Quarantine Free Travel Health Operations Framework - Version 1.0 - current as at 21 April 2021 Note: This document is updated regularly. Printed ...
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Quarantine Free Travel
Health Operations
Framework
Version 1.0 – current as at 21 April 2021
Note: This document is updated regularly. Printed copies may be out of date.
1
Document management and control
Revision History
Version Date Section/Appendix Summary of changes Comments/review process
to date
Background and review
Revisions by MoH process to date
Authors
COVID-19 Border Operations
COVID-19 Border Testing Taskforce
2
Groups who have contributed to development and review
Auckland DHB Canterbury DHB
Health Legal Public Health
Document approval
Deputy Chief Executive, COVID-19 Health
Sue Gordon
System Response
Signature
Date
3
Table of Contents
Quarantine Free Travel ......................................................................................................................... 1
Health Operations Framework ............................................................................................................. 1
Note: This document is updated regularly. Printed copies may be out of date. ..............................................1
Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 5
Purpose ......................................................................................................................................5
Glossary ......................................................................................................................................5
Setting up an airport for quarantine-free travel.......................................................................... 7
Departure from overseas .............................................................................................................. 9
Information given at booking.......................................................................................................9
Travel declaration – Nau Mai Ra ................................................................................................9
Validation of travel declaration pre-departure ...........................................................................11
Passenger health declaration on check in ................................................................................11
In the air ........................................................................................................................................ 14
Passenger announcements ......................................................................................................14
Management of ill travellers ......................................................................................................14
Arrival in New Zealand ................................................................................................................ 16
Face covers ................................................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
Arrival declarations ...................................................................................................................17
Random temperature checking.................................................................................................17
Secondary health assessment..................................................................................................18
Onward referrals .......................................................................................................................19
COVID-19 App ..........................................................................................................................21
Presentation of foreigners with suspected COVID-19 within New Zealand ..............................21
On departure from New Zealand ................................................................................................ 23
Information given at booking.....................................................................................................23
Managing departing passengers who are unwell or present with COVID-19 symptoms ..........23
Record keeping and Reporting .................................................................................................. 24
Aggregate data .........................................................................................................................24
Interim reporting ........................................................................................................................24
Testing and vaccination of QFT border workers...................................................................... 26
Response framework .................................................................................................................. 27
Incident Management Team .....................................................................................................28
Decision making .......................................................................................................................29
Information sharing ...................................................................................................................29
Air Border Order – operational guidance .............................................................................. 30
Annex 1: Information to be provided by airlines at Booking – Quarantine-free travel to New Zealand .........31
Annex 2: Text of In-flight Announcement (as at March 2021) .......................................................................33
Annex 3: Information to be provided by Airlines at Booking – New Zealand to [QFT country] ......................34
4
Introduction
Purpose
This document is written primarily for District Health Boards (DHBs) and Public
Health Units (PHUs) to consolidate information about the requirements to operate
under Quarantine-Free Travel arrangements.
A considerable amount of information has already been provided to your sectors,
and this document aims to bring it together in a way that makes it easy to find and
understand. As such, there may be links to publicly available information, a
consolidation of information you have already received, and new information.
This is a living document with updates and changes to be made and released as
required.
Glossary
Airside Any part of the airport that is inaccessible to the general public but
that is accessible to international arriving or international transiting
passengers (for example, a civil aviation security area or a
Customs-controlled area)
ALO Airline Liaison Officer – an Immigration officer deployed to an
overseas airport to provide advice to airline staff and conduct spot
checks of passengers
Arrival card New Zealand Passenger Arrival Card
BAU Business as usual
COVID-19 Infection caused by the novel SARS-CoV-2 virus
DHB District Health Board
Face covering Any type of covering that covers the face and mouth of the wearer
(e.g., mask, scarf or a bandana).
Green flight/zone Flight, or zone at an airport, that is utilised for the purpose of
facilitating traveller movement and not subject to the requirements
of Managed Isolation and Quarantine
Health staff A person who supports quarantine free travel in a clinical capacity,
including staff from DHBs
HPO Health Protection Officer
IMT Incident Management Team
IPC Infection prevention and control
Managed Isolation A low-risk facility that hosts returnees that are (generally)
Facility asymptomatic and not COVID-19 positive or close contacts of a
confirmed or probable case of COVID-19
Managed Isolation A general term encompassing managed isolation facilities (MIFs)
and Quarantine and quarantine facilities (QFs)
Facility (MIQF)
Medical mask A surgical or procedure mask that is flat or pleated and is affixed to
the head with straps that go around the ears or head or both. Its
performance characteristics are tested according to a set of
5standardized test methods (ASTM F2100, EN 14683, or equivalent)
that aim to balance high filtration, adequate breathability and
optionally, fluid penetration resistance
MoH Ministry of Health
MOoH Medical Officer of Health
NBS National Border Solution
NITC National Investigation and Tracing Centre at MoH
PHU Public Health Unit
PIM Public Information Management
Quarantine Facility A higher-risk facility that hosts returnees that are confirmed or
probable cases of COVID-19, or are a close contact of a confirmed
or probable case of COVID-19.
