Coronavirus: Government seeking to extend powers behind COVID restrictions until 2025 – Newshub

Newshub can reveal that the Government is seeking to extend COVID-19 restriction powers for another two years.

Newshub has just been leaked a proposal. It's documentation in which the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet proposes that the legislation which underpins COVID-19 restrictions stay in place until 2025.

It wants the Act extended from its expiry date of May next year to May 2025.

It says this will ensure that the powers required to respond to COVID-19 - including new variants - remain available to the Government.

This comes as most countries are winding back their COVID-19 responses and it's likely going to cause upset among the business community.

Newshub asked the Prime Minister about when restrictions would end.

"I've always been cautious about making too many predictions about COVID," she said.

"What I can tell you is we are in a very different place than where we were a year ago. Highly vaccinated, anti-virals and we know so much more. You won't see things like some of those more necessary but harsh measures, they are off the table, but we do still ask people who are sick to stay home."

A spokesperson for the Prime Minister later said"we intend to announce the next steps shortly".

"Ministers have been reviewing the COVID-19 Act to ensure it is fit for purpose now that we're through the emergency response," they told Newshub.

"The Government's plan is to remove powers from the Act that are no longer required for the response, while still ensuring we can practically manage the ongoing impact of COVID."

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Coronavirus: Government seeking to extend powers behind COVID restrictions until 2025 - Newshub