The changes to pre-departure Covid-19 testing requirements to enter New Zealand will come into effect from tomorrow.
Some travellers, where obtaining a PCR test is hard or not possible, will be able to instead show their negative result via rapid antigen test. (file image) Photo: 123RF
Last month, the government announced that people coming into the country will have to show a negative Covid-19 test within 48 hours of departure, instead of within 72 hours.
But the Ministry of Health has also revealed today that the acting director-general of health has given a temporary exemption for people coming from 105 countries and jurisdictions.
In those areas, obtaining a PCR test may be difficult or not possible, so travellers can instead provide proof of a negative result via a rapid antigen test or loop-mediated isothermal amplification test within 24 hours of departure.
The ministry said all tests must be supervised by a health professional, which includes pharmacists, and verified in writing in the jurisdiction of origin.
The places for which the PCR exemption applies are available on the Unite Against Covid-19 website.