Red flight/zone Flight, or zone at an airport, that is utilised for the purpose of
facilitating traveller movement subject to the requirements of
Managed Isolation and Quarantine
6Setting up an airport for
quarantine-free travel
Only designated airlines and airports can participate in quarantine-free travel to
New Zealand. The Minister for COVID-19 Response is responsible for designating
airlines and airports, on advice from the Director-General of Health.
To become designated, airport companies are required to implement a COVID-
Safe plan detailing how green and red travellers will be physically separated. They
will manage green or both green and red travellers. Airports that will receive both
green and red flights will be required to create green and red zones to provide
physical separation of the traveller pathway through the airport, from
disembarkation all the way to the exit, and from check-in to boarding. Airports’
plans for separating green and red passengers must account for the separation
requirements of arriving, departing and (where applicable) transiting passengers,
and the zones must be able to operate concurrently.
An airport choosing to only accept green flights will be unable to accept domestic
red flights (i.e., those carrying new arrivals from their port of arrival to the city
where they will undertake MIQ) through the same terminal.
Airport cleaning is to be undertaken by the airport company, in line with the
cleaning standards set out in the IPC guidance. This applies even if all flights
arriving at or departing from the airport are green flights.
Employers are required to supply hand sanitiser to staff where it is needed. Airport
companies are required to supply it for passenger use, although agencies may
choose to supply it for passengers in their own areas.
DHBs/PHUs will provide staff to carry out the following tasks at designated QFT
airports:
• random temperature checking of 20% of arriving passengers
• providing secondary health assessments as required
• managing any passengers with COVID-19 symptoms.
DHBs are required to have separate teams dealing with red areas (red flights and
MIQFs) and green flights. Health staff working in red zones or at MIQFs are not
permitted to also work in green zones.
DHBs are to work with the airport company (and border agencies and airlines as
required) to set up designated spaces for health staff to carry out these activities,
in a way best suited to the flow and layout of each airport.
Random temperature checking needs to occur early in the arrival process
(immediately before or after primary processing). DHBs, working with airport
companies, must ensure there is adequate space to conduct temperature checking
without delaying the flow of passengers.
7Secondary health assessments require areas where other passengers cannot see
or hear what is happening. However, they do not need to be private rooms. They
should be areas away from the main passenger flow, separated from other
passengers by privacy screens.
Health staff and the airport company (and border agencies and airlines as
required) will also work together to ensure there are adequate processes for
handling passengers (both arrivals and departures) who are unwell or suspected of
having COVID-19. These processes should cover standard medical response
protocols as well as referral to the Medical Officer of Health (MOoH) if necessary,
maintaining infection prevention and control (IPC) measures, and transfer of the
passenger to a MIQF if required. Further information is provided in section 5:
Arrival in New Zealand.
Government requirements may change from time to time, and airlines, agencies
and airports may be required to change their processes. Failure to implement
changes when required could result in an airline or airport’s designation being
suspended.
8Departure from overseas
RESPONSIBILITIES OF AGENCIES
MoH DHBs
• Provide information for airlines to give to • None
passengers at the time of booking
• Provide airlines questions to ask
passengers to check eligibility, and
guidance for handling passengers who may
not be eligible
• Provide the online travel declaration
Information given at booking
MoH has given airlines information to pass on to passengers at the time of
booking, or shortly afterwards (e.g., via email) that covers passenger eligibility,
traveler declaration requirements and what passengers should expect in case of
an outbreak. It includes a link to other relevant information on the Unite against
COVID website. Annex 1 is the current information for passengers undertaking
quarantine-free travel to New Zealand.
Travel declaration – Nau Mai Ra
Quarantine-free passengers must complete an online declaration (Nau Mai Ra)
before they travel to New Zealand. This information is then loaded into the National
Border Solution (NBS) to allow for improved contact tracing if an outbreak (of any
level) occurs. Aircrew (both on-duty and repositioning) are exempt from this
requirement.
The pictures below are the current version of the declaration.
910
Validation of travel declaration pre-departure
Phase one:
• Initially, Airline Liaison Officers (ALOs) from Immigration New Zealand are
spot checking travellers at overseas points of departure to raise awareness,
and ensure completion, of Travel Declarations.
• If a declaration has not been completed, ALOs direct travellers to the website
www.naumaira.covid19.govt.nz to complete the form shown above before
completing check-in. If a traveller refuses to complete the form, the ALOs
instruct the airline not to allow the passenger to board.
Phase two:
• Phase two of the travel declaration roll-out will allow the platform hosting the
traveller declaration information to directly notify airlines that a traveller
declaration has been completed. Information will be prepared for airlines in
consultation with border agencies, to ensure they do not board passengers
who have not completed the travel declaration.
Passenger health declaration on check in
Passengers travelling on green flights to New Zealand must meet health and
eligibility requirements for that travel, as well as immigration and all other relevant
regulatory requirements.
