Tag Archive for: COVID-19 Protection Framework

ScreenSafe – COVID-19 Protocols – The End of the Traffic Light System

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Red traffic light against clouds in the sky

Wednesday, 14 September 2022

As of 11:59pm on Monday 12 September, the COVID-19 Protection Framework (AKA the Traffic Light System) ended. With case numbers falling, a highly vaccinated population, and increased access to antiviral medicines to treat COVID-19, public health experts say it is safe to remove most COVID-19 rules and end border restrictions.

This means that for most settings, including work places and film shoots, we can go back to “life as normal”. Mask wearing, physical distancing, testing, etc. is no longer a Government requirement in most situations. Though don’t be surprised if you are still asked to wear a mask. And some people will still chose to wear one.

Safety Protocols for the Screen Industry

As of Monday night the ScreenSafe COVID-19 Protocols are no longer valid. But please note that COVID-19 has by no means been eradicated. And it will still be part of our lives for the foreseeable future.

Depending on the individual needs of a production, the specific requirements of a scene or location, or the personal situation of a crew or cast member, some productions may still need to utilise some of the many safety measures we’ve gotten used to over the last few years, including mask wearing, testing, vaccination status and the use of health declarations and release deeds. It’s up to each production to clearly state their intention. If a production sees the need for putting in place additional COVID-19 safety measures, we recommend that they engage with the crew and the safety team as early as possible.

Personal Responsibility

While regular testing and mask wearing will not be mandatory for most productions, personal responsibly for yourself and your colleagues will become more important.

Most of us are freelance contractors and don’t have the safety net that employees have with sick days, etc. So if we can’t work, we don’t get paid… This goes for both yourself and your colleagues.

If you feel sick, please notify production and/or safety. Please test when unwell or if you are a household contact.

Where is Mask Wearing Still Mandatory?

Masks will still be required in hospitals and other healthcare facilities like medical centres, pharmacies, A&E, etc.

New Rules for Household Contacts

Positive cases must still self-isolate for at least 7 days, but Household Contacts no longer need to isolate. If you live with someone who tests positive for COVID-19, we recommend you:

  • take a rapid antigen test (RAT) each day for 5 days in order to go to work
  • avoid contact with the person who has COVID-19

Travellers Arriving Into New Zealand

Vaccination requirements for travellers arriving in New Zealand will end, including air crew.

People entering New Zealand will be given free RATs and are recommend to test on the day they arrive and on day 5 or 6.

Sincerely,
The ScreenSafe COVID-19 Group
Email: info@screensafe.co.nz

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COVID-19 ‘Red’: New Support Schemes for Businesses and the Self-Employed

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Piggy bank wearing a surgical mask

The Government is providing two schemes – one provided by Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage and the other by Inland Revenue – that can provide financial support for self-employed people and businesses who have been directly affected by a move to ‘Red’ under the COVID-19 Protection Framework.

  • Inland Revenue’s COVID-19 Support Payment is available for self-employed people and other businesses who have experienced at least a 40% drop in revenue. There will be three rounds of payments available.
  • The Ministry for Culture and Heritage’s Cultural Sector Emergency Relief Grant for Self-Employed Individuals will make a one-off grant of $5,000 available to self-employed people working in arts, culture or heritage, whose income has been directly affected by a move to ‘Red’ under the COVID-19 Protection Framework.

Self-employed people in the arts, culture and heritage sector will only be able to receive the Grant or the first COVID-19 Support Payment. We strongly recommend that self-employed people check their eligibility for both schemes, before commencing an application for the Grant for Self-Employed Individuals.

A reminder that organisations, including Sole Traders with employees, are not eligible for the Manatū Taonga Grant. They should, instead, take a good look at the criteria for Inland Revenue’s Covid Support Payment, or, if they are in real trouble, the Cultural Sector Emergency Relief Fund – Organisations. This is our fund of last resort and is used to support cultural organisations which are at clear risk of no longer operating viably. Organisations can receive up to $300,000 through this fund.

