New Zealand is set to allow Victorians back into the country next week after a month-long suspension due to COVID-19.
Pack your bags Victoria! The trans-Tasman bubble is back from next week.
New Zealand Health officials have given a conditional tick to re-opening the border from midnight on Tuesday 22 June, 2021.
Melbourne’s latest community outbreak prompted Jacinda Ardern’s government to close the border to Victoria last month.
“New Zealand health officials will keep a close watch on developments in the state but at this point their advice is that we would expect to be in a position to lift the pause at the end of the five-day extension,” COVID-19 Minister Chris Hipkins said.
Mr Hipkins acknowledged the disruption of many due to the travel ban, which began on May 25.
New Zealand’s move pre-empts several Australian states, which still have restrictions on movement from Melbourne.
While New South Wales has recently eased restrictions on travel from the Victorian capital, the four other states still ban travel or require self-quarantine on arrival.
In all jurisdictions, including New Zealand, people who have visited a location of interest – where a potentially infected person has also travelled – must not travel.
The trans-Tasman bubble has endured a number of suspensions since it was opened in April.
The Victorian closure was the only one to last longer than a few days.
Source: AAP