New Zealand to reopen to vaccinated visitors

WELLINGTON: New Zealand has unveiled its plans to reopen borders and will allow foreigners to enter next year, BBC reports.

Fully vaccinated visitors can enter from 30 April, and will have to self-isolate for seven days upon arrival, the report says.

More New Zealanders will be allowed to travel home from early next year as well, under similar rules.

The move eases strict curbs that have locked out many citizens and tourists since borders were slammed shut at the start of the Covid pandemic, it said.

Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins outlined the staged re-opening plans, calling it “the safest approach to ensure risk is carefully managed”.

In the first phase of the re-opening, fully vaccinated New Zealand citizens and residents who are currently in Australia will be allowed to return from 16 January onwards.

New Zealanders who are in all other countries will be allowed to enter from 13 February.

Foreign travellers will be the last group to be granted entry into the country, from 30 April.

All travellers must be fully vaccinated, will have to self-isolate for seven days, and will be tested for Covid upon arrival.

(With inputs from BBC)