Coronavirus: New Zealand lifts most curbs as Omicron peaks
- Vaccine passes would no longer be mandatory to visit restaurants, coffee shops and other public spaces
- The move comes a week after the government announced it would be opening the borders for visitors on visa-waiver programmes from May
New Zealand’s response to the pandemic won plaudits overseas and kept hospitalisation and deaths low. But public anger over sustained domestic restrictions has grown, reaching a climax earlier this month during violent protests outside the nation’s legislature in Wellington.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said at a news conference that only those working with vulnerable people such as aged care and heath sectors and border workers would need to be vaccinated from April 4.
Vaccine passes would also no longer be mandatory to visit restaurants, coffee shops and other public spaces, she added.
“With more tools and one of the most highly vaccinated populations in the world we are able to keep moving forward safely,” Ardern said as she announced the lifting of most mandates.
