New Zealand's Government introduces 'very high risk' country designation category

New Zealand's Minister for COVID-19 Response, Education and Public Service Chris Hipkins stated (23-Apr-2021) New Zealand's Government created a new "very high risk" country designation category, to significantly reduce the number of infected passengers travelling into New Zealand, effective 23:59 on 28-Apr-2021. Countries have initially been designated very high risk where there have been more than 50 cases of coronavirus per 1000 arrivals into New Zealand from those countries in 2021, and where there are more than 15 travellers on average per month, with India, Brazil, Papua New Guinea and Pakistan currently meeting the criteria. Passengers are required to provide a negative coronavirus PCR test from an accredited laboratory within 72 of departure, with officials continuing to develop the 'very high risk' framework, with an update scheduled for May-2021. [more - original PR]