The Government is considering making scanning using the COVID Tracer app mandatory in ‘high-risk’ locations where it is hard to maintain physical distancing, such as bars and restaurants.
Speaking following a Cabinet meeting on Monday, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said “use of the app is consistently low across the country presently”, leaving us exposed in the event of community cases.
She noted that following the Sydney COVID case’s visit to Wellington, 2,600 potential people at places of interest were identified, but only 585 alerts were sent out to people who had used the Covid Tracer app.
The prime minister also said Cabinet is considering mandating face coverings at Alert Level 2 or higher at certain high-risk locations.
Ardern said with a growing outbreak of the Delta strain of the virus in Australia, “it’s timely to introduce additional measures to our toolbox”.
She told media government will continue to “adapt and improve our systems as required”.
The prime minister also said the extension of Alert Level 2 in Wellington has triggered the resurgence support payment for affected businesses.
