COVID-19 alert levels

The Prime Minister’s announced today:

• Auckland will remain at COVID-19 alert level 3.

• Waikato and Northland will remain at alert level 3 until 11:59pm Thursday, 14 October 2021. This will be reviewed on Wednesday, 13 October 2021. 

This means that oral health services in these areas are to be delivered within the alert level 3 guidelines.

The rest of Aotearoa New Zealand remains under alert level 2.

Mandatory vaccination for healthcare workers

Cabinet today approved mandatory vaccination for high-risk workers in the health and disability sector. This includes all health workers that work with vulnerable patients, except those exempted for health reasons.

All oral health practitioners and patient facing support staff must be vaccinated, the timeframes for mandatory vaccination are:

• receive the first dose by 30 October 2021, and

• be fully vaccinated by 1 December 2021.

We know this remains a difficult time for communities, which include oral health practitioners, their staff and whānau. We encourage any unvaccinated oral health practitioners and practice staff to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

Kia noho haumaru, stay safe.

Andrew Gray (Chair) & Marie Warner (CE)