Online Information Sessions

These information sessions are open to anyone interested in applying for the Ministry’s Grant for Self-Employed Individuals, but also touch on the other support schemes administered by Manatū Taonga. The small-group sessions discuss and answer your questions around the application process, eligibility, the evidence you’ll need to provide, and introduce our online application system.

  • Tuesday March 8, 12pm
  • Wednesday March 9, 6:30pm
  • Thursday March 10, 12pm

RSVP here for your preferred session.

Or watch a recorded information session on Facebook Live.

Further Information

For the latest information on other initiatives in the Arts and Culture COVID Recovery Programme, see the Manatū Taonga website.

If you have specific questions, email Manatū Taonga at support.culture@mch.govt.nz.

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Screen Industry COVID-19 H&S Protocols – Omicron Update

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Friday 4th February 2022

ScreenSafe has updated the COVID-19 Protocols to align with some minor Government updates and with updated information in regards to the Omicron variant.

As we’ve all heard, the Omicron variant is highly infectious and it is now in our community, both on the North and South Island. Even with New Zealand’s very high vaccination rates, it is likely that infection rates can reach the thousands per day over the next few weeks/months.

The Government recommends a booster shot as an additional layer of protection against the Omicron variant.

The changes to the Protocols are as follows:

Omicron Update (in the “About COVID-19” Section)

General Ministry of Health information about the Omicron variant.

Update on Mask/Face Covering Requirements (in the “About COVID-19” Section)

A face covering will need to be an actual mask and attached to the head by loops around the ears or head. This means scarves, bandannas, or t-shirts should not be used.

Stricter mask requirements are now in place for essential services. While that does not apply to our industry, we urge you to consider MoH information about what masks will provide you and your workplace with the best protection: Link here.

Managing an Omicron Outbreak (New section)

This new section provides information about the 3 phases of the impending Omicron outbreak, including applicable isolation timeframes for cases and close contacts. It also provides some basic steps for dealing with an outbreak in your workplace.

Vaccination Update (in the “Vaccinations & Vaccination Passports” Section)

Booster update – you can now get this only 3 months after your second dose (previously it was 6, then 4 months).

Update about the Child Vaccine (for kids 5-11) which is now available.

Rapid Antigen Testing Update (in the “Testing” Section)

Updated with the latest information about RAT testing.

Note that this continues to be an evolving topic as supplies of RAT are currently limited. Although we are hopeful this will become a vital tool for all productions.

Surveillance Testing (in the “Testing” Section)

As previously confirmed by MoH – Community Testing Centres CANNOT be used for production surveillance testing. These sites are only for symptomatic people and close contacts. Productions must bear the cost of surveillance testing themselves and should not ask cast or crew to go to Community Testing Centres. Link here.

ADR/Booth Work Update (in the “Traffic Light Guides”)

We have added in a quick note about the need for proper guidelines in regards to sanitation, ventilation and physical distancing for any ADR or other booth work in post-production.

The 5-Step Border Reopening 27th February (in the “Immigration and International Travel Restrictions” Section)

Updated in regards to today’s announcements about the 5-stage re-opening of our international borders.

Links to updated information:

ScreenSafe COVID-19 H&S Protocols – Omicron Update

Vaccination Passport Traffic Light Guidelines and Non-Vaccination Passport Guidelines

ScreenSafe would like to thank the NZ Film Commission and NZ on Air for funding this initiative.

Full release here.

Sincerely,
The ScreenSafe COVID-19 Group
Email: info@screensafe.co.nz

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ScreenSafe COVID 19 Health and Safety Protocols Review – The Traffic Light System

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14 December 2021

The Traffic Light system is designed for living with COVID-19 in the community. This is of course a huge mind-shift for everyone, but it is built on the foundation of one of the highest vaccination rates in the world.

Overall, the intent of the new system appears to be:

  • Encourage everyone to get vaccinated so that we can safely reopen the country
  • Reduce stress on the health system and protect the vulnerable
  • Ensure certainty and business continuity by incentivising businesses that use the vaccination passport system

The Traffic Light System will offer businesses much more flexibility and more certainty in regards to business continuity. COVID-19 restrictions within each level of the Traffic Light system are designed to encourage businesses to use vaccination passports, where only vaccinated staff, contractors and customers are allowed into a business or work site.