As is specified in the Air Border order, airlines are required to take reasonable
steps to ensure that, prior to boarding, each person on the aircraft meets all the
conditions for quarantine-free travel to New Zealand. To facilitate this, airlines must
ask the prescribed health and eligibility questions at check-in overseas. Airlines
can choose how they ask the questions, such as paper-based, through electronic
check-in, or orally.
If a passenger declares or is found to not meet any of the eligibility criteria
questions or has not completed their travel declaration - Nau Mai Ra, they are not
eligible to travel on a green flight and are to be declined boarding.
If the passenger has a pre-existing condition that causes symptoms consistent with
COVID-19 (for example, chronic hay fever causing a runny nose), they should
declare these symptoms and provide the airline with evidence (such as a letter
from their doctor) of their condition. If a passenger produces evidence of a medical
condition that causes COVID-19-like symptoms, the airline should take this as
valid and allow the passenger to board.
As an additional option for handling passengers who answer yes to one of these
questions and do not have evidence of a pre-existing condition, the airline can
choose to contract the services of a Registered Nurse in Australia. The nurse will
examine the patient at the airport and provide advice to the airline about whether
the passenger meets the health and eligibility criteria for quarantine-free travel.
11A health declaration also forms part of the Arrival Card. Making a false declaration
on the Arrival Card is an offence and may result in further action.
Health and eligibility questions:
In the past 14 days have you travelled outside New Zealand and [QFT country]?
Yes / No
In the past 14 days have you been advised that you are to stay at home or self-isolate for any
reason; or are you currently awaiting the results of a COVID-19 test?
Yes / No
Are you currently experiencing any of the following symptoms (with or without fever)?
• new or worsening cough
• sore throat
• shortness of breath
• runny nose
• loss of sense of smell
Yes / No
Have you completed the New Zealand Traveller Declaration online?
Yes / No
1213
In the air
Passenger announcements
Airlines must ensure the official in-flight announcement is made on each
quarantine-free flight to New Zealand, in addition to any other safety video. This
announcement should be played when close to arrival.
Current text of the announcement is attached at Appendix 2.
Management of ill travellers
Airlines should have an up-to-date protocol for managing in-flight passenger
illness, including notifying authorities at the destination.
Ill travellers with mild COVID-19 symptoms are to be referred directly to health staff
without activating the Ill Traveller Protocol, in order to minimise the disruption to
airports and airlines.
For other medical emergencies during a green flight, including ill travellers with
COVID-19 symptoms who require urgent medical treatment, the airline must notify
authorities at the destination airport. On arrival, the situation should be handled
following the ill traveller protocols for that airport.
The following flow chart details the process for handling ill travellers in-flight.
1415
Arrival in New Zealand
RESPONSIBILITIES OF AGENCIES
MoH DHBs
• Set health questions on Arrival Card • Encourage passengers and aircrew to wear,
• Publish and supply COVID-19 Crew change and remove face coverings as
Health Form required
• Set, promulgate and review IPC • Conduct random temperature checks on 20%
requirements for staff, passengers, airlines of passengers
and airports • Conduct secondary health assessments and
• Complete quarterly walkthroughs of IPC make recommendations to any passenger
practices at airports that appears unwell, is symptomatic or is
• Set criteria for health assessments identified as having a temperature of 38˚
Celsius or higher as part of screening at
arrival
Personal Protective Equipment
All people arriving into New Zealand on green flights must wear face coverings
from boarding their plane overseas until landside at their destination airport (unless
exempt). Health staff may be stationed at appropriate points in the airport to
encourage passengers and crew to have face coverings and wear them properly;
encourage passenger flow; and discourage lingering. Any passenger or crew
member not wearing a face covering should be requested to wear one and, if they
refuse without good reason, they should first be referred to a Customs officer and
then to Police if necessary.
Before exiting the airport into the public area, passengers and aircrew may remove
their face coverings, sanitising their hands before and after this activity. If a
passenger or aircrew member wishes to wear a face covering whilst landside,
health staff may provide a new one or the passenger/aircrew member can wear
their own clean face covering.
All health staff working airside are required to wear face coverings at all times as a
minimum requirement for entering, exiting, working in or transiting the airside area
e.g., at the commencement and completion of shift or whilst proceeding to take a
break during shift. If the health staff member is undertaking random temperature
checking or secondary health assessment of passengers, they are to wear the
required PPE as specified for the task that they are undertaking in accordance with
the IPC guidance for the Air Border, sections 2 and 6.
For stage 1 Health Checks (e.g., random temperature checking) staff should wear
a N95/P2 particulate respirator and eye protection.
For Stage 2 Health Checks (e.g., secondary health assessment) staff should wear
N95/P2 particulate respirator, eye protection, long sleeve gown and gloves.
16Arrival declarations
Every arriving passenger is required to complete an Arrival Card. The Arrival Card
is a statutory declaration and must be fully completed and submitted prior to any
traveller leaving airside. It has sections for Customs, Biosecurity, Immigration and
Health questions. Questions 10-17 on the final page relate to COVID-19.
