Pursuant to Regulation 21 of the Health (Quarantine) Regulations 1983, I, Dr Ashley Bloomfield, Director-General of Health, exempt ships liable to quarantine under section 96(1) of the Health Act 1956 (“Act”), on which COVID-19 has been found to exist on board, from the requirement of section 107(1) of the Act that no quarantinable disease exists on board the ship before the Medical Officer of Health or Health Protection Officer can give a certificate of pratique to the master of the ship.

This exemption is subject to the condition that no other quarantinable disease exists on board the ship.

For the avoidance of doubt, this exemption has the effect that the existence of COVID-19 on board a ship shall not be a reason for a medical officer of health or a health protection officer not to give the master of the ship a certificate of pratique in the prescribed form.

The exemption will begin at 11.59pm on Sunday 31 July 2022.

Dated at Wellington this 26th day of July 2022.

Dr ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD, Te Tumu Whakarae mō te Hauora, Director-General of Health.