New Zealand to pursue Covid elimination strategy indefinitely, says Ardern

Prime minister lays out cautious reopening strategy that could see quarantine-free travel for vaccinated people early next year

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New Zealand will continue to pursue its ambitious Covid-19 elimination strategy indefinitely, Jacinda Ardern has said, adding that borders would never be the same as she laid out plans for a cautious, phased, reopening of the country.

The prime minister set out the country's much-awaited reopening strategy on Thursday, and warned that New Zealand would always need some kind of protection at its border. Just like after 9/11, the border will never be the same after Covid ... things can change, but that doesn't mean we can't adapt to them in a way that eventually feels normal again."