NZ implements additional actions against Covid-19 spread

Wellington, Jan 12 : The New Zealand government is going to implement as series of additional actions in an effort to curb the further spreading of Covid-19, including the new emerging variants of the virus, a Minister said on Tuesday.
Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins announced that passengers from countries, excluding Australia, Antarctica and some Pacific Island nations, will be required to undergo Day 0/1 testing upon arrival in New Zealand, reports Xinhua news agency.
This will expand the measures already in place for passengers from the UK and the US.
It will be progressively introduced at Managed Isolation and Quarantine (MIQ) facilities over three days, starting from January 18. Routine Day 3 and Day 12 tests will continue, Hipkins said in a statement.
“Given the high rates of infection in many countries and evidence of the global spread of more transmissible variants, it’s clear that most global air routes will be of critical concern for the foreseeable future, and we must respond strongly to the evolving situation.
“New Zealand is currently in a very fortunate position with no community cases – let alone of new variant types – but we take nothing for granted.