New Zealand will phase down most of its pandemic mandates over the next two weeks as the Covid-19 Omicron variant epidemic subsides.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said that visitors to retail outlets, restaurants, and bars would no longer need to be vaccinated beginning April 4.

Additionally, the obligation to scan QR codes at specific locations will be eliminated.

A vaccine mandate will be phased out for some people – including teachers, police officers, and wait staff – but will remain for others, including health care and aged-care workers, border agents, and correctional officials.

Additionally, the Friday limit on outdoor audiences of 100 is gone. This will allow some concerts and significant sporting events such as marathons to restart, while the indoor capacity limit of 100 people will be increased to 200 and possibly eliminated.

Remaining in place is a mandate that people wear masks in various enclosed areas, including stores, public transportation, and school classrooMs, For children aged eight and upwards.

Ms. Ardern stated that the government's efforts to contain the spread of Covid-19 over the last two years have saved thousands of lives and benefited the economy.

"However, while we have been successful, it has also been extremely difficult," Ms. Ardern stated.

"Everyone has had to make a sacrifice, and some more than others," she explained.

Numerous restrictions will be lifted before tourists return to the country.

The administration said earlier this month that Australian tourists would be welcomed back beginning April 12 and tourists from various other nations, including the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, beginning May 1.

International tourism once contributed to over 20% of New Zealand's foreign revenue and more than 5% GDP. Still, it vanished after the South Pacific island implemented some of the world's harshest border controls following the outbreak.

New Zealand continues to see some of the most significant numbers of Covid-19 infections and hospitalizations in the pandemic's history, with 17,000 new infections recorded each day.

However, Ms. Ardern stated that modeling indicates that Auckland's largest city has already passed the height of its Omicron outbreak, and the rest of the country will shortly follow suit.

Health officials cautioned that several countries that had relaxed restrictions as Omicron declined were now seeing a resurgence of infections.