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Pre-departure testing will be introduced starting Friday of the week for all UK and US travelers coming to New Zealand, the minister responsible for the Covid-19 response announced today.
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It comes when the mutant strain of Covid-19 has arrived in New Zealand. Source: 1 NEWS
Starting at 11:59 p.m. on January 15, travelers from these countries must return a negative Covid-19 test within 72 hours prior to departure.
Chris Hipkins said travelers would need to have certified proof from a laboratory of their test result or another form of approved evidence.
“It reduces the risk of infected passengers on long-haul international flights infecting other passengers with Covid-19.”
Regardless of the results of the pre-departure test, the returnees would remain in a managed isolation facility for 14 days, he said.
Hipkins said work is also underway to extend the requirement to other long-haul flights to New Zealand.
“We hope to be in a position to provide more details over the next week, after we get a more complete picture of testing regimes and capabilities in foreign jurisdictions.”
Hipkins first noted the change late last month.
A change will be made to the New Zealand Air Borders Order to enforce the changes.
“We know this will increase the stress on travelers looking to get to New Zealand and we have made this decision carefully,” said Hipkins.
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Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said the new measures respond to a growing number of cases around the world. Source: 1 NEWS
“While New Zealand is in a very fortunate position and we are all enjoying a summer … we cannot ignore the fact that Covid-19 continues to spread to the rest of the world.
“We want to do everything we can to reduce the total number of positive cases that we have to deal with in our managed isolation facilities, and also reduce the risk of the spread of Covid-19 on airplanes and in transit.”
An additional day zero or day test will also apply for those coming from the UK and the US, alongside the current routine tests on days three and 12.
The first tests would allow people to be transferred to quarantine facilities sooner, if necessary, Hipkins said.
He said that a “very limited number” of people may be exempted from Covid-19 testing prior to departure for medical reasons and if they show no Covid-19 symptoms.
The new requirements will take effect on flights arriving in New Zealand after 11:59 p.m. on January 15.
