New Zealanders will find out today whether the country will come out of full lockdown this week, and if so how long level 3 could last.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will announce today whether the lockdown will end this Wednesday. Photo: Pool / Getty Images
The government initially set the lockdown for four weeks - which ends just before midnight Wednesday.
Economic impacts and public attitudes would also be taken into account.
Ardern recognised the huge toll on business in particular, but said it was in everyone's interest to stamp out the virus
She stood by the decision to put New Zealand into lockdown and said the success so far was due to having a plan, sticking to the plan and doing it together.
"We have stayed home, we have saved lives and we are breaking the chain of transmission."
But the government would be moving "cautiously" as it considered what the next step should be, said Ardern.
"No one wants to lose the huge gains we've made as a country off the back of the hard work of every New Zealander."
At alert level 3 the main message would still be for people to stay at home unless they had to leave for essential work and services.
Schools could be partially reopened from 29 April, but prioritising the children of essential workers up to Year 10, with attendance voluntary. People's bubbles could be expanded slightly and they could travel a bit more widely within their own region.
The main benefit would be the ability of thousands of businesses to start trading again, at some level - as long as they stuck to strict distancing and hygiene rules. That could include construction, hospitality and tradespeople. Under level 3 the number of people working would increase from about 500,000 at present to 1 million - demonstrating the positive impact on economic activity moving out of lockdown could have.
But bars, restaurants, gyms, hairdressers and large retail outlets would remain closed.
Adern was asked whether there could be exceptions under level 3 for some industries to enable them to gear up more quickly.
It was a 'no' from the prime minister. who said ministers had kept to a "principles based framework" so far, and had no intention of moving away from that.
"Basing our decisions on public health, keeping in mind risk is the best way we can protect both the economy, livelihoods and people's wellbeing."
Ministers were very aware of the strain businesses, large and small, were under, Ardern said.
"But ultimately what we've tried to do is create an alert level where we can move as a nation down in between, rather than segmenting off different parts of the economy."
Read more about the Covid-19 coronavirus: