The coronavirus, which has been raging in China and claimed many lives, is already spreading from Asian countries such as Thailand and Japan to the rest of the world.
On 2 February 2020, the New Zealand government decided to follow the lead of the United States and Australia in refusing entry to travelers who have been in or passed through China.
The temporary measures will apply to all travellers who are not permanent residents of New Zealand, and are aimed at stopping the virus at its borders.
The decision will take effect on Monday, February 3rd. It will be for 14 days, but the situation will be reviewed every 48 hours and a decision on extension will be made accordingly.
New Zealand rescue mission
There are three main steps this time.
- All foreign travellers who have departed from or passed through mainland China on or after February 3rd (NZ time) will be denied entry.
- All foreign travelers who arrive in New Zealand on February 2 (same day) will be allowed to enter the country after passing through strict inspections.
- New Zealand nationals or permanent residents will be allowed to enter the country but will have to quarantine at home or elsewhere for 14 days.
The Air New Zealand crew members who were taking the government chartered flight to bring New Zealanders home had arrived in Hong Kong in advance. Ten crew members with extensive work experience and particularly good health were selected, and after getting plenty of rest, they boarded the 18-19 hour flight from Wuhan to Auckland. This was the first time that Air New Zealand crew members had landed in Wuhan. It seems that careful preparations were made, centered around the four pilots.
Before leaving for New Zealand, the pilots reportedly used flight simulators to train for flights to and from Wuhan and for a range of other contingencies.
The flight from Wuhan also included doctors and government staff, and upon return to New Zealand the aircraft will be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected to ensure no traces of the coronavirus are on board.
Despite being denied entry, the plane still landed
Coronavirus: Customs closes eGates; China travelers blocked
Perhaps because the government's decision was sudden, the plane was still landing in New Zealand on the morning of February 3rd, the day the entry refusal was put into effect.
Passengers who had been on those flights have now been subject to face-to-face immigration screening. All New Zealand nationals and permanent residents who normally go through immigration machines are now subject to face-to-face screening, so it looks like the congestion will continue for a while.
↓ Tweet from New Zealand Customs asking for in-person immigration inspection
Coronavirus update: All travelers entering New Zealand will now be required to be individually manually processed (including NZ citizens, permanent residents or their families) and no travelers will be allowed to use eGates.
— New Zealand Customs Service (@NZ_Customs) February 2, 2020
Travellers departing New Zealand are now being advised to check in well in advance.
How many people are infected in New Zealand?
Currently, no cases of coronavirus have been found in New Zealand (as of February 3rd), but on January 31st it was announced that there was a patient at Auckland Hospital who may have been infected.
The patient reported feeling unwell and was isolated at Auckland City Hospital. There has been no announcement as of yet, so it does not appear that he has been infected.
Coronavirus: Suspected case of virus in Auckland hospital, health boss confirms
Can a temporary ban on entry from China help New Zealand keep coronavirus out?
The tourism industry, a major industry in New Zealand, is supported by tourists from China. Foreign students, who are a major source of income for educational institutions such as universities, also account for a large proportion of students from China.
If the coronavirus pandemic does not subside, the economic impact is likely to be significant.
