Covid-19: PM hints border reopening date may be in jeopardy due to Omicron

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has indicated the beginning date for letting returnees skip managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) could also be in jeopardy as a result of Omicron variant.

Absolutely vaccinated New Zealand residents and residents getting back from Australia are supposed to have the ability to bypass MIQ and self-isolate for seven days ranging from January 17, the Government announced last month.

These getting back from different international locations would have the ability to do the identical from February 14, whereas the border would start to open to all totally vaccinated arrivals – not simply residents or residents – from April 30.

Saying the plan on November 24, Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins assured travellers the primary two dates had been “locked in”.

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Nonetheless, simply days after the announcement, the World Health Organisation declared a new variant of concern, Omicron, had emerged.

New Zealand reacted by adding nine southern African nations to the “very high-risk” list, which suggests solely residents can return from them.

Whereas Ardern initially mentioned it was too early to say how Omicron would have an effect on the border reopening plan, on Monday she flagged they’d be looking for the most recent recommendation on the variant from the Ministry of Well being in early January.

“This check-in shall be to verify that we stay comfy with this subsequent step in our reconnecting work,” she mentioned.

Ardern mentioned that whereas she didn’t need to pre-empt the choice, she emphasised at this stage they’d not modified their plans, or the timelines they’d set out.

However she additionally wouldn’t rule out pushing the dates again.

“I believe it’s unrealistic for us to say there’s a plan and we is not going to transfer it, regardless of what the proof tells us of Omicron,” she mentioned.

“Now we have to see … and listen to what the proof tells us, and the affect it’s going to possible have on New Zealand.”

International locations all over the world had been compelled to reply to Omicron, in some instances re-imposing self-isolation necessities that had simply been eliminated, she mentioned.

New Zealand nonetheless having MIQ in place meant there had been a “layer of safety” on the border in opposition to the brand new variant.

“We’re one of many international locations that has needed to do the least as a result of now we have already had measures in place.”