A testing site for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is seen in Wellington, New Zealand, March 11, 2022. REUTERS FILE PHOTO
WELLINGTON 鈥� New Zealand鈥檚 government will lift all remaining COVID-19 requirements from midnight Tuesday, bringing an end to some of the toughest COVID-19 pandemic rules in the world more than three years after they were put in place.
Minister of Health Ayesha Verrall said in a statement on Monday that from Tuesday people will no longer have to wear a face mask in health care facilities or isolate for seven days after contracting the virus.
鈥淲hile our case numbers will continue to fluctuate, we have not seen the dramatic peaks that characterized COVID-19 rates last year. This, paired with the population鈥檚 immunity levels, means Cabinet and I am advised we鈥檙e positioned to safely remove the remaining COVID-19 requirements,鈥� Verrall said.
Most of the restrictions were removed last year as vaccination rates reached high levels and the country鈥檚 hospitals successfully navigated a winter without being overwhelmed.
The decision to remove the requirements comes just two months out from a closely contested election.
While the New Zealand government鈥檚 handling of the pandemic was globally recognized for keeping infection and death rates at low levels, domestically it faced criticism for the extended lockdowns, school closures and closed borders.
Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said the formal end of restrictions was a 鈥渟ignificant milestone.鈥�
鈥淚 believe that New Zealanders can be enormously proud of what we achieved together. We stayed home, we made sacrifices, we got vaccinated and there is absolutely no question that we saved lives,鈥� he told his weekly press conference.
While no longer mandatory, the Minister of Health still recommends that people stay home for five days if you鈥檙e unwell or have tested positive.
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