New Zealand begins to remove its border restrictions, it marks the beginning of the end for one of the most controversial, yet vital, elements in the fight against coronavirus – MIQ.
From 11.59pm Wednesday, the self-isolation requirement for all vaccinated arrivals from overseas will be dropped, with Kiwis able to return from anywhere in the world from March 4, without MIQ or self-isolation.
Managed Isolation and Quarantine has been a part of life in Aotearoa since the end of March 2020. Just a few weeks after the first coronavirus case appeared in New Zealand, MIQ was established as a buffer to prevent Covid-19 from overseas spreading in the country.
Close to 230,000 people have gone through the system since then. For many the 14-day stay, later reduced to seven days, then back up to 10, went smoothly, however for some it proved to be a nightmare, while others claimed it created a massive division in attitudes.
The good
When Covid-19 started its spread around the world in early 2020, the Government’s decision to shut the border proved instrumental in preventing coronavirus from establishing an early foothold in New Zealand. While other countries dithered about border closures, the “go hard, go early” policy blunted the pandemic’s effect in New Zealand.
For many months in 2020 and 2021, life in the country, to all intents and purposes, returned to normal. MIQ was expanded across New Zealand and most Kiwis enjoyed a relatively normal life that other countries could only look jealously on.
But while the system held up pretty well against most of the coronavirus variants, the highly infectious Omicron has changed the game.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced on Monday that self-isolation requirements would be dropped for all vaccinated arrivals into New Zealand, from 11.59 Wednesday, as border cases no longer pose the greatest risk, due to the Omicron outbreak.
MIQ will still be in place for unvaccinated arrivals, and in case the system needs to be scaled up again in the event of other serious variants developing.
Few will mourn the notoriously tricky MIQ booking system and virtual “lobby”. With an overwhelming number of New Zealanders wanting to return to the country, a booking system was launched in October 2020.
Travellers needed the voucher to enter the country, but soon there were reports of automated scripts and bots being used on the MIQ website, allowing those who were willing to pay or who had the technical skills to jump the queue. It led to exasperated travellers refreshing the MIQ site up to 10,000 times and still not getting a room.
In September 2021 a new virtual lobby system was introduced, which was intended to make booking more transparent and create a more level playing field for people trying to access the booking site. But the first release of 3205 rooms saw the lobby queue reach 31,800 people at its peak. It was the same news a week later when the second virtual lobby saw all October, November and December slots filled within hours as 31,319 people vied for the 3718 spots.
But the demand for MIQ spots has dropped dramatically since the relaxation of border rules was announced. The last virtual lobby on February 24 saw 313 people in the queue, which represented 468 passengers. Officials said it was “the lowest number we have seen since the virtual lobby was introduced”.
There have been times when the compassion from the “team of 5 million” to the “team of 1 million” overseas has been noticeably lacking.
When stories of the struggles of those outside trying to get in made the news, it was often met with derision and abuse online. “They should’ve come back before they closed the borders” was a common response.
In a Stuff interview in September last year with 32 New Zealand expats, the negativity directed towards Kiwis living overseas made them sad, angry, embarrassed and for one – “ashamed to be Kiwi”. Behavioural experts say the pandemic has brought about a rise in xenophobia and nationalism, and could mean expat and domestic communities struggle to coalesce beyond the pandemic. The “them” versus “us” mentality has exposed divisions and left a bitter taste.
There was also a negative reaction to those directly on the frontline.
Incidents of racial and physical abuse suffered by MIQ healthcare workers were reported, with one healthcare assistant saying while most guests were grateful, some had called staff b….es and immigrant nurses were also copping racist comments from angry guests regularly.
The end of MIQ? Not completely
For most travellers, MIQ is becoming a thing of the past. But for one group at least, MIQ looks set to be around for a while yet – unvaccinated travellers. Any visitor to New Zealand who is not vaccinated with one of 10 Medsafe-approved vaccines, or has a vaccine exemption, has to enter MIQ.
However, Ardern said on Monday Cabinet has asked for advice if this requirement will still be needed in future. She said the MIQ system will still remain in place in the event it needs to be scaled up again to deal with other variants emerging.
MIQ timeline
March 2020
New Zealand closes its borders to anyone but New Zealand citizens and residents. International travellers are asked to self-isolate.
March 26 – Travellers self-isolate at the Novotel Ellerslie, Auckland.
April 2020
April 9 – All people entering New Zealand by air must enter managed isolation and quarantine. The first of 18 facilities open.
June 2020
New MIQ facilities open in Rotorua, Christchurch, Hamilton and Auckland.
After security breaches, a permanent police presence at each facility and additional security staff is deployed.
September 2020
September 11 – MIQ welcomes the 50,000th returnee.
First sports team in MIQ: The Wallabies stay at MIQ in Christchurch.
October 2020
October 5 – The Managed Isolation Allocation System goes live. From November 3, travellers must have a MIQ voucher before flying if they are arriving in New Zealand.
January 2021
January 19 – MIQ welcomes 100,000th returnee.
August 2021
MIQ extends quarantine facilities and takes in community cases with the new Delta variant.
Delta outbreak means all of New Zealand moves to Alert Level 4.
September 2021
A virtual lobby is added to the booking system to manage the high demand for MIQ spaces. The lobby opens weekly.
November 2021
The Quality Hotel Elms in Christchurch becomes the newest MIQ facility.
MIQ stay for international arrivals into NZ reduces to seven days, followed by isolation at home.
December 2021
Omicron variant emerges. Border arrivals to stay for at least 10 days in MIQ.
February 2022
February 28 – Kiwi citizens and residents from Australia begin to return to NZ without needing to quarantine. Ardern announces from 11.59pm March 2, the self-isolation requirement for all vaccinated travellers arriving into New Zealand will end.
Complete article on Stuff.co.nz