Until Niue has a suspected or confirmed Covid 19 case, social distancing is not a mandatory requirement associated with mass gatherings

Until Niue has a suspected or confirmed Covid 19 case, authorities prefer not to make social distancing a mandatory requirement associated with mass gatherings.

This was clarified by Director General for Social Services Gaylene Tasmania  who said Social distancing and advice against mass gatherings will be implemented when Niue has a suspected or confirmed case, alongside other measures.

Niue’s code yellow, Tasmania said is in response to New Zealand’s community transmission cases, over 10 clusters at the moment and it is not in response to any suspected case in Niue.  

Therefore she says they are implementing a precautionary approach.

“As for social distancing, this is recommended as an infection prevention and control measure for COVID-19.  Social distancing is more for preventing the spread of the virus, and when we have households with a number of families, it is not always possible.  As we prepare ourselves for the possibility of an imported case, social distancing should be practised, just like hand washing and proper cough and sneeze etiquette, so that it becomes a norm. 

Social distancing is also a good practice for the prevention of more common infections like the common cold and flu.  Until we do have a suspected or confirmed case, we prefer not to make social distancing a mandatory requirement associated with mass gatherings.  Social distancing and advise against mass gatherings will be implemented when we do have a suspected or confirmed case, alongside other measures.” said Tasmania

Whilst social distancing may not be mandatory at this time, there are organizations which have already practiced this. The Church of the Latter Day Saints (LDS) suspended their Sunday services since last month. The Ekalesia Niue cancelled their Aho Me and the Sunday Schools Easter Rally. 

However other family gatherings are still going ahead, such as the hair cutting ceremony over the weekend and another hair cutting ceremony next week.