New Zealand on Friday outlined its new Covid-19 protection framework so as to deliver greater freedom for vaccinated citizens, which is more flexible than the current alert level system. The framework offers a pathway out of lockdown and capability for businesses and events to re-open to vaccinated New Zealanders, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told a press conference. The rest of the country will move into the new system when 90 per cent of the eligible population are fully vaccinated across all regions, she said.

It is a "simpler framework" to minimize cases and hospitalisations sans use of widespread lockdowns, Ardern said, adding Auckland, the largest city, will move into the new framework when 90 per cent of eligible population are fully vaccinated. The simplified framework has three levels such as green, orange and red. Vaccine certificates will provide greater freedom at each level, Ardern said.

The new traffic light framework will permit entrepreneurs  previously considered with high risk to fully open to vaccinated customers at green and orange, and continue to operate with some curbs at red, she said, adding businesses that choose to open to the unvaccinated will face restrictions in order to suppress the virus amongst those most.

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