At Alert Level 4, only certain businesses can open to the public and have customers on their premises.  These are deemed essential services. 

Workplaces can only open if:

• •  they are an Alert Level 4 business or service, as defined and listed in schedule 2 of the COVID-19 Public Health Response (Alert Level Requirements) Order (No 9) 2021 (Order), or they are exempt from the Order.
  • AND they are operating safely, in accordance with the Alert Level 4 requirements, set out in the Order.

Operating safely includes fulfilling all other health and safety obligations.

• This means that if an Alert Level 4 service cannot operate safely, workers must not go to work and premises should remain closed.
• All freight can be distributed and received with essential freight prioritised.
• Additionally, businesses that are able to operate are encouraged to put in place other measures, consistent with Health and Safety obligations, to prevent their activities contributing to the spread of COVID-19. For example, businesses that can operate are encouraged to have employees work from home wherever this is possible to provide the relevant business or service.

According to Unite Against COVID-19, you can open to customers if you are a:

• supermarket, dairy or food bank
• liquor store (in Licensing Trust Areas)
• petrol station
• self-service laundry
• health service, or an entity involved with the deceased or producing health sector materials
• accommodation service
• court or tribunal
• social and community-based service to maintain critical wellbeing or crisis support
• emergency services
• Parliamentary services
• transport and logistics service, including passenger transport by road, rail, air or sea
• school hostel.

All other businesses must not have customers on their premises.