Foreign
NEW Zealand’s quarantine-free travel with Australia’s Victoria was suspended on Tuesday as the source of a new COVID-19 cluster that recently reported in the Australian state’s capital Melbourne is being investigated.
This was according to New Zealand’s COVID-19 Response Minister, Chris Hipkins.
The suspension of the travel bubble will start from 07:59 p.m. New Zealand time on Tuesday and last 72 hours initially.
“As with previous pauses, it will be under constant review,” Hipkins said.
The move came as a range of COVID-19 restrictions including limiting the size of gatherings was announced in Melbourne after the Australian city detected its first community transmission cases since February.
New Zealand officials have assessed that the most cautious option is to pause the travel bubble with Victoria as there are still several unknowns with the outbreak, Hipkins added.
New Zealand and Australia’s Victoria state launched the trans-Tasman quarantine-free travel in April aimed at boosting economic and tourism recovery on both sides. (Xinhua/NAN)
– May 25, 2021 @ 13:10 GMT
Tags: New Zealand suspends quarantine-free travel with Australia’s Victoria for 72 hours
