New Zealand’s Auckland to reopen fully for vaccinated visitors from December 15

New Zealand’s largest city Auckland is set to reopen for fully vaccinated visitors and those who test negative for the coronavirus from December 15,  Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Wednesday.

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Auckland has been cut off from the rest of the country for a period of approximately 90 days after emerging as the epicentre of an outbreak of the infectious delta variant of the coronavirus.

However, since then over 80 percent of the population residing in Auckland and the rest of the country has been  vaccinated. It is as good a time as any to travel again. The Prime Minister revealed at a news conference that she believes it was the right time to resume travel.

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“Aucklanders can now book summer travel and accommodation with confidence and businesses inside Auckland and around the rest of the country can plan for summer travellers,” Ardern said.

Those who have been fully vaccinated or can present a negative coronavirus test report within 72 hours of departure will be allowed to cross borders. However, if a person is caught breaking the rules he  will be fined NZ$1,000.

International border restrictions are also expected to be eased by the end of the year and guidelines regarding those would be put out soon, Ardern added.

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New Zealand has only allowed its citizens or permanent residents to enter the country. However, the number of incoming travellers is controlled by limiting the space available in state quarantine facilities each week.

The country has been largely successful in eliminating threats of the persistent delta variant’s outbreak and the focus has shifted to living with the virus with higher vaccinations.

A binding decision on the implementation of the new traffic-light system is expected by the cabinet on November 29. It will end lockdowns and rely on social distancing and other measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.