New Zealand moves to relax tough border controls
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says the country will start reopening its borders in a phased plan beginning with its own citizens_ as it relaxes a strict quarantine system that was imposed at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The five-stage plan will start with fully vaccinated New Zealanders in neighbouring Australia who will be allowed to return home starting from midnight on February 27_ and will be extended to fully vaccinated New Zealanders elsewhere in the world from March 13.
The government envisages borders will be completely open to all by October.
We are well on our way to reaching that destination_ Ardern said in Auckland of the full reopening. But we are not quite there yet.
Instead of going into government quarantine hotels where spaces have been limited fully vaccinated arrivals will be allowed to self-isolate for 10 days.
New Zealand imposed the stringent border controls as part of its strategy to eliminate the virus.
The country has recorded nearly 17_000 cases and only 53 deaths.
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