The Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern, said this morning that from the beginning of 2022, the nation of the south-western Pacific would begin reopening for tourists who are being vaccinated.
This is quite news because New Zealand's government has maintained its unfailing border restrictions during the epidemic.
"We cannot always preserve border limits, and we also do not wish to do this to be perfectly obvious, nor do the experts to whom we talk. Border closures were only ever a temporary action to prevent COVID from developing and administering the vaccine, "Ardern claimed that.
"This is the way we are going to go, as long as the science demonstrates that we can safely go from border defense to a single vaccination armor," she continued.
Until the vaccinations of COVID-19 are properly shown to halt the propagation of the virus and inoculation of all Kiwis, Ardern has already made clear that overseas tourists should not visit New Zealand.
Ardern said that the government will be working on speeding up a COVID-19 vaccine program in New Zealand in readiness for a phase re-opening next year. News Zealand and Australia have had to date difficulties in distributing vaccines, notwithstanding their success in other elements. Less than 20% of Kiwis over the age of 16 are completely vaccinated, while 23% of Aussies over the age of 16 receive both doses.
CNN Travel stated that the reopening approach in New Zealand includes the introduction of a tiered, risk-based international entry system with restrictions that are determined by their home country. In any event, the entrance would only be given to vaccinated passengers, but those who come from high-risk countries still have to quarantine in a controlled facility for two weeks; whilst medium-risk visitors might be permitted to isolate themselves or have reduced quarantine.
The administration has not already identified which nations will be put into every risk category with the scheduled reopening of at least six months away. Although New Zealand's tight border policy is somewhat weakened, it still seems very harsh for vaccinated foreign tourists from other than low-risk locations. However, it's this rigorous attitude that has led to the extremely low number of COVID-19.
"To continue a plan for eliminating the virus, Principle No. 1 will remain... so we can preserve the successes we have achieved and keep our choices open," added Ardern. "While we do not have a case of a single one in the community, we break it down, this is the best way to preserve our regular life while monitoring the turns and turns of COVID-19 over the coming six months."
New Zealand has among all developed countries one of the lowest rates of infection and mortality. Among its five million people there were less than 3,000 illnesses and 26 associated fatalities. The Government's rapid move to close borders to all non-residents was partly accredited by Ardern in March 2020 after COVID-19 became pandemic.
They have been carefully sealed since, with a few exceptions. For people who are entering from most foreign countries, a controlled facility must currently meet the prerequisites for pre-departure testing and quarantine.
However—as a recent Delta variation in Australia that has pushed Sydney and Melbourne into severe lockouts—Some of these rules have been halted, given that quarantine-free travel arrangements have been confined to neighboring Australia and some Pacific islands.