Queensland shuts border to New Zealand
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Queensland’s borders will close to New Zealand travellers on Wednesday night after escalating COVID-19 cases meant New Zealand lost its status as a “safe travel country”.
Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said all travellers from New Zealand arriving from 6pm would need to complete quarantine.
All travellers from New Zealand arriving in Queensland from 6pm on Wednesday must complete quarantine.Credit:Tertius Pickard
“Unfortunately, over the past few days New Zealand has been recording some new positive cases, which is why we are closing the border from 6pm,” Dr Young said.
“Anyone who is permitted to travel to Queensland from New Zealand will be required to quarantine on arrival.
“Acting with an abundance of caution has kept Queenslanders safe and that’s exactly the path we will continue to take.”
Queensland Health is also recommending all travellers who have been in New Zealand since February 21 to get tested and isolate until results are received.
“New Zealand is working very hard to contain this community transmission, but they are still in a critical stage of their response so we need to keep watching closely,” Dr Young said.
“Things can change really quickly with this virus – we’ve seen that in other countries around the world, which is why I am asking Queenslanders to reconsider their need to travel to New Zealand.”
Breaking news reporter at Brisbane Times.