While the total number of deaths from Covid-19 in New Zealand has reached 929, the latest figures have recorded 6 new deaths, indicating the continuing impact of the virus on the health and lives of the local population. Despite this, the national mortality rate is 0.09%, which may indicate a relatively low mortality rate compared to other regions.

The current active phase of the disease reflects the presence of 54,397 infected persons, of whom none are critically ill. This is a testament to the significant efforts of the medical community and the government in providing quality care for the infected and monitoring the situation in the country.

Despite the challenges, there is some optimism as the total number of confirmed cases of complete cure from the virus has reached 995,471. This is a testament to the growing efforts to control the pandemic through vaccination, medical care and effective public safety measures.

New Zealand continues to fight the Covid-19 pandemic in an effort to further reduce infections and deaths, while focusing on providing quality health care and promoting vaccination processes across the country.

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The sub-variant was discovered after sequencing the genome of the virus detected in two patients examined at the Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR) late last week. “The appearance of XBB.1.5 in New Zealand is not unexpected, especially after this sub-variant was detected in neighboring Australia,” the radio station quoted a ministry spokesman as saying.

The ministry also said it could not yet predict how XBB.1.5 would spread in New Zealand given the high immunization rates of the population and whether its emergence would affect the overall incidence of COVID-19.

A subvariant omicron strain of coronavirus XBB.1.5 was first detected last fall in New York on the east coast of the United States. To date, it has been detected in about 30 countries of the world. Specialists of the World Health Organization (WHO) said that the “kraken” is the most infectious sub-variant of the coronavirus detected so far during the pandemic. At the same time, according to WHO conclusions, there are no indications that XBB.1.5 causes particularly severe forms of the disease.

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New Zealand is removing the requirement for mandatory pre-flight coronavirus testing for arrivals to the country from June 21. This was announced by COVID-19 response minister Ayesha Verrall on Thursday.

“We took a cautious and phased approach to open our borders to avoid a significant increase in the number of COVID-19 cases and our strategy has worked. We can now remove the mandatory pre-departure testing requirements,” Verrall pointed out in a statement published on the country’s government website.

The minister noted that by now most countries had already removed the rules on mandatory pre-flight testing and it was becoming increasingly difficult for tourists to comply, with “the availability and cost of taking the test becoming a barrier for people intending to travel to New Zealand.” “The problems that mandatory pre-departure tests create for visitors outweigh the benefits of the procedure. About 90% of overseas arrivals are tested immediately after arrival and only 2-3% are tested positive,” she said.

Verrall also said that from 23:59 June 20 (14:59 Moscow time) a number of other changes to sanitary regulations for travelers will be introduced. Authorities will remove the requirement for mandatory coronavirus vaccination for transit passengers, travelers with respiratory symptoms will be able to avoid COVID-19 testing if they have medical documents confirming the non-viral nature of their illness, and the maximum fine for violating vaccination requirements for those arriving in New Zealand will be reduced from the current NZ$4,000 ($2,500) to NZ$1,000 ($630). The requirement for mandatory self-testing on the first and fifth day after arrival for all arrivals to New Zealand will remain.

According to New Zealand’s Ministry of Health, the number of confirmed coronavirus infections in the country rose by 5,624 overnight. Since the start of the pandemic, the infection has been detected in 1,254,650 people. From the consequences of the disease caused by the coronavirus, 1,295 patients died.

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To date, thanks to an extensive vaccination campaign, a large proportion of the New Zealand population has access to a variety of COVID-19 vaccines. According to the latest data, the percentage of vaccinated citizens has reached the 80% mark. This achievement demonstrates the country’s significant success in providing collective immunity and protecting the population from severe forms of the disease.

However, despite the positive results, there are still challenges and obstacles to full vaccination of the population. One such challenge is the continued resistance of certain groups of the population to vaccination, which slows down the achievement of collective immunity and increases the risk of spreading the virus.

Moreover, access to vaccines in some remote and less populated areas remains limited due to supply and logistical difficulties. This underscores the need for increased efforts to ensure equitable access to vaccination for all segments of the population, including those in remote and economically vulnerable locations.

Overall, New Zealand’s COVID-19 vaccination efforts are an important step towards overcoming the pandemic. Authorities continue to work on extensive education and awareness campaigns to dispel vaccine myths and raise public awareness of the importance of vaccination in protecting society and ensuring a safe future for all citizens.

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Vaccine efficacy

Based on recent studies conducted in the country, Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna have shown high efficacy in preventing severe forms of COVID-19 and reducing the risk of hospitalization. AstraZeneca was also effective in protecting against serious complications from the virus. This confirms the importance of vaccination in protecting the public and preventing the development of a pandemic.

Accessibility of vaccines to the public

New Zealand is committed to ensuring equal access to vaccines for all citizens, regardless of residence or social status. Government vaccination programs cover different regions, including remote and economically vulnerable areas where access to health services may be limited.

In order to raise awareness of vaccines and their importance to society, a large-scale education campaign is underway to dispel myths and misunderstandings related to vaccination.

Despite significant advances in vaccine availability, some challenges remain in remote areas where logistics and supplies may be difficult. This highlights the need for further efforts in supply chain management and mobile vaccination sites to ensure full coverage of the country’s population.

Overall, the effectiveness and availability of COVID-19 vaccines in New Zealand play an important role in combating the pandemic and striving for public safety and well-being. Authorities continue efforts to expand vaccination programs and ensure access for all segments of society.

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