Passengers who use e-Gates are required to answer health questions at the e-
Gate before being permitted to pass through. For all other passengers, their Arrival
Card is checked by border officials as part of their business as usual (BAU)
passenger processing. Passengers with adverse answers to the health questions
on the Arrival Card or at e-Gate are referred to health staff for secondary
assessment.
When the passenger exits the airside area the Arrival Card is collected and
scanned by Customs, and the images are supplied to Homecare Medical for
transcription. The information may be used by MoH for contact tracing if required.
Aircrew: Every arriving aircrew member completes an Aircrew Declaration (either
the New Zealand-domiciled or non-New Zealand-domiciled version, as
appropriate) and the COVID-19 Crew Health Form. These are statutory
declarations and must be fully completed and submitted prior to any aircrew
member leaving airside. The Aircrew declaration is checked and collected by
border officials as part of their BAU processing. Customs staff check and retain all
COVID-19 Crew Health Forms. For aircrew members who live outside New
Zealand, the name of their accommodation must be written on the form.
Random temperature checking
A temperature check is required for 20% of passengers arriving on green flights.
Temperature checks are to be done using an in ear (tympanic) thermometer, non-
contact infrared thermometer, or a thermal camera, and DHBs must ensure they
have adequate supplies. Any device used must be accurate and be able to be
regularly calibrated, in line with the manufacturer’s specifications and any
applicable guarantee.
A health staff member wearing a N95/P2 particulate respirator and eye protection
should be designated to randomly select passengers and direct them to health
personnel for a temperature check. This health staff member should immediately
make it clear to the passenger they have been selected at random for a
temperature check, which the passenger may not refuse. Any non-compliance
should first be escalated to a Customs officer and then to a Police officer.
Passengers may be feeling distressed and confused as to why they have been
singled out. Ensure communication is clear, concise and respectful.
If the passenger records a temperature less than 38˚C, they should be allowed to
carry on their way. If the passenger returns a high temperature reading (equal to
38˚C or above), they should be escorted to the defined assessment area for a
secondary health assessment.
17Data related to temperature checking needs to be captured for official information
purposes. This information does not need to be reported unless requested. See
section 7 for all data requiring capture, together with an example of captured data.
Secondary health assessment
The purpose of a secondary health assessment is to assess the patient’s
symptoms in relation to the clinical criteria, and their history to determine whether
they have a higher risk of exposure than the general public. The COVID-19 criteria
and case definitions are published on the MoH website. Secondary health
assessment is undertaken by a registered nurse when a passenger has recorded a
high temperature as part of passenger temperature screening, appears visibly
unwell or states that they are unwell at any stage of the journey, or has declared
(on their Arrival Card, at e-Gate or to a Customs officer or health official) they are
unwell and/or experiencing symptoms of COVID-19. Health staff undertaking
secondary health assessments are to wear a N95/P2 particulate respirator, eye
protection, a long sleeve fluid-resistant gown and gloves.
The Air Border Order defines a secondary health assessment as doing one or
more of the following:
• taking the passenger’s temperature
• seeking an obtaining information about symptoms
• carrying out chest auscultation
• taking nose swabs or mouth swabs (or both).
By consent, the registered nurse may be able to conduct a more thorough
assessment which includes:
• an investigation of the passenger’s symptoms and taking basic observations
(which may include tympanic temperature reading, blood pressure, heart rate
and oxygen saturations)
• investigation of any other health conditions the passenger has that may
present as COVID-19 symptoms. The passenger may have a doctor’s letter or
prescription medication that supports their claim
• investigation of possible exposure events, for example if the passenger knows
or has been in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19
recently or the passenger has visited a location of interest in the past 14 days
• any other procedure or questioning the health professional deems necessary.
If the passenger is symptomatic and meets the Higher Index of Suspicion (HIS) or
is symptomatic and is a close contact of a case (that is, they meet both the clinical
criteria for COVID-19 and have a higher risk of exposure than the general public),
they are classified as ‘more than a low risk of having or transmitting COVID-19 and
are no longer exempt from isolation or quarantine requirements. They are required
to have a COVID-19 test and self-isolate, isolate or enter quarantine while awaiting
18the result. They would be notified to the local Public Health Unit where they will be
residing who will follow up with them, and a Border Event and Health Screen is
created for them in NBS. See 5.5 Onward Referrals, below.
If the passenger meets the clinical criteria but does not have a higher risk of
exposure, they are asked to phone Healthline and arrange to have a COVID-19
test and stay at home/accommodation while awaiting the test result. A record is
made in NBS but the passenger will not be followed up directly by airport health
staff. If the passenger returns a positive test result, they will automatically be
referred to the local PHU for management.
If they meet neither the clinical criteria or HIS criteria they are free to leave but are
asked to phone Healthline should they develop symptoms and to download the
COVID-19 App and scan wherever they go. No NBS record is required.
