Fresh COVID case on New Zealand since it prepares for travel bubble with Australia
08 April, 2021
New Zealand health officials confirmed a brand new community circumstance of COVID-19 in Auckland Thursday, just several days after the nation celebrated its largely virus-free status by approving a travelling bubble with Australia.
There is no suggestion New Zealand's largest city would again be thrust into lockdown or the travel bubble plan revised.
But Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern immediately announced a momentary halt to travel in to the nation from India, the departure stage for some infected arrivals in new weeks, shutting out New Zealand nationals for the first time because the pandemic emerged.
The brand new patient is a security guard at a coronavirus quarantine hotel for returning Kiwis.
He had not been vaccinated, but his only known call beyond your hotel was a co-employee who has received two doses of the vaccine, officials said.
The case highlighted the potential fragility of the travel opening, credited to start out on April 19 and which Primary Minister Jacinda Ardern has cautioned could possibly be disrupted in case of new Covid-19 outbreaks.
Both New Zealand and Australia have largely contained the coronavirus, with few community outbreaks lately that have been all successfully eliminated after brief native lockdowns.
But authorities warned that upcoming outbreaks could capture tourists on the incorrect aspect of "the ditch", as locals phone the Tasman Sea separating the neighboring nations, potentially forcing them to endure costly hotel quarantine on their return home.
There are currently 95 active Covid-19 cases in New Zealand -- the security guard and 94 who were detected at the border -- and all are housed in a particular quarantine facility.
A lot of the positive tests are from travelers from India who flew to New Zealand via Dubai.
Ardern said the suspension of access to New Zealand for arrivals from India would function from April 11-28.
"During this short-term suspension the federal government will investigate alternatives to control risk," she said. "We've never previously suspended happen to be New Zealand residents and residents so in retrospect I want to assure you this is simply not a everlasting arrangement."
Source: japantoday.com
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