New Zealand Removes Final COVID-19 Restrictions

WELLINGTON (Reuters) – New Zealand’s authorities will raise all remaining COVID-19 necessities from midnight Tuesday, bringing an finish to a number of the hardest COVID-19 pandemic guidelines on this planet greater than three years after they have been put in place.

Minister of Well being Ayesha Verrall mentioned in a press release on Monday that from Tuesday folks will not need to put on a face masks in well being care amenities or isolate for seven days after contracting the virus.

“Whereas our case numbers will proceed to fluctuate, we’ve not seen the dramatic peaks that characterised COVID-19 charges final yr. This, paired with the inhabitants’s immunity ranges, means Cupboard and I’m suggested we’re positioned to securely take away the remaining COVID-19 necessities,” Verrall mentioned.

Many of the restrictions have been eliminated final yr as vaccination charges reached excessive ranges and the nation’s hospitals efficiently navigated a winter with out being overwhelmed.

The choice to take away the necessities comes simply two months out from a carefully contested election.

Whereas the New Zealand authorities’s dealing with of the pandemic was globally recognised for conserving an infection and demise charges at low ranges, domestically it confronted criticism for the prolonged lockdowns, college closures and closed borders.

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins mentioned the formal finish of restrictions was a “important milestone.”

“I consider that New Zealanders could be enormously happy with what we achieved collectively. We stayed dwelling, we made sacrifices, we acquired vaccinated and there’s completely no query that we saved lives,” he informed his weekly press convention.

Whereas not necessary, the Minister of Well being nonetheless recommends that folks keep dwelling for 5 days if you happen to’re unwell or have examined constructive.

(Reporting by Lucy Craymer; Enhancing by Lincoln Feast)

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