4. Question No. 4—COVID-19 ResponsePAUL EAGLE (Labour—Rongotai) to the Minister for COVID-19 ResponseQuestion No. 4—COVID-19 Response4. PAUL EAGLE (Labour—Rongotai) to the Minister for COVID-19 Response: What changes have been introduced with the move to alert level 2 in Wellington Wairarapa and Kāpiti Coast?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Minister for COVID-19 Response): Alert level 2 means that gatherings are limited to no more than 100 people in the greater Wellington region. People should stay 2 metres away from others in public spaces and at least 1 metre away in other places such as workplaces cafes restaurants and gyms. Face masks remain compulsory on public transport and we encourage people to use those in other places where physical distancing is not possible or is difficult. Businesses can open but they need to follow public health rules including physical distancing record keeping and having a cap on the number of people to no more than 100. In hospitality businesses should follow the three S's: seated separated and single server. Schools and early learning services are open and children should attend unless they are unwell. Early learning services schools and kura are familiar with the alert level requirements and they've responded well to the change in alert levels.Paul Eagle: Why is it important for people to follow these measures?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: The decision to move to alert level 2 follows the Government's repeated programme of going hard and going early. We moved quickly as soon as we became aware that there was an increased risk of exposure in order to be able to stamp out the virus again should it have spread into our community. Getting people to follow the rules of alert level 2 and in particular to stay home if they are unwell or stay home if they've been asked to stay home because they were in a location of interest—that is the way we will ensure that COVID-19 does not get a foothold here and it will mean that we can minimise the chances of having to have more extensive restrictions.Paul Eagle: What other measures can people take to keep each other safe at alert level 2?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: The nature of the exposure events that we are dealing with in this case really underscores the importance of people keeping good records of where they have been and when. In particular the COVID tracer app provides a very powerful tool when people use it. If people have been scanning into those locations of interest they will have received push notifications identifying that they are more at risk and telling them what we need them to do. That only works if people scan in regularly so I'd encourage people to do that. I'd also reinforce the basic public health measure that we have been reinforcing since our COVID response began and it should apply at any time which is: if you are sick please stay home; don't go to school or to work or to socialise; and if you've got cold- or flu-like symptoms or aches and pains call your doctor or call Healthline and ask about being tested. This will help to keep yourself and others safe.Kieran McAnulty: Can he confirm that the border of the alert level 2 area is at Mount Bruce and therefore two of Wairarapa's largest tourist attractions the Tui Brewery and Pūkaha Mount Bruce are operating under alert level 1 conditions?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: Yes I can indeed confirm that.