New Zealand plans to reopen border after new COVID-19 restrictions implemented

New Zealand announced Thursday it will be reopening its border towards the end of the month after announcing new COVID-19 restrictions last week.

Starting Feb. 27, citizens of New Zealand who are in nearby Australia will be able to travel home without undergoing quarantine, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said, Reuters reported.

New Zealand citizens from other parts of the world will be able to come home without a quarantine period two weeks after Feb. 27.

From March to April, international students, vaccinated backpackers and skilled workers will be allowed in as well, according to Reuters. 

The phased reopening of the border comes as New Zealand is seeing a spike in coronavirus cases from the omicron variant and implemented new restrictions last week.

The restrictions include masks in public, social distancing and restrictions on gatherings with only 25 people allowed in a group. 

Starting in July, tourists from Australia will be allowed in New Zealand, but travelers from other countries won’t be allowed in the country until October, Reuters reported. 

Arden said during last week’s announced restrictions that strict lockdowns would not be implemented to combat the new wave of cases.