New Zealand is starting a phased easing of border restrictions that will see the time spent in a Managed Isolation and Quarantine (MIQ) facility halved to seven days for overseas arrivals from November 14 and home isolation introduced sometime next year, Minister for COVID-19 Response, Chris Hipkins, announced on October 28.
“Last week the Government announced a pathway forward out of lockdowns with the new traffic-light COVID-19 Protection Framework that will see an easing of restrictions once the country is 90% vaccinated. Today’s easing of MIQ requirements is part of our broader plan to reopen New Zealand safely and reconnect with the world,” said Hipkins.
“Arrivals will be tested on day 0/1, day 3, and day 6/7, followed by a short period of self-isolation at home – around three days. A rapid antigen test and health checks will be carried out on day seven before a person leaves MIQ, and people will get a PCR test on day 9 of their home isolation and stay at home until the result comes back.”
The second stage of the country’s reopening plan will see more fully vaccinated arrivals able to self-isolate outside of MIQ. This option will be further explored sometime in the first quarter of 2022, according to the New Zealand Government website.
So far, one-way quarantine-free travel has only opened to smaller Pacific nations like Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu, effective November 8.
