New Zealand, Europe Brief News – New Zealand declared intention to fully reopen its international borders from July 31.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern confirmed on Wednesday the decision, marking the end of one of the toughest border regimes during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The announcement means borders will open two months earlier than the government’s timetable for lifting its remaining pandemic restrictions.New Zealand earlier this month began welcoming tourists from more than 50 countries including the United States, Canada, Britain and Japan for the first time in more than two years, after earlier lifting restrictions on visitors from Australia and Europe.
Most visitors and returning citizens must still provide evidence of a negative COVID-19 result before departure.
Citizens managed to travel in and out since March, while Australians have been let in since April.
New Zealand sealed its borders in March 2020 – requiring even returning citizens to complete weeks of quarantine upon entering.
The government has credited the nation’s low Covid death toll – 713 deaths for a population of five million – to its isolation strategy, as well policies of rapid testing, tracing and lockdown.
But some New Zealanders protested over the strict restrictions and lockdowns. There was also anger over the lengthy period that citizens overseas were effectively blocked from entering the country – thanks to limited quarantine slots in the system.
