New Zealand Lifts Vaccine Mandate and Most Masking Requirements

New Zealand has lifted the majority of its COVID-19 restrictions as of Monday, marking a significant step toward normalcy since the pandemic's onset.

Masks will no longer be mandatory in supermarkets, stores, buses, or planes. The final vaccine mandates for healthcare workers will also be abolished. Additionally, tourists will not be required to show proof of vaccination to enter New Zealand.

The government has decided to completely scrap its COVID traffic light system, retaining only two primary rules: those who test positive must isolate for seven days, and masks are still required in healthcare settings such as hospitals and aged care facilities.

These adjustments come as the Omicron variant's spread diminishes and the Southern Hemisphere winter comes to a close. Current case numbers in New Zealand are at their lowest since February.

“The adjustments we’ve made today are significant. They represent a key milestone in our approach,” stated Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. “This is a moment where we finally take back control, rather than allowing COVID to dictate our lives and futures.”

She noted that these changes will stimulate business activity, which is crucial for the country's economic recovery.

“This will be the first summer in three years without the question: What if?” Ardern remarked.

While the government’s end to restrictions won’t prevent individual workplaces or stores from setting their own rules, most anticipate a sharp decline in mask usage once government mandates lift just before midnight on Monday.

BusinessNZ CEO Kirk Hope expressed optimism in seeing the government restoring trust in individual businesses.

“Each location is unique, and every business can determine what measures work best for their environment to reduce the spread of COVID-19,” he stated.

New Zealand initially succeeded in combating the pandemic, completely eradicating the virus after closing its borders and meticulously contact-tracing cases. However, its strategy shifted as more transmissible variants became impossible to control.

As recently as March, the nation of 5 million had reported only 65 deaths from the virus. However, since the onset of the Omicron wave, that figure has surged to nearly 2,000. Nevertheless, this number remains low compared to death rates in many other countries.