New Zealand extends its travel ban with NSW for another 12 days - after Covid-infected traveller flew across the ditch for a weekend trip
New Zealand will keep its border closed to New South Wales for at least another 12 days, officials said.
The decision comes as NSW recorded 11 new locally acquired cases of Covid-19 on Thursday, and after a passenger on a trans-Tasman flight tested positive to the virus on Tuesday.
NZ's Minister for COVID-19 Response Chris Hipkins said the Kiwi government will take 'a cautious approach' will several mystery cases are investigated.
'There are now 36 recent community cases of COVID-19 in New South Wales – including four not yet linked to the existing outbreak that are urgently being investigated by Australian health officials,' Mr Hipkins said.
'This decision follows a further public health assessment today in which officials consider a range of factors – whether any new cases are identified, the results from COVID-19 testing of any contacts identified and from the wider Sydney community.'
New Zealand health officials pulled up the draw bridge for hotel-quarantine free travel at 9.59pm (AEST) on Tuesday for a period of 72 hours.
But with the still outbreak continuing to wreak havoc on Sydney, Mr Hipkins conceded there was no choice but to suspend the trans-Tasman bubble for a prolonged period.
More to follow.
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