Passengers can refuse to undergo a secondary health assessment; however,
passengers who refuse may be compelled to undergo a secondary health
assessment by a section 70 order under the Health Act 1956 by a MOoH or be
placed in an MIQ if they do not meet the conditions of the MIQ exemption for QFT
passengers.
Any non-compliance for a secondary assessment should first be escalated to a
Customs officer and then to a Police officer.
Data related to secondary health assessments needs to be captured for official
information purposes. This data does not need to be reported unless requested.
See section 7 for all data requiring capture, together with an example of captured
data.
Onward referrals
Health staff must work with the airport company to ensure there are adequate
processes for handling arriving passengers suspected of having COVID-19. These
processes should cover a referral to the MOoH where necessitated, maintaining
IPC measures in relation to the passenger and their close contacts, and transfer of
the passenger to self-isolation, a locally managed isolation location, or a MIQF (or
hospital, if hospital-level care is required). For teams working in airports currently
receiving international flights, existing processes can be used to guide this
process.
If during a secondary health assessment a passenger meets both the clinical
criteria, and is a close contact or meets the HIS criteria, the nurse undertaking the
assessment contacts the MOoH (typically by phone) to gain approval to classify
the passenger as ‘Category A’ or ‘Cat A – QFTZ’ in NBS, and a Border Event and
Health Screen is created for them in NBS.
All DHBs/PHUs need to ensure they have access to the NBS to enter this data,
making sure to ‘check-in’ the Border Health Report (BHR) to the relevant PHU to
the passenger’s final destination, and as a courtesy, notify the PHU via email so
they are aware of this.
19The MoH Data and Digital team (border-apps@contacttracing.health.nz) can be
contacted to ensure the system and training is in place.
Health officials at the airport should work with the passenger and their bubble to
determine a suitable location for them to isolate and undertake testing for COVID-
19. If the isolation place is not a MIQF, it must be approved by the MOoH.
The following should be considered when determining whether a passenger’s
declared accommodation location or an alternate location is suitable:
• nature of the premises – private home, hotel, motel, etc.
• distance of premises from airport of arrival
• whether the passenger and their bubble can travel directly to the premises
without increased risk to the community (e.g. private/personal car)
• where there are potential transport risks, whether these be mitigated to an
acceptably low level for the duration of transport, for example by using PPE
• whether the passenger and their bubble can stay in those premises for the
entire duration of their isolation
• whether the passenger and their bubble can remain separated from other
people in that location, including whether they will have their own bathroom
facilities. A room in a hostel is not appropriate unless the passenger and their
bubble are the only occupants and it has an en-suite bathroom
• whether the passenger and their bubble will have access to necessary
services (e.g., food and medical care) while in isolation
• the likelihood of the passenger and their bubble complying with isolation
requirements
• whether the passenger and their bubble feel they can successfully isolate in
those premises for the length of time required.
For symptomatic passengers and their bubbles that are required to either self-
isolate or be transferred to a MIQF the following should be considered when
developing a transport plan to the place of isolation:
• whether the passenger and their bubble are fit to undertake the proposed
travel. Please note that the state of health of the individual and their
fitness to undertake any proposed travel to a location for isolation
should be the determining factor, rather than the potential time/distance
of travel
• if any person is not fit to travel the required distance, an alternate location for
isolation should be identified and specified by the local DHB
20• any person that is not fit for onward travel should be transferred by ambulance
(including air ambulance or rescue helicopter if necessary) to the nearest
hospital with isolation capability
• whether the proposed travel can be undertaken with minimal risk to public
health or the risk can be appropriately mitigated e.g. with the use of PPE
• whether toilet or fuel stops will be required en-route, and how they will be
managed e.g., prescribed and provided with relevant PPE and IPC
instructions by DHB staff before departure from airport.
COVID-19 App
Further consideration is being given to how to maximise the use of the NZ COVID
Tracer App and the role airports might play in this (for example, by displaying a QR
code for downloading the app). Officials will provide relevant information as soon
as possible.
Presentation of foreigners with suspected COVID-
19 within New Zealand
Visitors from QFT countries who present to the New Zealand health system (such
as a general practitioner or an emergency department) with COVID-19 systems
are to be treated according to usual domestic patient and infectious disease
protocols.
2122
On departure from New Zealand
RESPONSIBILITIES OF AGENCIES
MoH DHBs
• Provide information for airlines to give to • None
passengers at the time of booking
Information given at booking
Airlines provide information for passengers at the time of booking or shortly
afterwards (e.g., via email). Annex 3 contains the information for passengers
leaving New Zealand.
Managing departing passengers who are unwell
or present with COVID-19 symptoms
Airlines and airports have pre-COVID-19 ill traveller protocols for dealing with ill
passengers at check-in. There are no additional requirements for screening or
assessment of departing passengers or crew for QFT flights or other departing
flights.
23Record keeping and Reporting
Aggregate data
The following aggregate data are to be collected about QFT
flights:
• Total number of passengers (if available/known by DHBs/PHUs)
• Number of passengers temperature screened / proportion of total passengers
• Total number of passengers referred to secondary screening due to:
temperature over 38˚c
recording symptoms on arrival card
other reasons.
