4. Question No. 4—COVID-19 ResponseDr LIZ CRAIG (Labour) to the Minister for COVID-19 ResponseQuestion No. 4—COVID-19 Response4. Dr LIZ CRAIG (Labour) to the Minister for COVID-19 Response: What recent announcements has the Government made on reconnecting New Zealand with the rest of the world?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Minister for COVID-19 Response): On Tuesday I announced the requirements for travellers arriving into New Zealand under the reconnecting plan. That will begin with step one at the end of this month. From 28 February travellers to New Zealand—starting with Kiwis and other current eligible travellers coming from Australia—will be able to enter without staying in managed isolation and quarantine as long as they're fully vaccinated they return a negative test before flying and they spend seven days in self-isolation taking two rapid antigen tests during that time. These actions will lower the risk of COVID-19 entering the community whilst also allowing a significant number of families to reunite. It will assist with the economic recovery and immediately help to address some of the worker shortages we're facing.Dr Liz Craig: What will be required for travellers prior to departure and upon their arrival in New Zealand?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: Before flying travellers will have the option of three different types of pre-departure test: the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test within 48 hours—which people are now used to—or they can do a supervised rapid antigen test or loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) test within 24 hours of their departure. From the end of March a New Zealand traveller declaration will require travellers to complete an online declaration prior to travel and upload their evidence of vaccination and negative pre-departure tests. In the interim travellers will be manually checked by airline and Customs staff. On arrival at the airport in New Zealand vaccinated travellers will need to download the NZ COVID Tracer app. They'll be given three rapid antigen tests. They will then travel directly to their accommodation avoiding visiting people or entering shops and businesses. They'll wear a mask until they reach their accommodation and ensure that anyone picking them up wears a mask as well. They'll sanitise their hands regularly and maintain physical distancing as much as possible.Dr Liz Craig: What will be required for travellers while they're self-isolating?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: The settings for self-isolation reflect the public health advice that arrivals to New Zealand have a similar risk profile to close contacts in the New Zealand community. As a result they'll be subject to similar protocols as community contacts. These things include an isolation period of seven days and reporting the results of two rapid antigen tests: one on arrival—day zero or day one—and one on day five or day six. A positive result will need to be followed by a PCR test to monitor for any new variants. Isolating travellers will be able to form a bubble with their family or with friends that they're staying with who will be able to continue to go to work or school but they'll need to minimise contact with others as much as possible. So for example no visitors to the place where they are isolating will be allowed.Dr Liz Craig: How do these measures balance public health risks with the need to reconnect with the world?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: Having managed isolation and quarantine or MIQ for every traveller was a temporary setting while none of us had protection. When we established it for example there was no vaccination and there were few treatments for COVID-19. That situation has changed significantly and so now is the time when New Zealand should be reconnecting with the world. Our plans carefully balance the return of New Zealand to a greater normality whilst also smoothing as best we can the spread of Omicron within our communities. When we start to reopen we'll be one of the most boosted countries in the world the COVID-19 Protection Framework will be well established and returning travellers—at least over the next few months—will still need to comply with these measures which will provide an additional layer of protection.