New Zealand Government looks to quarantine-free travel for vaccinated from early next year

The New Zealand Government will pilot a new program to allow vaccinated workers to travel overseas from October and self-isolate at home, rather than going through the current mandatory 14-day government-managed isolation.

The pilot is part of a broader strategy to introduce quarantine-free travel to some vaccinated travellers wanting to enter New Zealand from early 2022.

This would see vaccinated travellers from low-risk countries could avoid isolation entirely, while those from medium-risk would undertake some form of self-isolation or a shorter stay in a quarantine hotel.

Those returning from high-risk countries would still be required to 14 days of New Zealand Government -managed isolation

The planned changes follow an expert governmental advisory panel advising yesterday that the country should continue to pursue an ambitious COVID elimination strategy, even after its borders reopen, and that New Zealand should take a phased approach to the reopening of its border.

New Zealand, which is closed to most international visitors, has extremely strict border controls in place, requiring returnees to spend two weeks in a government-run managed isolation and quarantine facility (MIQ) in order to sustain its COVID-19 elimination strategy.

Commenting on the plans, New Zealand Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern stated “our ultimate goal is to get to quarantine-free travel for all vaccinated travellers.

“But we’re simply not in a position to fully reopen just yet.”

Speaking at this morning’s Reconnecting New Zealanders with the World Forum, Prime Minister Ardern added “just like the science, that path will not be absolute. But I think people have come to appreciate that while the future is uncertain and the plan can change - that doesn’t mean we can’t make one.”

Up until now, there has been very little information about what New Zealand’s roadmap for reopening might look like, but the advice from the Strategic Covid-19 Public Health Advisory Group, led by epidemiologist Sir David Skegg, provides some clues.

The group of six scientific experts recommended that once the vaccination program is fully rolled out, the country can begin slowly admitting more travellers, without needing to go into MIQ, based on risk-based factors such as their vaccination status and the state of the pandemic in their country of origin.

It also proposes that travellers be subjected to pre-departure testing and rapid testing on arrival in New Zealand.

Welcoming the “increased clarity” around New Zealand’s future border restrictions, Tourism Industry Aotearoa Chief Executive, Chris Roberts stated “it’s important to have a roadmap so all businesses, including tourism operators, can plan ahead and make informed decisions.”

Also attending the Reconnecting New Zealanders with the World Forum, Roberts commented “as Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern stated, this plan is not absolute and could change, but it is important we have a plan based on what we currently know.”

Roberts noted that it is pleasing that one of the five objectives guiding the plan is ‘developing new ways to safely travel to and from New Zealand’.”

Roberts went on to say right now, vaccination remains the key, concluding “the most important thing tourism businesses can do is encourage all their staff, family and friends to get vaccinated.”

Up until now, there has been very little information about what New Zealand’s roadmap for reopening might look like, but the advice from the Strategic Covid-19 Public Health Advisory Group, led by epidemiologist Sir David Skegg, provides some clues.

The group of six scientific experts recommended that once the vaccination program is fully rolled out, the country can begin slowly admitting more travellers, without needing to go into MIQ, based on risk-based factors such as their vaccination status and the state of the pandemic in their country of origin.

It also proposes that travellers be subjected to pre-departure testing and rapid testing on arrival in New Zealand.

Images: Vaccinated travellers from low-risk countries  may soon return to New Zealand (top), New Zealand Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern (middle) and ourism Industry Aotearoa Chief Executive (below).