COVID-19: Auckland moves to Level 3 while rest of NZ to Level 2

Due to detection of community transmission of COVID-19, at 12pm Wednesday 12th August 2020 New Zealand’s alert levels would change. Auckland would move to Level 3 alert while the rest of New Zealand would move to Level 2 alert. Details are in covid19.govt.nz webpage.

Since over the board chess cannot be played unless it is alert Level 1 or below, all over the board chess activity would stop. Meaning all chess activity in tournaments and chess clubs at all venues will cease. Only online chess activity would continue.

Over the board chess has high risk of COVID-19 infection. All chess games played over the board effectively require close contact where people are within a meter of each other for longer than 15 minutes with repeated touching of chess equipment surfaces.