For productions using vaccination passports there are no restrictions on numbers on a work site. And Close Proximity work (make up, stunts, actor interaction, etc.) can happen at all levels, although with increasing risk minimisation tools (PPE, hygiene measures, testing, etc.) in place when moving to the higher levels.

Productions choosing NOT to enforce a vaccination passport system may have restricted access to some council and private locations, and some locations may not be available to those productions. Close Proximity work is only allowed in the green level.

We STRONGLY urge you to familiarise yourself with the new protocols. And in the next week we hope to also publish department specific guidelines for the new system.

Thank you to the NZ On Air and the New Zealand Film Commission for funding the review of these protocols.

Full release here of the key updates.

ScreenSafe COVID 19 Health and Safety Protocols Review – Traffic Light System Documents:

ScreenSafe COVID 19 Health and Safety Protocols for the Traffic Light System Guidance – updated 14th December 2021

ScreenSafe COVID 19 Health and Safety Standard

These documents need to be read and utilised together. These documents are intended to give Production Companies and HOD’s guidance and forms to manage Covid 19 on a working production.

Vaccination Passport Productions Traffic Light System Guidance – updated 14th December 2021

Non-Vaccination Passport Productions Traffic Light System Guidance – updated 14th December 2021

Surveillance Testing information sheet here updated 14th December 2021

Each production is required to register with ScreenSafe – please read about these requirements carefully in the Protocols.

ScreenSafe Production Registration link

ScreenSafe COVID 19 Health and Safety Department Roles (these will be updated in the coming week – 14th December 2021)

A very big thank you to the ScreenSafe COVID 19 Health and Safety Group for all of your hard work putting these documents together.

Ngā mihi,

Kelly Lucas
Executive Director
Screen Industry Guild Aotearoa New Zealand Inc.
(Previously the NZ Film & Video Technicians’ Guild Inc.)

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Screen Industry COVID-19 Protocols – Traffic Light Update

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Red traffic light against clouds in the sky

Friday 3 December 2021

Hi and welcome to the Traffic Light system!

The following areas are currently in the RED level: Northland, Auckland, Taupō and Rotorua Lakes districts, Kawerau, Whakatane, Ōpōtiki districts, Gisborne district, Wairoa district, Rangitikei, Whanganui and Ruapehu districts

And these regions are in ORANGE: The rest of the North Island (Waikato, Taranaki, Hawkes Bay, Wairarapa and Wellington), as will the entire South Island.

Note: The Auckland land and air boundaries will remain in place, so until 15 December 2021 people will only be able to travel out of Auckland for permitted reasons. From 15 December 2021, restrictions at the Auckland boundaries ease and personal travel will be permitted for any reason for travellers who have a Vaccine Pass or have a negative COVID-19 test, taken within 72 hours of travel.

The Protocols are currently out for legal and peer review. We were hoping to publish the revised protocols today, but we are still waiting for legal sign-off. Hopefully we will be able to publish in the next few days.

The new Protocols are very similar to the draft guidance provided on 17th November. But for now, the main things to keep in mind are:

  • Make a CLEAR decision whether you are doing a vaccination passport job or not.
  • Discuss your requirements with your safety office prior to commencing work and make clear guidelines to share with your crew.
  • If you need a film permit from a local council or film offices, please get in touch with them. Like everyone else, they are working hard to create clear guidelines for the new system.

Remember to get your My Vaccine Pass if you are double vaccinated or you have an official vaccination exemption. And productions should download the NZ Pass Verifier if you choose to use a vaccination passport on your production.

Finally – be nice to each other. It’s a strange new world for everyone, whether you are vaccinated or not. And it will take a while for everyone to adjust.

Kia kaha!

Sincerely,
The ScreenSafe COVID-19 Group
Email: info@screensafe.co.nz

Download this update in PDF

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