You can still call on a plumber, gasfitter or drainlayer to do work in your property under COVID-19 Alert Level 3 and 2.

However, you should make the visit as ‘contactless’ as possible—by discussing what you need done over the phone before the visit, for example, and paying online when the job is done.

When your plumber arrives, remember to keep to the 2m social distancing rule and stay out of the space where they are working if at all possible.

Why wear a face covering?

Under the latest thinking, wearing a face covering is also encouraged at Alert Level 3 if keeping a physical distance is not possible. Don’t be surprised if your plumber is wearing one when he or she calls, and you may want to wear one too.

By helping stop droplets spreading when someone speaks, laughs, coughs or sneezes, face coverings help prevent the wearer from spreading diseases to others. They could also help protect the wearer from getting infected.

Medical grade or non-medical?

Most people can use non-medical grade face covering—either single-use or reusable fabric. These are available from supermarkets, hardware stores and pharmacies, or you can use a bandana or scarf, or even make your own mask.

At Alert Level 2 and higher, people with pre-existing medical conditions should use a medical (ie, surgical) mask. These are not reusable and must comply with Standard AS/NZS 1716:2012.

A word of warning

Non-medical or fabric masks could increase your potential to be infected with COVID-19 if they get contaminated by dirty hands and touched often or kept on other parts of the face or head, then placed back over the nose and mouth.

Bear in mind, too, that a mask does not replace the need for physical distancing and good hygiene. It’s just part of the mix.

Finding out more

There is lots of good information on face mask/face covering use on the Government’s COVID-19 website.