Since the rise of the COVID-19 pandemic, New Zealand has been known for having very few cases if any at all. Compared to other countries across the world, New Zealand’s numbers have rarely hit double digits in daily cases since late April of 2020. This comes as a result of the island’s isolated location on the map as well as its strict lockdown protocols early on during the start of the pandemic. With a population of approximately five million people, New Zealand was able to keep its cases to a minimum.
Multiple vaccine giants around the world have been working to develop a vaccine in order to treat COVID-19 infection. According to CNN Health, as of November of 2020, there were approximately six vaccines under approval by federal health organizations in the United States. Regardless, global vaccine rollout has begun through other medical authorities, albeit slowly. Until vaccine efficacy and availability increase, New Zealand’s Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, plans to strictly regulate travel in and out of the island.
Regarding these plans, Ardern made a statement at a news conference, saying, “Given the risks in the world around us and the uncertainty of the global rollout of the vaccine, we can expect our borders to be impacted for much of this year.” In order for Ardern to consider lifting travel restrictions, medical authorities will need to confidently confirm that vaccination will completely prevent further spread. She also plans to reconsider if a majority of the population receives the vaccine.
Ardern stresses the need for transparency and does so by keeping citizens updated on all things regarding the pandemic and the upcoming vaccine. At the moment, she is communicating with the country’s medicine regulator, MedSafe, about granting approval for the Pfizer Inc and BioNTech SE Vaccines, which are said to arrive in New Zealand by the end of the first quarter and distributed amongst the people soon afterward.
As for the borders, Ardern currently participates in travel bubbles with Australia and other countries in the Pacific. Travel bubbles are partnerships with other areas that have similarly low rates of COVID-19 cases which allows quarantine-free travel between the two. However, there was a recent community case, a 56-year-old woman who was identified with having the South African strain of the coronavirus after traveling from Europe. The news of this caused Australia to put a 72-hour hold on its travel bubble with New Zealand. Since then, the New Zealand government has taken the necessary precautions with the woman, ensuring that she remained in a managed 14-day quarantine, from which she is now released.
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