After more than two years of strict COVID-19 response measures and isolation, New Zealand is set to open its international borders to travelers soon.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern noted that the influx of tourists will help improve the country's economy. Thus, some of the hardest border restrictions in the world during the pandemic will come to an end.
Because of New Zealand's efforts, infections and deaths were kept to a minimum. As per NBC News, when the numbers of infections surged, opposition from the business, tourism and agriculture sectors increased as they see a little advantage in being insulated from the rest of the world.
Beginning April 12, Australian tourists who got vaccinated will be permitted to enter the country without requiring quarantine. The schedule is ahead than originally planned, which is in July, Ardem mentioned.
Starting May 1, tourists from visa-exempt nations such as the United States, the United Kingdom and Singapore will be able to visit.
Based on the announcement on New Zealand Government's webite, it is a requirement for travelers to be fully vaccinated, which can be achieved by getting one dose of Johnson & Johnson vaccine or two shots of Pfizer or Moderna vaccnines, as reported by USA Today.
New Zealand COVID-19 Precautions Are Still Recommended
Ashley Bloomfield, the Director-General of Health, said that while health workers are under strain, the health system is not in crisis, according to New Zealand Herald.
However, with around 1000 COVID-19 patients at the hospital, Bloomfield said staffing levels were stretched.
The official said that two-thirds of patients admitted to hospitals with Covid-19 were there due to virus symptoms or because the virus had exacerbated an underlying condition.
The other third admitted in hospitals was due to other cases like injuries or maternal care.
Meaning around 750 people were in the hospital because of COVID-19 infection. Bloomfield said the situation added pressure on hospitals. If a tourist tests positive and the results are confirmed by a PCR test, they must isolate themselves.
The decision had been made during a COVID-19 outbreak in the country. New Zealand had "extremely high" COVID-19 levels, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Hence, US travelers were advised to avoid traveling to the nation.
"Closing our border was one of the first actions we took to stop COVID-19, over two years ago, and it opens once again to boost economic recovery throughout the remainder of the year," Ardern said.
Australians will be able to go to New Zealand in time for the Easter school holidays next month brought by the changes in the policies.
All visitors must be vaccinated and have negative COVID-19 tests, but they will not be required to undergo quarantine when they arrive in the country. The border isn't expected to reopen to all travelers until October, but Ardern hinted that it could happen sooner.
New Cases Confirmed
On Wednesday, health officials confirmed another 24 COVID-19-related deaths, bringing the total number of deaths attributed to the virus to 141.
Sixteen of the deaths announced on Tuesday happened in the previous three weeks, while eight occurred on Tuesday. Delays in disclosing these deaths could be due to people dying from something other than COVID-19, with the virus only being detected after they died.
