Posted: 11:30am Sun 20 Mar, 2022
Unvaccinated Kiwis can now skip MIQ
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File photo.
Unvaccinated Kiwi travellers can now enter New Zealand without needing to go into MIQ or self-isolate, the Government has quietly announced.
The ability to bypass isolation was previously limited to fully vaccinated travellers, with the unvaccinated required to spend seven days in MIQ and a further three self-isolating at home.
The change came into effect at 11.59pm on Friday. Unvaccinated New Zealanders who were in MIQ at the time of the change were released at that time.
Vaccination requirements still apply to non-New Zealand citizens, including permanent residents, unless they have an exemption.
The Ministry of Health on Saturday reported 18,514 new cases of Covid-19 and 10 deaths.
It brings the total number of publicly reported Covid-related deaths in New Zealand to 166, and the seven-day rolling average of reported deaths to eight.
Of the 10 people who died , one was aged in their 40s, two were in their 60s, four were in their 80s and three were in their 90s.
There are currently 939 people in hospital with the virus, including 24 who are in intensive care or high dependency units.
Vaccination rates
As of 11.59pm on March 19 , more than 2.5 million booster shots had been given nationally.
Of the eligible people aged 12 and over, 96 per cent have had their first dose, 95 per cent their second, and 72.8 per cent have had their booster.
For Māori, aged 12+, 91 per cent have had their first dose, 88 per cent their second and 59 per cent the booster.
For Pacific Peoples, aged 12+, 98 per cent had their first dose, 96 per cent their second and 60 per cent their booster.
Global toll
Data from Johns Hopkins University shows more than 468 million people have been infected with Sars-CoV-2, and more than 6 million have died.
Vaccination efforts are continuing with nearly 10.8 billion doses administered around the world.
The United States continues to record the most cases and fatalities - more than 81 million cases and 970,830 deaths.
South Korea has the highest 28-day rolling total, with 7,180,929 cases reported in the last month and 4747 deaths.
What should I do?
During phase 3 act as if you have Covid-19, Director General of Health Ashley Bloomfield says.
Free rapid antigen tests can now be ordered online from a new Ministry of Health website.
Anyone with symptoms can order a test on the RAT requester site and collect it from 146 sites nationwide.
Anyone who wants to get tested can find their local testing centres by visiting the Ministry of Health website.
If you are sick, call your GP before you visit, or Healthline on 0800 358 5453.
To avoid contracting and spreading the virus, wash your hands properly, cough and sneeze into the crook of your elbow and throw tissues away immediately.
Reach out, find support from people who care, connect with your community or help a neighbour in need.
3 comments
Desperate for votes
Posted on 20-03-2022 12:07 | By Slim Shady
What about all those people who lost their jobs? For what? It’s a mockery. Total joke. And now we see that Labour will do anything to get votes. I knew the hand wringing response was BS and this proves it.
They kept that quiet
Posted on 20-03-2022 13:33 | By The Sage
So no testing when they get to NZ? What happened to Air NZ’s big statements of only allowing vaccinated people on planes?
@Slim Shady
Posted on 20-03-2022 14:16 | By morepork
The point that was generally missed was that vaccination did NOT provide 100% immunity. However, it did provide SOME protection. so, at least to that extent, people in high-risk, public-facing jobs, SHOULD have been vaccinated. That's not a mockery or a joke. We can't quantify how much worse things might have been had there been NO vaccinations. Morally, it is wrong to MANDATE vaccinations that are not 100%, but it was done to provide as much protection as was available at the time. Labour is no different to any other government in their desire to get votes; but there is a general awakening happening and the next election will be much closer that it looked a few months ago. The rejection of "co-governance" and He Puapua as a replacement for Democracy, could be something that will finally stop this government and restore equality and justice for ALL our citizens.
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