New Zealand reopens its borders to vaccinated travelers
While the rate of domestic transmission of the Omicron variant is one of the highest in the world, the country is accelerating its plan to gradually reopen borders.
From Wednesday 2 March, New Zealand travelers from Australia will no longer be required to quarantine – provided they have been vaccinated. On the other hand, they should always have a first test when they arrive and a second test five or six days later. For those who have tested positive for coronavirus, as well as unvaccinated travelers, they must continue to self-isolate at an approved quarantine center ( MIQ), specific Watchman.
This is the first step in the plan to gradually reopen the borders announced by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on 3 February. The second phase, which specifically concerns New Zealand citizens from the rest of the world, “qualified” foreign workers and work permit holders, tentatively scheduled for March 13, has been brought forward to Friday, March 4, the newspaper announced. .
The executive said it is also likely to review the scheduled dates for next steps, until next October, when New Zealand’s borders are expected to reopen to all travelers.
Contamination increased by Omicron
New Zealand now has one of the highest levels of Covid-19 transmission in the world – “A dramatic turnaround for a country that has succeeded in limiting the spread of the virus for most of the epidemic,” Notice Watchman.
Experts calculated that the effective reproduction rate (that is, the number of people infected with one individual) for the Omicron variant in New Zealand was 4.23, which means that an infected person transmits the virus to more than four people.
Under these circumstances, epidemiologist Michael Baker believes, there is no longer any real reason to maintain health restrictions at the borders. “We are almost at the point where people entering New Zealand have less contagion than people who live in the country.”
A February 28 report said 334 people were hospitalized and 14,633 confirmed cases.
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