(Wellington) New Zealand announced on Wednesday that its borders would remain closed to foreign travelers until the end of April, when the archipelago gradually eases measures for international arrivals, so far among the strictest in the world.
COVID-19 Minister Chris Hipkins has indicated that New Zealanders stranded in Australia could return from mid-January, with those from the rest of the world having to wait until February.
For their part, foreigners will be able to visit the archipelago from the end of April, according to the gradual reopening plan unveiled on Wednesday.
“We recognize that the situation has been difficult, but the end of travel restrictions is now in sight,” Mr. Hipkins told reporters.
New Zealand had closed its borders in March 2020. All people arriving from abroad were required to observe a two-week quarantine in a hotel. This period has recently been reduced to seven days.
The minister went further on Wednesday by announcing that with the gradual opening of its borders, to Australia and then to the rest of the planet, travelers will have to isolate themselves at home for seven days after having proven to be fully vaccinated and negative to coronavirus.
The announcement comes amid growing pressure from New Zealanders stranded abroad and frustrated at not being able to book rooms in insufficiently quarantined hotels.
New Zealand announced earlier this week a change in its strategy to fight COVID-19, deciding to contain the Delta variant rather than eliminate it.
The disease has only killed 40 people in a population of five million, but authorities have admitted that the Delta variant is a game-changer and they must abandon their zero COVID-19 goal.
Mr Hipkins acknowledged that many locals wanted the borders to reopen for Christmas, but felt that was unrealistic.
“The global pandemic continues, with an increase in the number of cases in Europe and other parts of the world,” he said. “We must therefore be careful about the reopening of our borders, this is what we are doing and what we have always done”.
The minister said that from next month, India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Fiji and Brazil would no longer be classified among the countries at very high risk, which will allow their nationals to travel to New Zealand from April 30.