• Of those passengers referred to secondary screening, the number who:
were deemed to not meet COVID-19 symptom criteria
met COVID-19 symptom criteria
were required to take a COVID-19 test.
• Number of passengers referred to MOoH after secondary health assessment
• Number of passengers referred to alternate health service/provider after
secondary health assessment
No personal information is to be collected about the passenger unless they meet
the COVID-19 symptom criteria during a secondary health assessment, in which
case a record is created for them in NBS as required in 5.4.4 and 5.4.5.
Interim reporting
For the first two weeks of QFT with a new place, in order to keep the Ministry and
Ministers informed, PHUs should send the covid-19borderops@health.govt.nz
each day:
• Number of arriving passengers
• Number of passengers temperature screened
• Number of passengers referred for secondary health assessment
24• Number of passengers with adverse findings at the secondary health
assessment
• Short note of any action taken in relation to a passenger that has been
entered into the NBS.
25Testing and vaccination of QFT
border workers
All border workers who are ‘affected persons’ under the COVID-19 Public Health
Response (Required Testing) Order 2020 must comply with that Order. PCBUs
must also comply with their legal obligations under this Order.
Testing requirements for border workers at airports receiving QFT flights are
subject to change. The COVID-19 Testing team will provide up-to-date information
to DHBs and PHUs as it is issued.
26Response framework
As part of QFT with Australia, a Response Framework has been developed
identifying a graduated series of “levels” based on public health factors. At each
level, a range of measures are identified that could be used to respond depending
on the specifics of each outbreak.
The Response Framework is designed to be flexible. It is linked to our Elimination
Strategy and guided by the policy objectives of preventing the introduction of
COVID-19 cases into New Zealand, ensuring QFT can operate as normal so long
as it is safe to do so, and minimising the impact of any disruption to travellers and
operators.
The Response Framework also provides the option of a short period “pause” if
necessary so officials can gather and assess information on an emerging situation
and develop a proportionate risk-based response.
If an outbreak is unlikely to be controlled, the Response Framework provides for a
prolonged partial or full suspension of QFT.
A copy of the public facing Response Framework can be found at
www.beehive.govt.nz/sites/default/files/2021-04/QFT%20traffic%20light.pdf
27Options that may be put in place under a ‘pause’ or ‘suspension’ are:
• passengers to undertake a pre-departure test before flying
• self-isolate in NZ and get a COVID-19 test
• if passenger returns from an Australian state where travel has been paused or
suspended, they may be required to go into managed isolation when they
arrive in New Zealand.
Incident Management Team
MoH has an Incident Management Team (IMT) who monitor and analyse
surveillance data from a range of sources in relation to cases, clusters and the
potential for, likelihood and management of, community transmission. The IMT is
activated when certain triggers occur, such as a positive case in New Zealand, and
now under QFT, a case in Australia.
MoH will put IMT on standby and monitor the situation when a locally-acquired
case has been detected in Australia with contact tracing still underway.
The IMT will stand up when a notification is received from Australia confirming a
positive case where one or more known close contacts have travelled to/or is in
New Zealand during the potential incubation or infectious period, and the close
contact has been in the community (i.e., this response is not triggered if the close
contact arrived on a red flight and is in a MIQF).
The IMT will continue to stand up when notified (typically from the DHBs/PHUs) of
a case in New Zealand.
MoH has agreed with our Australian counterparts that respective Public Health
officials will provide a notification/heads-up of a positive COVID-19 via phone call,
noting that further information will follow. This is likely the first awareness MoH,
and New Zealand, receives – although at time media reporting may precede MoH
notification.
At this point, there are established and prescribed activities to be taken by MoH.
Each activity has indicated timings which are best-case scenarios and likely to be
fluid in the event of a response.
MoH will inform DHBs and PHUs and other agencies when their specific
resurgence plans should be activated or put on stand-by for activation. This will
generally be through a National Health Advisory issued by MoH.
Communications to DHBs and PHUs
A key component of the response is the communications about the standby or
activation the IMT via the Public Information Management (PIM) team. DHBs and
PHUs must ensure they advise COVID-19 Border Ops (COVID-
2819BorderOps@health.govt.nz) of their latest key contacts and after-hours contacts
which will be provided to the IMT and PIM for their use in a response.
Affected DHBs and PHUs will be contacted directly by the IMT to attend a stand-up
which will walk through the draft Situational Report (Sitrep) to provide context and
background to the case.
Affected DHBs and PHUs will be required to give twice-daily updates as part of
IMT stand-ups (approx. 9:30am and 4pm).
In the event of a ‘pause’ or ‘suspension’ of quarantine-free travel the PIM and IMT
will be the point of contact to DHBs/PHUs about the required action, such as the
distribution of any key messaging to passengers. The National Investigation and
Tracing Centre (NITC) team will be the key point of contact for identification of any
cohorts of passengers or recent arrivals. The NITC will be in contact about any
action required by affected DHBs/PHUs for these cohorts.
