drastic but the biggest ones revolve around the partial re-opening of stores and restaurants for contactless pick-up, delivery or drive-through.

What else will alert level 3 change? Here are the rules:

Face coverings

You legally must wear a face covering:

• On public transport and at departure points, for example at airports, train stations and bus stops.
• On domestic flights.
• In taxi or ride-share vehicles — drivers and passengers.
• When visiting healthcare facilities.
• If you are a delivery driver to residential addresses.
• Inside any alert level 3 businesses and services that are open and involve customer contact, for example supermarkets, pharmacies and takeaways.
• At court and tribunals, Government agencies and social service providers with customer service counters.

You're strongly encouraged to wear a face covering when you are outside your home and in a place where it is hard to keep your distance from other people.

Travel and personal movement

You legally must stay within your household bubble whenever you are not at work or school. You can expand this to:

• Connect with close family and whānau.
• Bring in caregivers, or support isolated people.

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The Government advises you should only include people in your bubble where it will keep you and them safe and healthy. If anyone within your bubble feels unwell, they must immediately self-isolate from everyone else within the bubble.

You can travel locally but regional travel restricted

You can travel within your local area, for example going to work or school, shopping, or getting exercise.

Your local area means the area near your home that you regularly visit for essential services. What is considered local will differ depending on where you live. City dwellers may have a supermarket or dairy close by. If you live rurally, you may need to take a drive to reach these.

If there is an alert level 3 boundary, the Government will publish information on the Covid-19 website about which travel is permitted.

Exercise, sport and recreation

The Government is warning alert level 3 is not the time to take up new activities. You can do low-risk recreation activities in your local area.

Go to your local park or beach, not your favourite one. You cannot stay overnight at your bach or holiday home.

If you are experienced you can do more activities under level 3. These include:

• Surfing — if you are an experienced surfer, you can go to your local break.
• Tramping — day walks on easy trails are allowed. Remember to keep your distance from other people. DoC huts and campsites are closed.
• Mountain biking — allowed on easy trails if you are experienced and know the trail.
• Swimming — in safe local spots.
• Horse riding — if you are an experienced rider and it is low risk. Stay as close to home as you can.

Stay within 200 metres of shore if you are kayaking, canoeing, rowing, surfing, windsurfing or paddleboarding.

Physical distancing

Keep your distance when outside your home:

• Two metres in public and retail stores, like supermarkets
• One metre in controlled environments, like workplaces and schools.

Public transport can continue to operate with strict health and safety requirements.

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Gatherings and events

Gatherings of up to 10 people can go ahead, but only for:

• Wedding and civil union ceremonies.
• Funerals and tangihanga.

Physical distancing and public health measures legally must be maintained.

Takeaways and shopping

Cafes, restaurants and takeaways can open but only for contactless pick-up, delivery or drive-through. You cannot go in to dine.

Food delivery services, such as Delivereasy and Uber Eats, can also operate.

McDonald's has said it will revert to Drive-Thru and McDelivery only and any restaurant located in a mall will be closed in line with level 3 mall closures.

Stores such as Mitre 10, The Warehouse and Bunnings will remain closed but many can still offer contactless click and collect or delivery.

Public venues

Public venues legally must close at alert level 3.

This includes libraries, museums, cinemas, food courts, gyms, pools, playgrounds and markets.

Workplaces and businesses

If your business requires close physical contact it cannot operate and it is recommended staff work from home if they can.

Businesses need to display a QR code and have an alternative contact tracing system. Customers cannot come on to the premises — unless it is a supermarket, dairy, butcher, fishmonger, greengrocer, petrol station, pharmacy or permitted health service.

The business must be contactless. Customers can pay online, over the phone or in a contactless way. Delivery or pick-up must also be contactless.

Staff must remain a minimum of 1 metre apart at all times where practical. Other measures, such as personal protective equipment (PPE) including face coverings, are recommended to be used where appropriate.

Education

Children and young people should learn from home at alert level 3.

Any child who does not have supervision at home from an appropriate person can attend their service or school.