Omicron Phase Three Announcement

Members may already be aware that at midnight tonight the country will move to 'Phase Three' of the Omicron Covid Response.
Phase Three is described as when there are thousands of Covid cases each day, most people will self-manage, and health and social services will focus on families and communities that have the highest needs.
We were prepared for this eventuality, we have a business continuity plan in place, the team, and the infrastructure to continue delivering the services you have come to expect from us.
As we have done from the start of the pandemic, we put the safety and security of our members first. We certainly greatly appreciate the support and understanding you have all offered over that time.
We urge you to continue to use your good judgment and follow the guidance as best you can.
Phase Three will see many of us assume more individual responsibility for Covid control, such as self isolation and self-identification of close contacts.
We trust members will maintain the discipline which they've shown over these past couple of years, and keep community safety and well-being front-of-mind.

Close Contacts
At Phase Three, Close Contacts no longer need to isolate — unless they have symptoms. If you get a notification from your workplace, school or through the NZ COVID Tracer app that you are a Close Contact, you should monitor your symptoms for 10 days.
If you live with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, you are considered a Household Contact and will need to isolate for 10 days. You must get a test on Day 3 and Day 10 of your isolation. If you develop symptoms you should get a test sooner. If you are a Household Contact and you test positive, you will need to isolate for 10 days.

Critical worker exemptions  
Our communication with officials on the status of members as critical workers has been challenging.
They have referred us to their web pages which provide advice on how the close contact exemption scheme works, including a self-assessment for businesses to test if they meet the criteria for being critical.
A number of Valuer members have been provisionally approved in this category, pending 'spot checks' in the future.
Meanwhile, a number of other members may be able to maintain operations using the 'Bubble of One' scheme for workers who are close contacts.
Any business or sole trader may have a worker who is a close contact on-site if this worker is not customer facing, and can maintain a ‘bubble of one’ while at work (including travel to and from work)

• The requirements are that the worker:
  • is vaccinated
  • does not have any symptoms (asymptomatic)
  • is able to maintain an individual ‘bubble of one’ while at work (whether indoors or outdoors).
  • They are not required to use rapid antigen testing as part of this, nor are businesses required to register for 'bubble of one'.