Symptoms of COVID-19 are similar to a range of other illnesses such as influenza and do not necessarily mean that you have COVID-19. Symptoms include:

• a cough
• a high temperature of at least 38°C
• shortness of breath.
• sore throat
• sneezing and runny nose 
• temporary loss of smell.

These symptoms do not necessarily mean you have COVID-19. The symptoms are similar to other illnesses that are much more common, such as cold and flu.

Shortness of breath is a sign of possible pneumonia and requires immediate medical attention.

If you have these symptoms please call Healthline for free on 0800 358 5453 or you can call your doctor immediately. If you're outside New Zealand call +64 9 358 5453 or your doctor. Call your doctor before visiting.

Self-isolation and quarantine are both used to remove people who are ill and those who may be at higher risk of being ill, from other people for a short period of time to prevent the spread of COVID-19. 

The reasons you may need to be in self-isolation and quarantine may be because you are ill, or because you have specific risk factors that make you more likely to get ill. These include international travel and being a confirmed contact of someone with COVID-19.

The guidelines for people under self-isolation and quarantine are stricter than for people at Alert Level 4 - for example, they cannot leave their home to go to the grocery store. 

Alert Level 4 requires everyone in New Zealand to stay home. However, people can still leave home to access essential services and to exercise.

All of these actions together will help protect New Zealand from COVID-19. Staying home, whether it's under Alert Level 4, quarantine or self-isolation, saves lives

If you can’t access food or essential items yourself or with the help of whānau, friends, iwi, neighbours or community providers, there is urgent assistance available.

If you are not eligible for support from Work and Income and you don’t have a way to access essential supplies yourself, you can contact your local Civil Defence Emergency Management Group (CDEM). However, if you have immediate urgent food needs then you should call your local CDEM Group directly.

The service operates 7 days a week from 7am to 7pm.

If you find yourself in this situation, please phone your local CDEM Group.

The number for your local CDEM Group is on the National Emergency Management Agency website (external link)

If you feel an earthquake: drop, cover and hold during the shaking. If you’re near the coast, remember long or strong: get gone.

If you are advised to evacuate by authorities because of a tsunami, flood, fire or other emergency, follow the evacuation advice.

What to do in an emergency at any COVID-19 Alert Level

If you’re healthy and under 70, you should go to the supermarket instead of shopping online. This will leave home delivery slots free for the people who need them most.

Shops are doing their best to limit the number of shoppers – helping you keep 2 metres away from others.

Here are some simple tips to follow when you go to the supermarket:

• Wash your hands before and after you shop.
• Come prepared with a list so you can get in and out as quickly as possible.
• If at all possible only send one person from your household to do the whole shop. You may need to take young children with you if there is no carer available.
• Keep 2 metres away from others, including staff – they need to keep safe too!
• Only touch what you want to buy.
• Be kind to essential workers, and others you’re sharing the shop with.

More simple tips for when you go to the supermarket

We want all consumers to be confident that prices are fair and equitable.

If you think a business has unnecessarily increased its prices on essential goods or services, your first steps should be to ask the retailer the reason for the price increase, and work together to find suitable solutions.

Information on increased prices and consumer rights during COVID-19 (external link) 

Report price increases online (external link)

If you have concerns about a gathering of people, a non-essential shop or service that is open, anyone who is not self-isolating as required, or an event that breaches the criteria, you can report it to police online. Do not call 105. Reports will be prioritised based on risk.

Report a breach online

The Government is acting to support people in New Zealand through these changes with a $16.1 billion package that includes:

• a wage subsidy scheme. Previous cap of $150,000 per business removed
• leave and self-isolation support
• business cash flow and tax measures
• mortgage repayment holiday scheme for 6 months — via retail banks
• business finance guarantee scheme.

Your usual financial support, such as benefits, will continue.

More about COVID-19 support on the Work and Income website (external link)

If over the following days and weeks you feel you are not coping, it’s important to seek help and professional support. Your family doctor is a good starting point.

For support with grief, anxiety, distress or mental wellbeing, you can also call or text the 'Need to talk?' service on 1737. This service is free, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and gives you the chance to talk it through with a trained counsellor.

As an essential worker, you are playing a vital role in keeping New Zealand running during Alert Level 4.

You may also be wondering if you need to be using personal protective equipment (PPE) in order to keep yourself safe during this time.

The Ministry of Health has put together some tips for while you’re at work and at home. These are the most effective measures to protect you and those you live with.

Read about PPE for essential workers (external link)

The most important thing for you to know is that basic hygiene measures are the best defence against COVID-19.

If you are unwell, you must not go to work, and must not return to work unless you are symptom free for 48 hours. Call Healthline on 0800 358 5453 or your doctor if you feel unwell.

Dairies and petrol stations can remain open at all alert levels.

At Alert Levels 3 and 4, customers can only go into dairies and petrol stations on a one-in-one-out basis.

At Alert Level 4, they cannot sell food or drink that has been prepared or cooked on-site. For example coffee, milkshakes, or made-to-order sandwiches, but they can sell food that has been prepared and packaged off-site by a supplier even if it needs heating, for example pies or sausage rolls.

At Alert Level 3, prepared food and drink can be bought and sold, but cannot be consumed by customers onsite.

Guidelines for all businesses (external link)