Wellington: New Zealand will reopen its borders into the world over the coming months, the government announced Wednesday, allowing for the return of the population moved from January and tourists from April.
The South Pacific country imposes harsh border restrictions when the pandemic begins, effectively prohibiting tourists and requires residents who returned to spend two weeks at the quarantine hotel run by the military.
Sometimes, the demand for quarantine beds has a far exceeding supply, causing some neglected residents to wait for months for the available slots.
For the first 18 months of pandemic, border steps are considered important in keeping New Zealand free of viruses.
But the August outbreak proved impossible to stick, encouraging New Zealand to leave the elimination strategy in October.
The vaccination rate also increases, making border steps increasingly difficult to justify.
Covid-19 response minister Chris Hipkins said the government had made a difficult exchange to keep New Zealand as safe as possible throughout the pandemic.
“We admit that it is very difficult.
The family has been separated.
People find themselves must take refuge in places they don’t expect to stay for a long period of time,” Hipkins said.
“We are well aware of the effects of this limitation on individual lives and their livelihoods.” Under the government’s plan, all the incoming tourists will still be asked to isolate themselves for seven days, at least for now.
Hipkins said he wanted to mitigate the risk of the virus it was generated by tourists who entered by reopening the border gradually.
The entire new vaccinated environment will be able to return from Australia without living in quarantine from January 16 and from other countries after February 13.
The door will then open gradually to tourists and other tourists from April 30.
New Zealand also releases A high-risk appointment of certain countries including Indonesia, India and Brazil, which allows people from these countries to return or visit.
New Zealand announced earlier this week that bars, restaurants and fitness centers can be reopened in Auckland from December 2, removing the last remnants of the kuncian which began in the largest city in August.
It also signifies a new phase in the response of New Zealand against a pandemic, where people across the country need to be fully vaccinated to participate in anything from getting a haircut to watch concerts.
About 69% of New Zealand citizens were fully vaccinated, including 84% of those aged 12 years and over.
New Zealand has reported only 40 Coronavirus deaths since the pandemic began.