New Covid-19 'roadmap' for construction under development

The Construction Accord welcomes the new Covid-19 Protection Frame (CPF)(external link), commonly referred to as the "traffic light approach".

"The Accord supports the strategy set out today to minimise and protect, and the sector is providing strong leadership to support the shift from elimination to suppression of COVID-19. However, the sector wants to see urgency in freeing up activity and movement where it is safe to do so, particularly in Auckland," said Dean Kimpton, the Accord's Transformation Director.

Working with industry and Construction Health and Safety New Zealand (CHASNZ), the Accord has developed a Roadmap which would allow the construction sector and related activities to operate as safely as possible in all but the most extreme circumstances, and it regards the CPF as consistent with the Roadmap approach.

If the three Auckland DHBs do not rapidly reach 90% double vaccination for the eligible population, and a move to the CPF is delayed, the Accord seeks more immediate changes for the construction sector. These would be supported by the safe working protocols in the Accord Roadmap:

• Relaxed physical distancing requirements for double vaccinated workers
• Easing of travel restrictions, including an expansion of the definition of "nationally important infrastructure"
• Allowing more movement to access tools/materials either side of an Alert Level boundary.

The Accord strongly supports allowing movement across Alert Level boundaries for those who are double-vaccinated.

The Accord Roadmap

Vaccination and testing are key to protecting our workforce from COVID-19 and the ongoing operation of construction.

The Accord Roadmap addresses the need for reliable certification of vaccination and testing.

It also includes:

• The need for legal clarity around vaccination requirements
• Testing must be rapid, self-deployed, and cost-effective
• Businesses must be able to maintain vaccination records as and share them B2B (business to business).This is to keep their people safe, and people in their supply chain.

The Accord has met with Ministers to discuss the Roadmap and to consider how it works alongside the CPF.

The Accord is working with MBIE, Health, Housing and Urban Development, and industry leaders to finalise the roadmap in the coming weeks, in support of the CPF.

Updated business support package

The Government will boost payments to businesses affected by higher alert levels as the country transitions to the new COVID-19 Protection Framework.

Read the media release for more detail(external link) - beehive.govt.nz