So, at last, the guidelines to let our citizens return have been released by Dear Leader and the good doctor. Well! Whoopy Doo! What a load of idiotic nonsense.
From the end of March, a New Zealand Traveller Declaration will require travellers to complete an online declaration prior to travel and upload evidence of vaccination and a negative pre departure test. Before then, they will be manually checked by airline staff at check-in and by Customs staff on arrival.
Covid-19 site
So far, so good. At the moment that is all pretty standard (if totally unnecessary) stuff.
They will need to confirm where they are staying in New Zealand, and cannot stay in a place with shared group facilities, such as a backpackers or a hostel.
On arrival in New Zealand
On arrival at the airport, vaccinated travellers will need to download the NZ COVID Tracer app and will be given 3 RATs. They will then:
– travel directly to their accommodation – avoiding visiting people and entering shops and businesses
– wear a face mask until they reach their accommodation, and ensure anyone picking them up wears a face mask
– sanitise their hands regularly and
– maintain physical distancing as much as possible.
And who, exactly will police any of that? Who is going to watch them download the tracer app? And even if they download it, who says that they will use it? Many of us have never done either.
Who will enforce mask wearing on the journey home in the car?
Oh, and do wash your hands! What are we? Kindergarten children?
Self-isolation
The settings for self-isolation reflect public health advice that arrivals have a similar COVID-19 risk profile to close contacts of cases in the community. As a result, they will follow similar protocols as community close contacts in phase 2 of the Omicron plan.
These include an isolation period of 7 full days and reporting the results of 2 rapid antigen tests – one on day 0/1 and one on day 5/6. A positive result will need to be followed with a PCR test to monitor for any new COVID-19 variants.
Arrivals with double-vax and negative test are equal to someone exposed as a close contact to a WuPox case? Really? I guess they get that from “The Science” TM
They can form a bubble with family or friends, who can continue to go to work or school, but must minimise contact with others as much as possible. No visitors are allowed.
What utter stupidity! Do these rule writers not understand the first thing about transmission?
Travellers will be able to temporarily leave self-isolation in special circumstances, such as visiting terminally ill relatives, to access urgent healthcare or to attend court hearings, but will be encouraged to take a RAT if visiting a high-risk location, such as a hospital or aged care facility, and need to follow public health measures.
Oh, that’s all good then. They are encouraged to be nice.
We can all sleep easy in our beds tonight, everything is under control.
