New Zealand drops locks; Australia reopens its borders to some foreigners

New Zealand and Australia have long been used as the number of pollutants rises again and parts of Europe bring back stricter controls. Especially drastic measures, Relax their policies to fight the epidemic.

The Covit-19 International Distribution It has killed more than 5,100,000 people worldwide since the end of 2019, according to a report set up by Agency France-Press (AFP) from official sources as of mid-Sunday, November 21st. The United States (771,013 deaths) is more affected than Brazil (612,587), India (465,662), Mexico (292,372) and Russia (264,095).

However, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that the overall number of infections may be two to three times higher, taking into account the high number of deaths directly and indirectly associated with Govt-19.

• New Zealand drops locks

New Zealand officials will end Auckland’s three – and – a – half month lockout in early December, Prime Minister Jacinta Arden said on Monday (November 22). The country’s largest city is currently isolated from the rest of New Zealand, but roadblocks will be lifted on December 15 to prevent most residents from leaving.

M^Me Artern also announced that from December 3, New Zealand would accept a new response to the eruption rather than trying to eliminate the spread of the Delta variant altogether. “It simply came to our notice then [le variant] Delta is here and will not disappear ”, He told reporters.

Until now, his government has aimed to eliminate the virus altogether, known as the “zero govt” strategy, with strict control measures, strict detection of contacts and strict border controls. The disease has killed only 40 people out of a population of five million.

M^Me Artern initially planned to change the policy when the country reached the 90% vaccination rate, but eventually reopened when the vaccination rate was 83%.

The new system looks like traffic lights: if green there is no virus control; Orange dictates wearing a mask in some places; Red allows businesses to be open only to vaccinated customers and to observe physical distance. The prime minister said Auckland would be marked in red and other areas were still being classified by authorities. Strict isolation rules will apply to those coming from abroad, but Mr.^Me Artern has promised to retire them early next year.

• Australia reopens its borders to students and skilled workers

“Australia is reopening. ” Home Secretary Karen Andrews announced Monday that foreign students, talented workers and working holiday visa holders will be welcomed back to the country from next month. This’“A new step for Australia”, Commenting by Ms.^Me Andrews.

Twenty months after the Australian border was closed, some foreigners were able to enter the 1st frontier.^{There is} December. With the new ruling, visa holders other than Australian citizens and citizens of Japan, South Korea and Singapore will now be able to enter the country only with a negative test result before departure if vaccinated. However, some Australian states still require isolation when entering.

According to University Australia, which represents the university sector, 130,000 international students are still out of the country. “They want nothing more than to join their classmates in Australia”Catriona Jackson, the group’s chief executive, called for the decision“The best news”.

Scott Morrison’s government last month lifted restrictions on foreign travel for Australians, but it has stubbornly refused to ease restrictions on foreigners. The decision, which has blocked 1.4 million eligible visa holders on the island-mainland, makes it unlikely they will be able to return if they decide to leave the country.

No sign of the country reopening to tourism has been given so far; Since the closure of the borders in March 2020, the sector has suffered one blow, the number of visitors is practically nothing.