Keep up healthy habits

Even though we are a highly vaccinated country, COVID-19 can still spread in the community. To slow the spread and continue to protect yourself, your whānau, and your community, it is important to keep up the healthy habits we know.

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Mask

Wear a mask or face covering when out and about. Depending on the traffic light setting, there are some places you must wear one.

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Scan

Scan everywhere you go or keep a record manually. This is especially important on holiday because you may not remember all the locations you visited or who you saw.

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Pass

Have My Vaccine Pass ready for places that require proof of vaccination to enter, like cafes, bars, gyms and hairdressers.

Stay home if you are sick

If you have cold, flu or COVID-19 symptoms, you should get a test. You must stay home until you get a negative result. Call your doctor or Healthline on 0800 358 5453 for advice about getting tested.

By getting a test, you are helping to keep your community safe. Testing is always free for everyone.

COVID-19 symptoms

Get tested for COVID-19

Wash your hands or use hand sanitiser

Washing your hands is one of the easiest ways to keep yourself safe. Wash often with soap for 20 seconds. Then dry your hands completely. This kills the virus by bursting its protective bubble.

You should wash your hands if you have been in a public place, and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.

Avoid touching your face, including your eyes, nose or mouth, if your hands are not clean.

Using hand sanitiser is also effective at killing germs and viruses. It destroys the protective bubble of the virus, but only if the sanitiser has at least 60% alcohol. Sanitiser is also effective in reducing the number and type of germs on your hands.

Cough or sneeze into your elbow

Cough or sneeze into your elbow or cover your mouth and nose with tissues. Put tissues in a bin immediately, then wash your hands thoroughly. This will catch the droplets and keep the virus off your hands, so you will not spread it to other people and make them sick too.

Clean or disinfect shared surfaces regularly

Clean surfaces regularly. This includes frequently touched items like door handles, light switches and phones.

When an infected person breathes, speaks, coughs or sneezes, they may spread particles containing the virus. These particles range in size. The larger and heavier particles or droplets can settle on surrounding surfaces.

Use an antiviral disinfectant and follow instructions. Remember to store cleaners and disinfectants safely.

Improve ventilation

The risk of becoming infected with COVID-19 increases the closer you are to a person and the longer you are close to that person.

The risk is highest in crowded and poorly ventilated indoor spaces. The risk is lower outside when there are fewer people, and when you are further away from others. 

We recommend opening windows to increase fresh air flow inside. If air conditioning is used, make sure the system is regularly maintained.

Find out more about reducing the risk of COVID-19 through ventilation | health.govt.nz (external link)

Keep your distance from people you do not know

You are not required to maintain physical distance from others in the traffic light system. But it is still worthwhile keeping a safe distance from people you do not know while out and about. This will help reduce the spread of COVID-19 if it is in the community.

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