October 20, 2022
Covid regulations sidelined until next winter
The Government is revoking the epidemic notice and giving up some of the extraordinary powers it took on to manage the Covid-19 pandemic.
Covid Response Minister Chris Hipkins says it will retain a small number of baseline measures to contain the spread of the virus and keep the framework of the law so it can respond quickly if the need arises in future.
New legislation will be required to bring back measures beyond isolation periods, mask-wearing and traveller requirements if needed.
“One of the reasons we’ve been able to keep our case numbers at a reasonably manageable level are the relatively minor interventions of things like isolation periods for those who have it and the use of face masks and effectively we’re leaving the door open to having those things for next winter when we could see a significant resurgence in case numbers but we’re taking most of the things we’ve done previously off the table,” Mr Hipkins says
Also from today travellers flying to New Zealand by air will no longer have to complete the online New Zealand Traveller Declaration.