At any time, DHBs and PHUs can seek updates on the key messaging via 0800
GET MOH (0800 438 664) and selecting #1 for information.
Decision making
Concurrent with MoH’s IMT activation, MoH will also be following a process
(similar to that used for Alert Level changes) in order for Cabinet to make a
decision on how to respond.
To support that decision, MoH will provide the Minister for COVID-19 Response a
Health Report that outlined interim health advice and other known information on
the case(s). The Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC) will then
prepare a paper providing updated health advice and recommendations to Cabinet
for their decision.
Information sharing
A SitRep is prepared daily by MoH’s Intelligence and Surveillance team and
provides updates on COVID-19 cases in New Zealand. It is distributed to a select
list of contacts and to our QFT counterparts.
The content of the Sitrep is carefully managed and recipients are responsible for
ensuring this report is not forwarded beyond the original recipient list.
When an IMT is active, more detailed reports and frequent information sharing
occurs between our QFT counterparts and New Zealand via a secure portal
(National Focal Point). MoH has agreed a templated form for the sharing for this
more detailed information.
In addition, when IMT is active, affected DHBs/PHUs will be contacted and
provided with the Sitrep and any other relevant information or reports directly.
29Air Border Order – operational
guidance
In June 2020, Cabinet agreed general principles for COVID-safe travel zones and
that the first COVID-safe travel zone was intended to be with Australia [CAB-20-
MIN-0278]. A COVID-safe travel zone is intended to introduce free people
movement without quarantine, in a way that: people and governments trust is safe;
ensures public health requirements are met; ensures people travelling to
New Zealand do not have, or are very unlikely to have, COVID-19; is practically
workable; and is commercially and operationally viable for airlines and airports.
On 22 March 2021 Cabinet agreed in principle that New Zealand would commence
two-way quarantine-free travel (QFT) with Australia in April 2021, subject to
Cabinet being satisfied that several operational, technical and health requirements
have been progressed [CAB-21-MIN-0081 refers].
Quarantine Free Travel aims to restore travel with Australia in a way that enhances
New Zealand’s economic recovery and reconnects our people, while mitigating the
risks of importing COVID-19.
On 6 April 2021 Cabinet agreed that New Zealand would commence two-way
quarantine-free travel (QFT) with Australia.
The ability for people to enter New Zealand and not have to adhere to
requirements to have a confirmed allocation to enter a managed isolation or
quarantine facility and isolation or quarantine on arrival is given by the following
orders:
COVID-19 Public Health Response (Air Border, Isolation and Quarantine, and
Required Testing) Amendment Order 2021
COVID-19 Public Health Response (Exemption for Quarantine-free Travel)
Notice 2021.
Quarantine free travel with Australia can commence from 11.59 pm on 18 April
2021.
The operational policy design provides the policy parameters for the introduction of
quarantine free travel at the air border. The document outlines the eligibility for air
carriers, airports, passengers and crew must meet in order to participate in QFT.
This is still to be finalised and will be appended to this document upon completion.
30Annex 1: Information to be provided by airlines at
Booking – Quarantine-free travel to New Zealand
(as at April 2021)
Kia ora,
For quarantine-free travel to New Zealand, there are things you need to be aware of to keep
yourself and others safe from COVID-19.
PREPARE FOR A CHANGE IN TRAVEL
An outbreak of COVID-19 could lead to quarantine-free travel being disrupted, including:
• your flight to or from New Zealand is paused or suspended
• if you are returning to a state where travel has been suspended, you may need to go into
managed isolation on arrival
• a pre-departure test may be required.
Check the terms and conditions of your tickets and travel insurance. You may need to stay
longer. Additional costs and getting home will be your responsibility.
You will also notice some extra precautions when you arrive in New Zealand. Please
cooperate with staff requests.
ELIGIBILITY TO TRAVEL
For all quarantine-free flights to Aotearoa New Zealand, you must meet the following criteria
before you can travel:
• you must have been in Australia for 14-days before travel to New Zealand
• during the 14-day period before travel, you did not have a positive COVID-19 test or be
awaiting the results of a COVID-19 test
• you meet New Zealand immigration requirements.
It is a requirement for passengers to complete a pre-departure declaration so the
Government of New Zealand will be better able to contact you for COVID-19 tracing
purposes should this be necessary.
You will also be required to complete a health declaration at check-in.
Please bring evidence of any pre-existing medical conditions when you check-in, to avoid
being denied boarding.
KEEP YOURSELF AND OTHERS SAFE:
On arrival in New Zealand there are a few things you should do.
• Download the NZ COVID Tracer app to your smartphone, free from the App Store or
Google Play. Use the NZ COVID Tracer app to:
o scan QR codes to create a private digital diary of the places you visit - All
businesses, services and events in New Zealand display QR codes.
o turn on Bluetooth tracing to keep an anonymised record of the people you’ve been
near
o register your contact details so contact tracers can get in touch if they need to.
