Time.news – The government of New Zealand, transformed into a fortress during the pandemic, has unveiled its plan to temporarily reopen its borders under the pressure of its citizens stranded abroad. Covid-19 responding minister Chris Hipkins has indicated that travelers from a handful of Pacific island microstates will be able to enter New Zealand no need for quarantine starting next month.
For other countries classified as low risk, the same measure would be considered from the beginning of next year.
Hipkins also indicated that the mandatory 14-day hotel isolation period for all foreign arrivals will be reduced to seven in November and could eventually be replaced by home isolation.
The ocean country has imposed severe restrictions on international mobility to protect itself from the pandemic. The strategy was effective: only 28 deaths out of a population of five million.
However, there has been increasing pressure from the expatriate population, who have not been able to return due to the saturation of hotel rooms intended for isolation. Local media regularly report cases of people who, due to this quarantine, were unable to visit relatives who were about to die.
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