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Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is joined by COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins and Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield to provide an update on regional travel for summer.
Ardern has already promised Aucklanders the ability to travel regionally in time for Christmas but details have been scarce and people outside of Auckland want to know if they can travel to the city too.
The new COVID Protection Framework, or 'traffic light' system announced three weeks ago to replace the alert levels, is set to come into effect for Auckland once 90 percent of the eligible population was fully vaccinated.
For the rest of the country, each district health board (DHB) would have to reach 90 percent. However, Ardern said on Monday she strongly supports an early move into the new framework, after she was advised it "provides greater protection" than the alert levels.
An announcement will be made on November 29 about when the traffic light system will be implemented. Ardern said last week it's Cabinet's "strong expectation" that Auckland will shift to the new system shortly after that date.
Under the traffic light system, freedoms will be determined by vaccine certificates. For example, when Auckland enters the 'red' light, hospitality venues can open with up to 100 fully vaccinated people, but businesses that choose not to use certificates must remain contactless.
Aucklanders will be eager to know if they will need to be allocated time slots to leave the city over summer, as suggested by Hipkins, to prevent traffic build-up as officials check vaccine certificates.
Newshub understands vaccination will not be absolutely necessary for summer travel, with a negative test a possible alternative.
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