• If you visit the same place at around the same time as someone who later tests positive
for COVID-19, you will receive an alert through the app with information on how to stay
safe.
• If you don’t have a smartphone, use the NZ COVID Tracer booklet, a paper record or
photo diary of all the places you go. The booklet will be available as you enter the airport.
• Unless exempt, it is mandatory to wear a face covering on planes and public transport
31• If you feel unwell at any time, isolate in your accommodation and call Healthline for
advice - 0800 358 5453.
• Remember to wash and sanitise your hands regularly.
Stay up to date on important announcements and information while in New Zealand.
(website icon) Covid19.govt.nz
(fb icon) @UniteAgainstCOVID19
(Instagram icon) uniteagainstcovid19
(twitter icon) @covid19nz
Ngā mihi nui, enjoy your time in beautiful Aotearoa.
32Annex 2: Text of In-flight Announcement
(as at March 2021)
Announcement to be made before landing in New Zealand
Kia ora, this is a message from the New Zealand Government.
Welcome to Aotearoa New Zealand.
We are able to open quarantine free travel between New Zealand and [QFT country] because
it is currently safe to do so.
However, the New Zealand Government advises all travellers that an outbreak of COVID-19
could cause a change to the conditions you are travelling under.
This could mean your return is delayed and/or in exceptional circumstances, you may be
required to enter quarantine or isolation upon return.
By undertaking travel at this time, you are accepting that it will be your responsibility to manage
any COVID-19 related travel disruption and associated costs. Please check the terms and
conditions of your tickets and travel insurance.
You will also notice some extra precautions at the border. Please cooperate with staff requests.
Once in New Zealand there are a few things you will need to do to keep yourself and others
safe from COVID-19.
• Remember to wash your hands or use hand sanitiser regularly.
• On arrival, download the NZ Covid Tracer app on your phone and turn on the Bluetooth
function. There is a QR code you can scan at the airport to get the app.
• All businesses and services in New Zealand display QR codes that you should scan using
the app to record where you have been. If there are COVID-19 cases in New Zealand,
health officials will use the app data to contact you if you may have been exposed.
• If you don’t have a smartphone, keep a paper record or photo diary of all the places you
go. A booklet for this purpose will be available as you enter the airport.
• Unless exempt, please wear a face mask on any international or domestic flights and while
airside at your international arrival airport. A mask will be provided by the airline if you do
not have one. You must also wear a mask on all public transport within New Zealand.
• If you feel unwell at any time, stay in your accommodation and call Healthline for advice.
The Healthline number is available on the handout.
• The website www.covid.govt.nz is a one-stop shop for all New Zealand COVID-19
information. This is where you’ll find information about any changes to quarantine-free
travel – please check it regularly.
Thank you for your cooperation.
33Annex 3: Information to be provided by Airlines at
Booking – New Zealand to [QFT country]
(as at March 2021)
QUARANTINE-FREE TRAVEL TO AUSTRALIA
Being able to undertake quarantine free travel between New Zealand and Australia is an
important step back towards normal. But we are not yet back at normal.
BE PREPARED FOR COVID-19 TO DISRUPT YOUR TRAVEL:
While it is currently safe to travel without quarantine, this could change very quickly.
The New Zealand Government advises all travellers that an outbreak of COVID-19 could
cause a change to the conditions you are travelling under. This could mean your return is
delayed and/or in exceptional circumstances you may be required to enter quarantine or
isolation upon return.
By undertaking travel at this time, you are accepting that it will be your responsibility to manage
any COVID-19 related travel disruption and associated costs.
Please check the terms and conditions of your tickets and travel insurance.
ELIGIBILITY TO TRAVEL
To be eligible to travel to Australia quarantine-free you must meet Australian requirements.
Please check here.
Before you travel, please remember to:
• check for any restrictions in the locations you intend to travel to,
• register your travel on www.safetravel.govt.nz but please note that Government
assistance is unlikely to be available, and
CROSSING THE BORDER
You will notice some extra precautions at the border. Please cooperate with staff requests.
Please bring evidence of any pre-existing conditions when you check-in, to avoid being
denied boarding. Please also check the terms and conditions of your travel insurance with
regards to being denied boarding due to COVID-19.
Unless exempt, please wear a face mask on the flight to Australia. A mask will be provided
by the airline if you do not have one.
KEEPING YOURSELF AND OTHERS SAFE
Once in Australia there are a few things you can do to keep yourself and others safe from
COVID-19:
• Remember to wash your hands or use hand sanitiser regularly.
• Follow all local guidelines, including in relations to contact tracing and face masks.
• If you feel unwell, stay in your accommodation and call a doctor for advice.
• Monitor the Australian Government Department of Health website for any changes to the
• COVID-19 situation there www.health.gov.au
Regularly check www.covid19.govt.nz for information about any changes to the
quarantine-free travel arrangements and the situation in New Zealand. Especially check
this just prior to your return. Thank you, we hope you enjoy your travels.
34You can also read
