Essential Workers Thank You postponed

12 August 2020

Hamilton City Council has postponed its three-day thank you event for essential workers, planned to begin on Friday 14 August, due to restrictions under COVID-19 Alert Level 2.

Regions outside Auckland move to Alert Level 2 from midday today (12 August) until midnight on Friday.

At this alert level, mass gatherings are limited to 100 people and social distancing of 2m applies.

The Essential Workers Thank You was offering special deals, including free admission and discounts, at Waikato Museum Te Whare Taonga o Waikato, Hamilton Gardens, Hamilton Zoo and Hamilton Pools.

The Council’s General Manager Community, Lance Vervoort, says the change to a more restrictive alert level means it is inappropriate to encourage people to gather in significant numbers.

“We have put systems in place under Alert Level 2 to ensure visitors to our facilities can enjoy them while keeping a safe distance apart. These include limiting numbers. We don’t want to encourage an upsurge in visitors at a time when these restrictions are in force.”

Mr Vervoort says the rapid change to a heightened level of awareness underlines how important essential workers are in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are more committed than ever to recognising the hard work of these people in safeguarding our community and responding so calmly and quickly to a fast-moving situation. We will definitely look for an opportunity to run the Essential Workers Thank You down the track.”