Self-isolation requirements for vaccinated arrivals from Australia are ending in New Zealand, despite coronavirus transmission rates surging in the country.

Prime minister Jacinda Ardern stated that from Wednesday vaccinated travellers will now not be required to self-isolate, but must still have a Covid test on arrival and then on day five or six.

People testing positive will need to self-isolate, and unvaccinated arrivals still have to remain in managed isolation and quarantine, or MIQ, reports The Guardian.

“I know this will be welcome news to the members of our team overseas eager to travel home to see loved ones as soon as possible. We can’t wait to see you,” Ardern stated. “It’s also a huge milestone for our tourism sector and regional economies.”

New Zealand’s gradual border reopening still remains, yet a series of changes have been implemented.

The initial stage that got underway on Monday means vaccinated people from New Zealand and other visa holders travelling from Australia only need to self-isolate until midnight on Wednesday. The second stage, permitting New Zealanders and eligible critical workers from around the world to avoid isolation is coming into effect on Friday.

According to epidemiologist Michael Baker, maintaining border controls is no longer justified as “people arriving from overseas will not contribute to the disease burden”.

He added: “We have almost got to the point now where people arriving in New Zealand have a lower prevalence of Omicron infection than people who live in New Zealand.”

The country now has one of the highest Covid transmission levels in the world, with the effective reproduction number – R value – at 4.23, indicating the average person with the virus is passing on the Omicron variant to over four others. This is the highest R value in over 180 countries.