Hope for a Fiji-NZ travel bubble soars after first group of Rarotongans land in Auckland
The arrival of a planeload of Cook Islanders from Rarotonga at Auckland in the first quarantine free flight on Thursday raises hope that a similar travel bubble with Fiji is not far off.
They arrived to a rousing and emotional welcome by their families and relatives.
It was the first flight out of Rarotonga in New Zealand’s first travel bubble since the COVID-19 pandemic forced the closure of the borders. For the time being it is one way traffic because New Zealanders travelling to Rarotonga still require managed isolation on the island.
Rarotonga is COVID-19 free, but New Zealand still has infections at the border and is not taking any chances to protect the small island nation from an outbreak.
It is understood that the Fiji High Commission staff in Wellington and their Suva colleagues in the upper echelon of Government are working the diplomatic channels to push for a similar arrangement.
Fiji is COVID contained
Can New Zealand and Fiji have a reciprocal arrangement similar to the one between NZ and the Cooks? In this bubble, Fijians travel to NZ without quarantine. As a safety net they pass a COVID-19 test here as
a requirement for travel and do a similar test in NZ before they return. This eliminates the quarantine at both ends.
Kiwis come here straight to their hotels where they can holiday and in safe isolation. While here they can take a test on their arrival and another test before they depart to go back home.
As an added precaution, if it’s needed, they can get another test
when they arrive home. Self isolation is another option instead of managed or compulsory quarantine. Fiji and New Zealand are basically facing the same situation.
There is no community transmission but there is infection at the border. This is because as long as the boarders are open to people from pandemic stricken areas the risks of infection are real.
Given that all necessary precautions
are taken some travellers who tested negative get infected somewhere during the journey, may be at the airport, in the plane and at the managed quarantine facility.
It’s the reason why authorities have stressed the wearing of masks, gloves, social distancing, hand washing and other good clean hygiene practices.
In many parts of Fiji and New
Zealand people are carrying on as if we are back to pre-COVID-19 because there is no community transmission.
That is why the arrival of the vaccine is anticipated because it will protect the masses from infection. With the way the virus is killing people in the United States of America, the United Kingdom and other parts of the world, the sooner the vaccine gets here and people are vaccinated the better.
Because of our COVID-19 contained status and it is summer those who live in temperate countries in the Northern Hemisphere are escaping to the South if they can. Auckland managed facilities are packed with them.
Fijians who live in NZ and Fiji found this out when they arrived at Auckland from Nadi on Thursday. Many who live in Auckland got a shock when they found out that they would be flown to Wellington to be quarantined there.
After 14 days they would be flown back to Auckland.
A lot of Americans and Europeans are in Auckland for the 36th America’s Cup Match in Auckland from March 6 to March 15.
It will see the defender, Emirates Team New Zealand race against the winner of the PRADA Cup, and the Challenger Selection Series, The influx of visitors to NZ has forced the Government to expand the quarantine facilities outside of Auckland. Hamilton, Rotorua and Wellington hotels are also being used to accommodate additional passengers.
The increased activities have increased hopes that NZ will soon include Fiji and other Pacific islands in its travel bubbles.