What the ORANGE setting means for us, our residents and visitors

On Wednesday 13 April, New Zealand moved into the ORANGE setting in the COVID-19 Protection Framework (the “Traffic Light System”).

Please see below for the key points on what changes for our care homes in ORANGE:

• There is no limit for indoor or outdoor gatherings.
• Mask wearing continues to be required for all visitors and employees at aged residential care facilities. For further guidance on where masks are required please see the covid19.govt.nz website.

All other visiting requirements and precautions that were in place at RED remain, including:

• We will be continuing to ask all visitors, including children, to undergo a rapid antigen test (RAT) on arrival at the care home and before visiting their loved one. We will provide this test.
• Visiting hours at our care homes are between 11am and 2pm, with visiting on the weekend on [Saturday/Sunday]. If you are unable to visit during these times, please contact the care home to organise your visit.
•  Visitors must wear a surgical mask at all times. If you are unable to wear a mask, we ask that you please don’t visit our care homes at this time.
•  Residents can have up to 2 visitors at a time. Visitors are encouraged to visit residents in their room, where possible, and maintain 1 metre physical distancing.
•  Visitors should stay at home if they have COVID-19 symptoms, are a household contact of someone with COVID-19, or are a confirmed case.

For our villages the  key points on what changes in ORANGE are:

•  There is no limit for indoor or outdoor gatherings.
• Mask wearing continues to be required for all visitors and employees at aged residential care facilities. For further guidance on where masks are required please see the covid19.govt.nz website.

All other visiting requirements and precautions that were in place at RED remain, including:

• All residents and visitors are required to wear a surgical mask in the village communal spaces (unless eating and drinking) and sanitise their hands on arrival.
• Visitors and residents should stay at home if they have COVID-19 symptoms, are a household contact of someone with COVID-19, or are a confirmed case.