New Zealand lifts almost all its coronavirus restrictions
New Zealand has no active coronavirus cases and no positive cases reported in the past 17 days. In the event of this good news, the country has announced that almost all coronavirus restrictions are to be lifted as of 8th June 2020.
Schools and workplaces will open under new ‘level 1’ rules, with no limitations on gatherings or domestic travel. Social distancing is still encouraged and New Zealand’s international borders will remain shut to non-residents; residents arriving in New Zealand will still have to quarantine for two weeks.
Caribbean Islands reopen to tourism.
A group of Caribbean Islands are reopening this month for international tourism after containing their coronavirus outbreaks and implementing strict new public health protocols.
Reopening
The Caribbean, known for its palm-fringed beaches, turquoise waters and colonial towns, is one of the most tourism-dependent regions in the world. Antigua and Barbuda, the U.S. Virgin Islands and St. Lucia are the first to reopen this week. Jamaica and Aruba are set to follow later in the month, with July target dates for the Bahamas and the Dominican Republic.
Health checks
The islands reopening will conduct health screenings that include temperature checks upon arrival and require or encourage the use of face masks in public spaces. Antigua and Barbuda will conduct a rapid coronavirus test of visitors upon arrival. St. Lucia will require a certificate for a negative coronavirus test conducted in the 48 hours before departure.
Appeal
The Caribbean tourism industry hopes that the appeal of sun, sea, the outdoors and new tourism guidelines will reassure travellers. Guidelines include digital transactions, sanitizing surfaces and social distancing in hotels, restaurants, tour operators and taxis.
The Maldives reopening tourism in July.
The Maldives is reopening for visitors; anyone with a super yacht or private jet can head to the Indian Ocean destination but normal travellers have to wait a few more weeks. For those who are allowed to travel there’s stuff they’ll need to do before they set off.
The tourism board for the island nation, has announced a phased reopening that expects incoming flights to its main international airport to recommence next month. The plan is to reopen their borders in July 2020; incoming travellers will need to have a confirmed booking with a tourist organisation.
Travellers will be required to present a medical certificate confirming proof of a negative Covid-19 test taken at least 14 days before they arrive.
The Maldives welcomed more than 1.7 million visitors in 2019!
Zero new confirmed Covid-19 cases in Wuhan.
The Chinese city of Wuhan, where the novel coronavirus outbreak began, has found no new cases of people suffering from COVID-19 after testing almost its entire population.
As of 2nd June 2020 there had been no new confirmed cases; asymptomatic carriers had been found not to be infectious. Masks, toothbrushes, phones, door handles and elevator buttons that they touched had no traces of the virus.
Authorities launched the massive testing campaign on 14th May, and reached 9.9 million out of 11 million people, after a cluster of new cases raised fears of a second wave of infections.
‘…no traces of the virus…’
Feng Zijian, vice director of China’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention said
“This is an encouraging development in China; people are feeling at ease and have increased confidence in all of China.”
Li Lanjuan, a member of a National Health Commission expert team said
“The city of Wuhan is safe.”